peter272 wrote:I've rarely seen a cyclist look behind them - it's head down and go
You may not have seen them look behind, but the ones at the front and back of the group absolutely do. Every club has a system for warning the ones behind of traffic approaching from the front, and for warning the ones in front of traffic approaching from the rear. And a system for warning riders behind of potholes and other road obstructions.
Whether they use the system to get off the road and let cars through or not is a separate matter, and I totally agree that they should, more often than they do. Part of the problem is that groups are often too big and unwieldy, which makes it very hard for the group leader to get everyone to stop safely.
Tractor drivers can be fined for holding up traffic by not giving way , so why not cyclists.
No reason why not. But it would be just as hard to prove and infrequently enforced as with tractors. There is lots of slow moving country traffic that is at least as inconsiderate as cyclists can be - where's the aggression and vitriol directed at them?
Similarly car drivers get arrested for illegal road racing, so why not cyclists?
That's different. I agree that busy dual carriageways are no place for time trials, but they're in ones, not groups. It's the fact that there's one every mile that's the problem with all the traffic bunching. Personally I think such time trials are crazy, and bloody dangerous, but it is not the same as two lunatic teenagers actually racing each other in cars.
Actual cycle races on the public highway are completely different. They are not illegal, and they are very carefully administered with signage, marshals, and often motorcycle outriders.
People just need to learn to live and let live a bit, and get less angry.