Even pro's need to be careful out there.

[Hook#3287]

These officers had a tough day.


https://www.facebook.com/CobbCountyGovernment/photos/pcb.10155740699357559/10155740688772559/?type=3

For some reason the post goes to a expanded picture.  "X" it out and the story shows.

[John Schmidt]

And more than likely at least two were riding side by side. So, if one goes down it pretty guarantees someone else goes down. One of the dumbest practices ever on a bike, but you can't tell them that. 

[..]

The water repair crews need a kickin' for not putting any warning signs out or not even just throwing soil on the ice.

[Rams]

And more than likely at least two were riding side by side. So, if one goes down it pretty guarantees someone else goes down. One of the dumbest practices ever on a bike, but you can't tell them that. 

Careful where you step there John.   There are some here who participate in that kind of riding often.   At least, that's what I've seen posted on this forum.   
I'm not one of them but, they are around.

Rams 

[Jersey mike]

Yikes, now there's a real problem for the town. Cops down because of the water department. Lawyers are going to have a field day with this. It's a real good thing it wasn't a mother and kids in a minivan hitting the ice and off the road or head on into another vehicle.

[NewValker]

Britmans right, anytime we have a water leak or ruptured pipe there is a sand truck on site until the leak is repaired and the ice is taken care of.
Course, it’s an easy call up here, roads are so cold all winter, there’s always ice. Maybe in GA. ice is hit or miss, depending on temps?
Still hate seeing bikes upended like that & hope they all heal up and ride again.

Craig

[Hook#3287]

Yikes, now there's a real problem for the town. Cops down because of the water department. Lawyers are going to have a field day with this. It's a real good thing it wasn't a mother and kids in a minivan hitting the ice and off the road or head on into another vehicle.

At this time, it's still unclear if the accident was prior to the water dept's arrival, or after.

[John Schmidt]

And more than likely at least two were riding side by side. So, if one goes down it pretty guarantees someone else goes down. One of the dumbest practices ever on a bike, but you can't tell them that. 

Careful where you step there John.   There are some here who participate in that kind of riding often.   At least, that's what I've seen posted on this forum.   
I'm not one of them but, they are around.

Rams 

Yes, I know, like you...I don't ride that way either. Still a dumb practice, and I realize I might be stepping on  some toes. I guess I've gotten old enough that if what I say steps on toes....then move your toes.   And while they're at it maybe take a look at their practice. I speak from the experience of more years riding than many on here have been breathing; i.e., riding side by side is a dangerous practice. 

[Hook#3287]

It's kinda ironic that about the only two groups that ride in that formation are the leo's and HA's.

[f6john]

I do lots of dumb stuff. I ride side by side occasionally, I ride without a helmet a lot. I ride with minimal gear more often that not. Many people I know think that riding a motorcycle is dumb! All that said everyone should do whatever they can to stay safe out there. If I ever get back to riding, I’ll re-evaluate my choices.

[Westernbiker]

You want to ride side by side with your buddy, then do it!
You want to ride in a pair of shorts, then do it!
You want to ride in a pair of sandals, then do it!
You want to ride without a helmet, then do it!
You want to ride with no eye protection, then do it!
Don't let anyone tell you what you should or should not do, it's your life.
We live in the good ole U.S.A. where we make our own choices, good or bad.
We make the choice, we live with the choice, end of story! 
Now put your big girl panties on and go for a ride. 

[Black Pearl's Captain]

It's kinda ironic that about the only two groups that ride in that formation are the leo's and HA's.

It has a name, it's called parade formation. So what if Motomama and I like a good parade. Some of you probably don't like clowns either.

[Willow]

Yes, I know, like you...I don't ride that way either. Still a dumb practice, and I realize I might be stepping on  some toes. I guess I've gotten old enough that if what I say steps on toes....then move your toes.   And while they're at it maybe take a look at their practice. I speak from the experience of more years riding than many on here have been breathing; i.e., riding side by side is a dangerous practice. 

