I've got no reservations whatever about passing on a double yellow if I feel it's safe. Bear in mind that double yellows and dashes are designed with the acceleration of automobiles in mind. It takes much less of a straight to get by on a bike.
Of course sometimes double yellows are there not because of line-of-sight visibility but because of intersections, driveways, parking lots and other hazards. So it's important to assess the full situation before deciding to blast around.
I got pulled over on Easter for passing on a double yellow. Sight line was good, but it was in a stretch of about 25 closely spaced houses on an otherwise pretty open road. Bad choice. I was lucky. The cop let me off with a verbal.
Of course the poll said "group ride." That makes things much different. As the group gets larger, the more precarious the situation becomes. People further back in the group tend to feel more pressure to get around and stay with the pack. This can lead to some bad choices. Even if there are plenty of places to pass, no cager likes to be buzzed by a dozen bikes. Add to this, the fact that it's precisely on roads with few passing opportunities that I really want to pass (so I can get unimpeded runs at the turns)! So we're likely to be ripping by under less than ideal situations.
Big group rides should be considered more social and you've got to have the discipline to mellow out a bit. If you really want to rip up the mountains, go out early in very small groups.
Of course sometimes double yellows are there not because of line-of-sight visibility but because of intersections, driveways, parking lots and other hazards. So it's important to assess the full situation before deciding to blast around.
I got pulled over on Easter for passing on a double yellow. Sight line was good, but it was in a stretch of about 25 closely spaced houses on an otherwise pretty open road. Bad choice. I was lucky. The cop let me off with a verbal.
Of course the poll said "group ride." That makes things much different. As the group gets larger, the more precarious the situation becomes. People further back in the group tend to feel more pressure to get around and stay with the pack. This can lead to some bad choices. Even if there are plenty of places to pass, no cager likes to be buzzed by a dozen bikes. Add to this, the fact that it's precisely on roads with few passing opportunities that I really want to pass (so I can get unimpeded runs at the turns)! So we're likely to be ripping by under less than ideal situations.
Big group rides should be considered more social and you've got to have the discipline to mellow out a bit. If you really want to rip up the mountains, go out early in very small groups.
