Auto escort for small group ride?

[djdj]

On a solo ride over the weekend on a narrow, two-lane, rolling road I came up behind a small group (~10) of middle-aged riders tooling along 2 or 3 abreast at about 14 mph avg., followed closely by a SUV with hazard flashers on. The riders did not appear to be part of any team or sponsored ride and all appeared to be able-bodied. The SUV (several years old, with out of state plates) did not appear to be government affiliated or bear any indication it was part of an organized ride.

This combination caused a backup and, imho, "potentially" a hazard (because drivers behind may not have seen there were riders ahead of the slow moving car before they attempted to pass). In any event, it seemed to anger drivers stuck in the backup, particularly on hills where the group slowed quite a bit. I was also stuck in the convoy, but pulled over at one point to let the cars behind pass me so they wouldn't try to leapfrog over me.

Just curious if others have tried such an "auto escort" and whether it worked well or not. I dunno, but I'm concerned this escort just caused more "anti-cyclist" sentiment. If it was some type of charity ride, I would totally get it, but that didn't seem to be the case.

[Baron Blubba]

What area of what state was this?

I do a charity ride roughly once a year, pretty hoity toity, that provides sag assistance all over the place for their 600+ riders, which includes many vehicles driving in front of or behind groups of riders in order to provide a safe traffic situation for them. Sometimes it is actually safer, other times it is definitely, significantly, unsafer. Depends on the traffic volume in the area, the nature of the area (is it a rural lesser-used road or a road that many locals use to get from hither to thither), and very importantly: The skill of the driver. I've had several close calls with them, and tend to try to extricate myself and my group from their vicinity as soon as possible when we come across their 'assistance'.

In general, it *can* be a good idea on charity rides that *must* spend small amounts of time on what would otherwise be unsafe roads. But the drivers really ought to be well trained in order for themselves not to provide a hazard for the riders.

[djdj]

Montgomery County, Maryland. NW of Potomac.

[HenryA]

I can see people being aggravated by this. I don’t know Maryland traffic laws, but here they would be in violation by riding more than single file all over the lane with cars backed up. You can ride two abreast but you’re also supposed to move over when there’s traffic backed up behind you. Moving to single file while the cars observe the 3 foot rule passing law would solve a lot of problem. If only everyone follow the rules.

I see this sometimes on the Natchez Trace Parkway where single file is the rule and there will be a car. Often these processions appear to be unsanctioned. The good news is they occur where the traffic is slight and visibility is extremely good.

[Spoker]

Just the way to make people hate cyclists more and potentially force local law changes to prevent cycling.

[StressStrain]

I do a charity ride here in the Detroit MI area that has a police escort front and back. An official police escort like this works really well for obvious reasons, most notably that drivers behave well around police.

An unsanctioned private vehicle providing escort services seems like it gives other drivers a reason to be mad. We don't need that.

[Mr. Pink]

Originally Posted by HenryA

I can see people being aggravated by this. I don’t know Maryland traffic laws, but here they would be in violation by riding more than single file all over the lane with cars backed up. You can ride two abreast but you’re also supposed to move over when there’s traffic backed up behind you. Moving to single file while the cars observe the 3 foot rule passing law would solve a lot of problem. If only everyone follow the rules.

I see this sometimes on the Natchez Trace Parkway where single file is the rule and there will be a car. Often these processions appear to be unsanctioned. The good news is they occur where the traffic is slight and visibility is extremely good.

It's not the bikers. It's the damn car following them at 15mph with hazards on. I drove into a traffic jam caused by this in Westchester, and the anger in the air was palpable. If you can't handle roads with cars, buy an MTB.

[charliedid]

Share The Road

[jasflyfisher]

Originally Posted by djdj

Montgomery County, Maryland. NW of Potomac.

Were they on MD-28 upcounty early-ish on a Saturday morning by any chance? Silver SUV?

I've run into this a couple times, but only with a solo rider. Definitely weren't making any friends given the speed and positioning of the rider and vehicle. In my experience, the escort has police lights in addition to the flashers, and they will use them to back folks off.

Never was close enough to ID the rider, but my guess is they are a member of the judiciary. Changed my route to stay away from the scrum.

[HenryA]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

It's not the bikers. It's the damn car following them at 15mph with hazards on. I drove into a traffic jam caused by this in Westchester, and the anger in the air was palpable. If you can't handle roads with cars, buy an MTB.

It’s the bikers and the follow car who are out there together — sort of.

The difference in aggravation for drivers with a group of riders riding single file in a paceline that can be passed all in one pass and a group of riders riding all over the road with gaps between them is huge.

When overtaking traffic has to make seven different passes to get past a group of riders, it’s going to set them off. That’s not sharing the road.

We have to do our part too — we don’t own the road.

[Mr. Pink]

Abuse of power. But, that's nothing new.

[zap]

Originally Posted by djdj

Montgomery County, Maryland. NW of Potomac.

Years ago John Kerry had vehicle support. Mayor of D.C. (also some years ago) had a motorcycle police escort who would close intersections, etc. He was a real strong cyclist and the midday group ride he attended crushed it going through Bethesda/Potomac.

One time I drove up to a vehicle driving behind a small group of cyclists. In Potomac. No flashers and going 10-15 mph. I gave the driver some time to pass the cyclists (they were single file) but they never attempted to pass....so I honked....several times. Finally decided to pass and the cyclists closest too the vehicle (on a Serotta) was not pleased with me at all.

[benb]

Devil's advocate is this really any more annoying than the Harley Parades?

Those guys do all kinds of stuff that is technically breaking the law and blocking traffic.

Just like bike rides sometimes they arrange a police escort. But other times they pretend one of them is an officer and can block traffic at intersections so they can go through the light on red.

Those guys even used to drive us (other motorcyclists) nuts cause they'd be traveling below the speed limit and they'd make it really dangerous for us to find a way to pass them.

[Alistair]

Given the location, VIP/diplomat with protection detail could be the answer.

Hard to say without more details.

But yeah, agree on that being annoying. If you want an escort, stay on true rural roads and pull over regularly to allow passing. Riding with an escort in the middle of suburbia is a recipe for driver anger, regardless of legality.

[djdj]

Originally Posted by jasflyfisher

Were they on MD-28 upcounty early-ish on a Saturday morning by any chance? Silver SUV?

I've run into this a couple times, but only with a solo rider. Definitely weren't making any friends given the speed and positioning of the rider and vehicle. In my experience, the escort has police lights in addition to the flashers, and they will use them to back folks off.

Never was close enough to ID the rider, but my guess is they are a member of the judiciary. Changed my route to stay away from the scrum.

Saturday morning. Came up behind them heading west on Glen, then later saw them going west on Esworthy (I was heading the opposite way at that point). The SUV was more of a gold color, I think. Virginia non-government plates. No police lights visible.