I'm still out here.  I don't have your perspective.  Riding staggered, depending upon the separation distance, has the same possibility of distributing a crash based upon which direction the crashing rider goes.

You speak from experience?  How many times have you witnessed a crash actually the result of riding side by side?  I don't recall actually witnessing any multiple motorcycle crashes personally, but I've read reports of a lot of them.  It seems to my memory that a very minimal number of those multiples were side by side riders, let alone caused by side by side riding.  I personally am convinced that whom one is riding next to is much more a determination of the danger factor than the relative position of that rider.  I won't rest solely on my experience, but I've ridden more miles than hours that you and a lot of others have been alive.

I like you, Stuffy, but for even a relatively intelligent man to make absolute statements based only on feelings smacks of at least momentary ignorance.

Incidentally I would only ride close, staggered or side by side, with another rider that I know well and trust.  I greatly enjoy riding side by side with Mama when the situation lends itself.  I've ridden at speed closely enough to a motorcycle policeman that he could reach over an flip my kill switch.  Riding motorcycles is certainly more dangerous than driving cages.  Riding with inadequate skills increases the danger.  I'm confident that I can name a number of factors that are more dangerous than riding in pairs.

My toes are fine.  The sensitivity of my toes is directly related to my impression of the degree of superior intellect or knowledge of the person insulting me.        

 

[John Schmidt]

 Riding staggered, depending upon the separation distance, has the same possibility of distributing a crash based upon which direction the crashing rider goes.
AGREED!

How many times have you witnessed a crash actually the result of riding side by side?
THREE! Two directly in front of me, one was a bit behind but riding in the adjacent lane. In one instance, we were all riding a good distance behind a semi when it threw some rubber. One guy swerved to miss it, cars in the adjacent lane passing us so he went to his right and took out his partner. The second one in front of me was simply a bad spot in the road, causing his front wheel to jerk slightly sideways and down he went taking out the guy next to him. Granted, riding staggered might have had the same result, but those of us that were staggered didn't go down even though it happened in front of us. We were all able to swerve to avoid them, we most likely would have taken others down if riding side by side at that time.

I've ridden more miles than hours that you and a lot of others have been alive.
True, it's possible, also keep in mind I had a good number of years head start on you. Somewhere in various family photos kept by relatives are pictures of me as a little kid on the back of a homemade scooter running around the farm. A number of relatives had farms within a few miles of each other and my cousins and I made the rounds regularly. Saddle time while in the USAF did drop off somewhat but not totally. Though not my longest rides, just three trips back in the mid-90's to a friend's mountain cabin in Angel Fire, NM accounted for well over 13k(I paid for some glasses, guess I need to use them ). As a kid in HS back in the early 50's, it wasn't unusual for a couple of us to take off for a couple weeks during summer, having one last blast before early football practice in August. I do remember a big part of our luggage was spare parts.   Totals over 60+ years would be a substantial figure.

I like you, Stuffy, but for even a relatively intelligent(gee thanks, ~130  ) man to make absolute statements based only on feelings smacks of at least momentary ignorance.
They aren't.....and I've been called worse.

Incidentally I would only ride close, staggered or side by side, with another rider that I know well and trust.  I greatly enjoy riding side by side with Mama when the situation lends itself.  I've ridden at speed closely enough to a motorcycle policeman that he could reach over an flip my kill switch.  Riding motorcycles is certainly more dangerous than driving cages.  Riding with inadequate skills increases the danger.  I'm confident that I can name a number of factors that are more dangerous than riding in pairs.
No argument from me.

My toes are fine.  The sensitivity of my toes is directly related to my impression of the degree of superior intellect or knowledge of the person insulting me.
Re. your toes.....good to hear, but judging by your last sentence I'm not so sure......

Have a good day my friend, stay warm.  

[Hook#3287]

Whether it's stupid, dangerous, a parade, tons of fun or whatever it's not a riding style I'm comfortable with.

