The Highway code states:
66 You Should:
“never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends” (Direct Gov)
So it is legal to ride two abreast.
Also note , the highway code states ‘you should’ rather than ‘you must’. This means it is a guidance note rather than legal stipulation. There is not a direct legal law stating you can’t ride more than two abreast.
However, the important thing is to use common sense. Some roads it makes sense to cycle two abreast. On other busy roads, it makes sense to ride single file.
Cycling two abreast is more social for group rides. It helps keep the riders together and avoids a long stretched out line of cyclists.
On joining a cycling club as a young teenager, I was told there was a time when cyclists easily outnumbered motorcars – especially on Sundays. In those ‘golden days’ it was taken as granted that cyclists could cycle two abreast. In fact, Sundays would see many packs of cyclists 10-15 strong taking turns to ride at the front. Of course, sometimes cars might have to slow down for a short time before safely overtaking. But, it wasn’t that much of an inconvenience. But, with cyclists rarer and motorists more numerous, there is often a surprise when motorists see cyclists cycle two abreast. Motorists are often unaware cyclists are allowed to ride two abreast, and motorists can easily get frustrated at things which temporarily slow them down.
Motorists often ask why do cyclists ride two abreast?
The main reason is that cycling is often a sociable activity. And this is perhaps hard for other road users to understand. Most people use a car to get from A to B (preferably as quickly as possible) the idea of using a road just for the joy of cycling is perhaps hard to grasp.
Cycling two abreast requires common sense from cyclists. Some narrow busy roads, it’s not practical to ride two abreast. But it also requires just a little patience from drivers. It’s not a huge inconvenience to have to slow down occasionally. I mean quite often councils put road blocks in the middle of the road to slow down drivers.
Also it helps ‘take the road’ and prevent cars squeezing past when there isn’t enough space).
Nor is it any more inconvenient than a slow caravan or horse on the road.
Related
I’ve been reading up on this when there was a comment on FB this evening regarding cycling groups riding two abreast or more. In this case, there were FOUR riding together which is not using common sense.
Whilst you state this is something drivers of motor vehicles do not mind slowing down occasionally, it can be rather irritating. Especially as the groups ride in pairs in a long group, therefore slowing drivers down and on occasion, having to brake rather sharply. The RTA states@
You MUST NOT
ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner
[Law RTA 1988 sects 24, 26, 28, 29 & 30 as amended by RTA 1991]
When riders are doing this, it is all of the above. I have been advised to report cyclists who are doing this.
Rant over!
Vicky (Responsible Car/Motorbike owner)
It’s almost impossible not to ride two abreast when you’re in a decent sized bunch. As with anything, it’s common sense. If you’re on a tiny lane, and riding two abreast means you’re taking up the whole lane, rather don’t do it.
Highway code paragraph 66 states that you should never ride more than two abreast. However, the use of the word should, rather than must means that it is guidance rather than an legal requirement; as far as I could find riding 3 or 4 up is therefore not illegal, just not advised.
For me, one of the main reasons for me for cycling two abreast is that I find it dissuades motorists from trying to squeeze past where there is insufficient room for a safe pass (as Jonathan R posted).
Riding single-file it is also easier to unconsciously drift left with each car passing which again makes it appealing for drivers to try an unsafe pass. Two abreast effectively ‘takes the lane’ and prevents this.
Would you please cite the section of the Highway Code which you quoted from?
I had no idea that two-abreast was legal! Thank you!
The Highway Code is not a law. It’s a code of practice. So if you want to escape a charge of dangerous driving, you’d better have a good reason for not complying with the Code. It occurs to me that one good reason would be to prevent car drivers from trying to squeeze past where the road is too narrow to allow two cars and a bike to pass safely.
Great blog, by the way. I’ve only just discovered it.