Cyclists -- Why do you hog the road even with a large shoulder?

[Anonymous]

This is so annoying!

I am a former cyclist...used to ride 150 miles a week in my day. But we always respected vehicular traffic by staying in shoulder (if safe and not too sandy) and pulling aside if vehicles need to pass (as opposed to riding side by side). I find around this area cyclists are just obnoxious!! They hog the roads, ride side by side outside of the large shoulder even when there is heavy traffic. What the heck? Please enlighten me cyclists. What is the reason you are so disrespectful of others and why won't you share the road?

[Anonymous]

They do it because they can. They are making a point - I can "take the lane" and there is nothing you can do about it.

[Anonymous]

Cyclist here, also find this practice EXTREMELY obnoxious (and unsafe!). Obviously if suddenly there's no shoulder than there is no alternative. But when on a road with a wide, clear shoulder or a dedicated bike lane that the cyclist doesn't respect - OMG it makes me so angry!

[Anonymous]

They are selfish pigs.

[Anonymous]

They want to show you what big balls they have.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, so rude and annoying!

[Anonymous]

Because 98% of cyclists are complete assholes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because 98% of cyclists are complete assholes.

98% of cyclists that you notice are assholes.

The majority of us you don't notice because we're decent people.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Just got home from my errands. While out, I encountered a pack of cyclists. They were taking a left turn from Falls Road (heading North) onto River Road in Potomac. There were several cars behind them also taking a left and others who were heading south on Falls taking a right onto River. There had to be at least five or six cars right behind the pack of cyclists after they completed their turn and were heading down River. You would think a decent cyclist would eventually pull over to the right to let motorists pass. I watched. They continued to ride in their pack taking up the entire road for several minutes, forcing cars to have to pass in lane of oncoming traffic. This is so dangerous. Isn't there a law that requires cyclists to not take up the whole road? I want to hear from you jerks who do this and understand why it is you do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because 98% of cyclists are complete assholes.

98% of cyclists that you notice are assholes.

The majority of us you don't notice because we're decent people.

No, the majority are assholes. The people who are going for a bike ride? Decent people. "Cyclists?" with their Lycra jersies, going WAY too fast for systems that were not built to handle a daily or weekend tour de france? Assholes. Total, obnoxious assholes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Just got home from my errands. While out, I encountered a pack of cyclists. They were taking a left turn from Falls Road (heading North) onto River Road in Potomac. There were several cars behind them also taking a left and others who were heading south on Falls taking a right onto River. There had to be at least five or six cars right behind the pack of cyclists after they completed their turn and were heading down River. You would think a decent cyclist would eventually pull over to the right to let motorists pass. I watched. They continued to ride in their pack taking up the entire road for several minutes, forcing cars to have to pass in lane of oncoming traffic. This is so dangerous. Isn't there a law that requires cyclists to not take up the whole road? I want to hear from you jerks who do this and understand why it is you do it!

No. Actually "share the road" means they have just as much right to be there as you do.

FWIW, I am a cyclist and I don't do this. I intentionally drive to a place where the roads are very quiet so that 1)I'm not inconveniencing others and 2) for my own safety. On the rare occasions a car does come along, I try to move as far to the side as I can so the car can safely pass.
BUT, no--I'm not required to do this.

[Anonymous]

Interesting read about "share the road"
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/09/02/share-the-road-signs-dont-work/

I'm pp at 15:24

[Anonymous]

Because I have the same right to the road as you. Deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Just got home from my errands. While out, I encountered a pack of cyclists. They were taking a left turn from Falls Road (heading North) onto River Road in Potomac. There were several cars behind them also taking a left and others who were heading south on Falls taking a right onto River. There had to be at least five or six cars right behind the pack of cyclists after they completed their turn and were heading down River. You would think a decent cyclist would eventually pull over to the right to let motorists pass. I watched. They continued to ride in their pack taking up the entire road for several minutes, forcing cars to have to pass in lane of oncoming traffic. This is so dangerous. Isn't there a law that requires cyclists to not take up the whole road? I want to hear from you jerks who do this and understand why it is you do it!

Obnoxious behavior in Potomac surprised you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because I have the same right to the road as you. Deal with it.

But you only follow the rules of the road when they are convenient to you.