Minuteman Road Club

Whether in groups or singly, let's be mindful that we're sharing the road out there.

In Chatham, NJ, it appears that a storm has been brewing over groups of cyclists impeding traffic on a particular road. This past weekend, someone provided photographic evidence. Yes, I'm ignoring the safety hazard the photographer presents by driving and taking pictures at the same time.



It's one thing to have drivers who are tentative about passing a paceline that is properly keeping to the right and another to blithely ride along out in the traffic lane, ignoring what is behind you. And, as we know, regardless of what is actually transpiring, people will honk, yell and complain based solely on their perception of the situation at hand. And they'll do it even if you are already to the right or move over the moment you notice them behind you.

I mention this because so far, in the NJ case, the cyclists appear to be only identified as an anonymous group but imagine those photos with a bunch of MRC jerseys visible. Not good PR.

In every ride I've been on with the MRC, I've always felt like we are careful to keep our "rearward facing radar" on high and do a great job of staying right so traffic may pass. While we do this for our own safety as well as that of the passing motorists, it doesn't hurt that it helps generate goodwill with those we share the road with.

That would irritate me whether I was in the car following, or in the group. I'd probably only ride with that group once or twice before finding another group.

Ironically I was (happily) thinking to myself Sunday while riding with some of the gang that none of us had lost our ability to do the 2-up to 1-up merge seamlessly when a car was coming either direction. A picture doesn't always tell the whole story, but this sure does seem to go against "sharing the road".

With the hill, the curve that car could not have legally and/or safely passed even a single cyclist on that stretch of road anyway.

Though the perception of us being in the way is always a big factor, many drivers don't seem to realize that just because we're there, it doesn't mean its ok to pass.


But I do agree with Russ, we don't want that to be us in the picture. Be safe and be smart out there.