...and motorists don't think they own the road.
How can it be unsuitable? It's a road and they are entitled to use it. The problem is that motorists are impeded by them (and other slow moving traffic) and some motorists prioritise their impatience over cyclists safety.
And those self same drivers should be taking notice of the increasing use of forward and rear facing helmet and handlebar mounted cameras.
It is now increasingly likely that bad and aggressive driving towards cyclists is being recorded.
...and motorists don't think they own the road.
no, I don't think that. In the same way I don't drive on the hardshoulder if I see a cyclist on it, I expect cyclists to have the same amount of cop on and courtesy and not pull out from the hard shoulder in front of me. These cyclists (and they were a minority) were riding carelessly and dangerously without any due regard or respect from any other road user.
From the OP - they were reacting to motorists behaviour.As a motorist I don't think I own the road, but it seems like the 'charity' group here acted like they did. Perhaps they felt because their cause was just any actions in its cause were just
Road races are different to charity or club/group cycling. Road races (e.g. An Post RÁS) have rolling road closures with support vans and motorcycles that travel ahead of the peleton stopping traffic as necessary. For most charity cycles you are told that there are no road closures and to obey the rules of the road. Most cyclists will do this but there will always be some trying to complete the course in the fastest time possible.A narrow country road is not suitable for a road race by cyclists, or a large group of charity cyclists.
They're entitled to use it properly, showing due consideration to other users.
We're not talking about one or two cyclists getting from A to B.
We're talking about a large group following a deliberate route chosen in advance.
It's a road and can be used by any number of road users - it's not there solely for the use of motorists. It is perfectly legal to cycle in a group, two abreast. It is also perfectly legal to be in charge of animals on a road and motorists must obey the directions of those people in charge of animals. It is also perfectly legal for 50 tractors to head down the road for any reason.It's not suitable for someone to race their car either, or for a large group of joggers to have a race, or a large group of people in charge of horses to have an informal hunt, or for a parade of tractors, for that matter.
There usually are lots of notices and in some cases rolling road closures organised.If it's a large community event the road should be closed, properly marshalled and information notices posted for the rest of the local community.
(a) Cyclists to use narrow public road when an almost empty cycle/walk facility runs parallel to the road - Crazy!
No, it's more to do with the fact that they don't want to die so someone can arrive at their destination a few seconds earlier. The vast majority of cyclists much prefer when cars pass them safely, having a car following close behind can be unnerving for many as you don't know what they might do.(b) Some do not want motorists to overtake cyclists - Lunacy!.
No, we have roads for fast cyclists. To suggest anything else is lunacy, and demonstrates an attitude of seeing cyclists as somehow inferior or less entitled to use the roads.(c) There appears a case for two cycle lanes (i) For slow cyclists (ii) For Fast cyclists
Again the tired old 'I pay motor tax, I own the road' argument..(d) Close road for such events - Great the motor tax paying motorists not allowed access to a touristy town while cyclists take hours to amble along!
The Gardai are aware of most of these events of any scale, the fact that they choose not to police more heavily suggests they don't have a serious issue. They will show up for a while around the busy start of some of the bigger events, and the only action I've ever seen them take was to go after drivers for dangerous driving.(e) Have the gardaí to police routes more - A good solution, I think.
Ridiculous. Event organisers have no entitlement to enforce road traffic legislation. That is the role of the Gardai.(g) Make it a criminal offence if the organisers cannot supply enough effective marshals. Excellent.
So a nice quiet country road with a single car having an issue passing a group of cyclists is like what???(h) Let's all share the road simultaneously - Great like a football squad sharing one cup cake!
It would appear so...(i) Common Sense?- Too much to expect
Someone mentioned a car camera, by any chance would you have taken pictures. Then it would be easier to visualise what actually happened.
Ridiculous. Event organisers have no entitlement to enforce road traffic legislation. That is the role of the Gardai.
..
Correct, but if it is badly organized with insufficient insurance then the organisers could be held liable for any accidents.
Worth noting what the actual rules of the road state
In the company of one or more cyclists, you must have due regard to other users of the road, and you must take full account of prevailing road conditions.
On occasion, it may be safe to cycle two abreast, but you must not cycle in a manner likely to create an obstruction for other road users.
Cyclists must use any cycle track provided
I was not expecting some of the reactions that appeared on this thread:-
(a) Cyclists to use narrow public road when an almost empty cycle/walk facility runs parallel to the road - Crazy!
(b) Some do not want motorists to overtake cyclists - Lunacy!.
(c) There appears a case for two cycle lanes (i) For slow cyclists (ii) For Fast cyclists - I'm sure the Irish taxpayer needs this like we need disease!
(d) Close road for such events - Great the motor tax paying motorists not allowed access to a touristy town while cyclists take hours to amble along!
(e) Have the gardaí to police routes more - A good solution, I think.
(f) Confine such events to a specific realistic time. Good too.
(g) Make it a criminal offence if the organisers cannot supply enough effective marshals. Excellent.
(h) Let's all share the road simultaneously - Great like a football squad sharing one cup cake!
(i) Common Sense?- Too much to expect, Forget it!
Worth noting what the actual rules of the road state
<snipped>
And also
Cyclists must use any cycle track provided
Sections in bold are from the rules itself, not from me,
That section of the RotR is not correct. I have emailed the RSA about it.
Somebody asked a question on what I thought was common sense. ... To common sense I would also add Respect.
If we cannot share our roads with each other then there is no hope for any of us.
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