One day on a ride with several friends, I asked one to stop riding next to me.

He obliged my request and 10 min later, a dog being walked on the side of the road, broke it's leash and bolted at me.  I had to swerve to my left to miss it.

Had I not stopped my buddy from being next to me, I would have stopped my buddy from being next to me rather abruptly, most likely injuring him, myself and our passengers.

I like having the whole lane.

 

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's kinda ironic that about the only two groups that ride in that formation are the leo's and HA's.

One of my Harley buddies recently joined a local club. They ride side by side. I asked him why. The only answer he could come up with was “it looks cool”.  ??? I didn’t realize this was such a sensitive subject here. Any of you want to be in a parade and look cool, that’s fine with me. I’ll pass though. 

[Jess from VA]

I don't mind if someone (that I know and is a good rider) parallels me rolling through town or some other slow roll area.  But once out riding up at 35 and over, there is just no good reason to do it.  Everyone likes to have a bit of their own space, and to only have to worry about themselves and not a guy 2 feet away next to him.  How many great riders have the discipline to just run over that stinking roadkill skunk, rather than the involuntary reflex swerve into the guy next to them?  

If you're feeling spunky, you can close your stagger fairly tight (to the point of it not being much safer than parallel, but it's still safer).

If I don't know you, please don't parallel me, and I'll return the favor.

And it's OK to pull up next to the leader briefly and point at your crotch to indicate you are about to pee your pants (or maybe even started), but after the signal, please move back a little.  Thank you.  

I also think this is another of those geographic area riding things.  If you live somewhere flat with one curve per hour and the trees are not right next to the road (deer), you might feel parallel riding is fine.  But in the twisty, windy, steep elevation mountains and woods (or even just over hill and dale), it's not fine.  It's not even fun.   On these roads, it's easy enough to screw up all by yourself (without any help).

Remember Mike Hubcap's story about having an oncoming Hog go so wide out of a curve, the guy passed him on the right side of his own lane?    Stagger let that happen without mayhem.    (Of course, at some point, it's got to be single file anyway)

[old2soon]

Ridden a number of years with my Brother da prez. In the slow areas-45 M P H or less and the fast areas-interstate comes to mind-we do indeed ride staggered. I'll pull next to him or vice versa at a traffic light or stop sign and whoever has lead takes off first. That keeping the stagger leaving a traffic control device will also let you see how much attention or lack thereof is going on with the operator of the vehicle behind whoever leaves second!  Have NOT been bumped or tagged or run over-YET-but on the other hand it Has been close a time or three.  P G R missions-leastways in Missouri-are instructed during the briefing to ride staggered. Had some other riders I USED to ride with insist on side by side. Notice used IS capitalized. Depending on whether you are near the center line or the fog line someone next to you removes an escape route. BUT paying attention while in the saddle IS the one thing you have control of to help in ANY situation that may arise. and-YES-I duz realize a Lot of "stuff" is beyond our control. RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

Some interesting perspectives above.   

Points of fact:
Riding motorcycles can be harmful to your health.
Riding in formation (or close proximity) of any kind, increases the risk of the afore mentioned health hazard.
The closer people ride together, the less time and room they have to react to surprise situations.   Don't care how long you've ridden with your buddy, wife, friend, the risk is higher.

I have flown helicopters and ridden bikes in close formation many times, I know the above to be true.   Anyone that doesn't recognize that as true is NOT looking at it realistically.    I don't care what others do, that's their choice.   Just not something I chose to do.   YMMV but, facts are facts.

[Hooter]

Some interesting "opinions" here. I have seen several accidents by side by side riders. Most of which were preventable if staggered. I have never and still don't want anyone next to me. If I have to make a quick move I don't want to see where someone is when doing it. The fix for me is I ride 99.9% of the time  alone.

I don't care how people ride! Do what you want. I have my preference so that's on me.