[jwasbury]

When I learned to ride a motorcycle, I was taught that you don't ride smack in the center of the lane. The reason I was given is that the center of the lane is where the cars and trucks leak oil, antifreeze, and other fluids, so grip may be compromised. You want your motorcycle tires rolling along the same area where all the car and truck tires have been rolling. Makes sense to me.

When riding in a group, the each rider should stagger within the lane, on either side of center (again, with tires rolling where the four+ wheelers tires roll). Never side y side though. The staggered formation is for visibility. Again, make sense to me.

It sounds from your description that these folks were planted so far from the center that they were in between lanes. They weren't doing it right.