Here’s why group riding is actually safer for cyclists and more predictable for drivers:
Group riding reduces the risk of fatal collisions
According to multiple international studies:
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- Cyclists riding alone are passed significantly closer by vehicles than those in a group — increasing the chance of being sideswiped or clipped.
- A UK study (Walker, 2007) found that drivers passed solo riders just 1.18 meters away, but gave larger groups nearly 1.5 meters — beyond the legal safe-passing minimum in many areas.
- A Queensland (Australia) study showed cyclists in pairs or small groups were less likely to be involved in a near-miss than those riding solo.
- Visibility is key: 70% of fatal crashes involving cyclists occur in low-visibility conditions, including when a cyclist is alone and harder to see (NHTSA, 2023).
Groups are easier to See, Predict, and Pass Safely
- A single cyclist can be hidden by trees, curves, or glare.
- A group draws attention. It’s a visual block — like a slow-moving vehicle — and this helps drivers register that they must change lanes or slow down.
In traffic psychology, this is called “salience” — things we notice, we avoid hitting. More cyclists = more salience.
Drivers behave more safely around groups
This one might surprise you:
- When cyclists ride alone, drivers are more likely to take risks — passing too closely, honking, or brushing by.
- In contrast, drivers tend to treat groups of cyclists like they would a farm vehicle or a garbage truck — with more patience, space, and caution.
Cyclists are trying to get home safely too
Most group riders:
- Obey the law (two-abreast riding is legal in most of North America),
- Use hand signals,
- And understand the risks of the road because they are among the most vulnerable road users.
We’re not on the road to block traffic
We’re on the road because it’s often the only safe place to be.
Bike lanes aren’t always available, and road shoulders — like the lanes themselves — are frequently unsafe, obstructed, or scattered with potholes and gravel. These hazards might not affect motorists, but they can be dangerous, even life-threatening, for cyclists.
Cycling in a group (and occasionally occupying an entire lane) is not an act of aggression. It’s self-preservation.
Safety–Backed by evidence, driven by care
At the NHCC, we’ve spent years learning and applying evidence-based cycling safety practices, not just because we love to ride—but because we care deeply about keeping each other safe. If your mother, son, daughter, or father wanted to ride a bike, wouldn’t you want them surrounded by people who prioritize safety above all?
Group riding isn’t just tradition—it’s a proven method of protecting lives on the road, even if it seems counterintuitive to some. Our choices are informed by research, guided by experience, and driven by a simple goal: to help everyone return home safely.
Final thought: A little space saves a lot of lives
Next time you see a group of cyclists on the road, know this:
- They’re not trying to slow you down — just trying to stay alive.
- Most drivers can pass a group safely with a delay of only 10–15 seconds.
- That short wait could save someone’s spouse, friend, or parent.
Thanks for sharing the road
