I wish I could say I've never seem such behavior... again and again.
I do think it depends a bit on how heavily trafficked the area. If it's wide open and highly visible, then waving along isn't such a bad thing if all you're asking the driver to do is slide over into the other lane a bit. If it's at all busy, I totally agree with you.

It's the attitude of "I'm considered a vehicle and have every right to this lane, and I'm going to exercise that right regardless of the inconvenience I place on you, or the risk I place on myself".

It's what gets the rest of us in trouble, I agree.

Texas Transportation Code 551.103(c) reads:

[i]Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.[/i]

One can argue the impedance clause; but generally speaking, the cyclists were in the right riding two abreast. Slowing someone down 5 seconds while they wait to pass a pair of cyclists on the road can hardly be considered unreasonable. And as a matter of legality, the motorist, regardless of the number of cyclists riding abreast or their position in the lane, must navigate around the cyclists in a safe manner. Technically, this means they are required to change lanes to pass even an individual riding on the white line.

That's ridiculous. What do people have a death wish? Regardless of what the law says, it makes no sense to do something like that. Pedestrians have the right of way, does that mean people should all walk side by side and run cars right off the road. I think the law is there to protect cyclists in case they get hit. Of course cars should yield to cyclists, but holy cow, I don't think that is necessary.

Me too! In spite of laws being what they are or aren't, I side with excessive caution by cyclists. Laws or no laws, cars win when things go wrong between cars and bikes. I believe in riding single file when cars come around. If nothing else, its a great way to put in some intervals even if they are short!

I know the kinds of roads jtrimom writes about. They're really narrow, no shoulder, with lanes barely wide enough to accomodate a modern SUV. Yes, the Texas Transportation Code does allow for two abreast, so the cyclists were in the right . . . [i]but[/i] there's a difference between 'can' and 'should.' They can do that, but they probably should go single file on narrow two-lane roads. We (cyclists) don't do a good enough job abiding by Transportation Codes - and extending courtesies to 1-ton steel cages - and wonder why drivers hate us? I have been hit - twice - and the amount of energy, force, and mass felt from the impact of a moving car is astounding.

I was in Austin a few weeks ago and witnessed some of the worst cycling 'etiquette' I've ever seen. Lots of hipsters on fixies seem to prefer riding in the MIDDLE of the road and one couple riding two up taking up 3/4 of the lane. This kind of behavior can even turn a cyclist in a car into a road raging lunatic. And it should make cyclists even more angry, as this kind of asswad behavior will only lead to less tolerance for the good cyclists out there.

Out here in CA I see a lot of poor etiquette, too, but nothing as egregious as I saw in Austin!

[quote=TriSooner]I have been hit - twice - and the amount of energy, force, and mass felt from the impact of a moving car is astounding. [/quote]
Wow, I think I would be terrified after that. I met a guy at the gym today who was hit by a car training for his first triathlon this season. Now he only bikes on trails and has stopped training altogether for triathlons.

while being hit is terrifying, frustrating, and painful, please don't let that potentiality stop you from riding on the road.

be courteous and ride defensively and you will ride safely
make good choices about where and how you ride and you will ride safely
mitigate risks, don't close your eyes to them and you will ride safely

i have been hit twice. the first time i was naive, tho riding legally, and put myself in a position of potential danger. the second time i was riding defensively and legally, and i mitigated what could have been a much worse situation. i have been riding 5 days/wk min for the last 9yrs on the roads and i still see lots of questionable situations. but i do my best to recognize them and deal with them prior to any trouble

don't hide and don't stop riding

I agree completely. I've been hit by a car twice on my bike (once running!) and while it can obviously really nerve wracking to get back out there, don't stop getting out there!

Good article I read today at Pez...and yes, the author is THAT John Howard. (bio at end of article)
http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=8708&status=True&catname=...

Yeah, I like that one a lot. +1

IF you don't tell him who will?