Let's ride single file out there !

[mrc06405]

As I was coming out of my driveway I say two cyclists riding side by
side and a leisurely pace having a nice conversation while leading a
convoy of about four cars.

The road rage incident in Milford was fresh in my mind so I decided to
ask the cyclists to ride single file. I pulled over by the side of
the road further up, but the first pair must have turned left because
four cars came speeding by with no cyclists.

Then over the hill came two ladies, riding side by side two men also
riding side by side and a car either between them or behind them.

When the girls went by I asked them to ride side by side. One of the
cylists asked if I had a problem. I said "Yes, I am an avid cyclist
and it is important to ride single file." He continued in a
belligerent way claiming "We know how to ride", "we always ride single
file." and "where do you want us to ride, on the sidwalk." Needless
to say things went downhill from there. With them claiming several
times they always ride single file in spite of the fact that I had
just seen them ride two by two on a busy road.

So let me say again,

PLEASE ride single file whenever you are on a busy road or there is
traffic.
PLEASE, when riding in a group use a mirror and call out "CAR BACK"
when a car is coming so people ahead can get into single file and
drive safely
and PLEASE if someone asks you to ride single file, don't provoke a
confrontation. The person that gets hurt might be the next victim of
road rage.

Thanks,

Mike Cohen