An ex work colleague was well into cycling, even competitive. She stated that cyclists were encouraged to ride side by side to make motorists wait for more room to pass. A single file would mean more motorists squeezing past very close.
Locally, cycle paths have been put in as part of the national cycle track initiative. One road had roadworks and tailbacks for months. Work extending it still goes on. In the last few months I have seen less than half a dozen cyclists there.
