Positioning (Passing Motorbikes)
Discussion
This is interesting one as when I did Advanced Driver Training I was told not to sacrifice position for passing motorbikes but I seem to have gotten into this one again. Not sure if its spring but had a number of very poorly ridden bikes yesterday, seems spring has sprung and they have dusted off their weekend toys and come out to play.
In this case I was in a 50mph limit gentle left hander and traffic was barely doing 40mph, a biker decided progress was worth a head on and proceeded to pass me with on coming traffic, I moved over to create a safety gap and the biker thanked me by spraying my car with stones.
The bike passed me on the hazard line with oncoming car (Meat in the sandwich) as we would say or 3 a breast.
The bike cut in very tight on me, luckily I wasn't close to the car in front.
1) Argument my instructor gave was I am inviting the biker into the space by sacrificing my lateral position its inviting them to overtake.
2) My argument was it was safer to give them space as they often will go for the overtake given the nature of a biker smaller with higher acceleration.
Be interested to hear other points of view on this.
In this case I was in a 50mph limit gentle left hander and traffic was barely doing 40mph, a biker decided progress was worth a head on and proceeded to pass me with on coming traffic, I moved over to create a safety gap and the biker thanked me by spraying my car with stones.
The bike passed me on the hazard line with oncoming car (Meat in the sandwich) as we would say or 3 a breast.
The bike cut in very tight on me, luckily I wasn't close to the car in front.
1) Argument my instructor gave was I am inviting the biker into the space by sacrificing my lateral position its inviting them to overtake.
2) My argument was it was safer to give them space as they often will go for the overtake given the nature of a biker smaller with higher acceleration.
Be interested to hear other points of view on this.
I think the two can probably co-exist. I'd tend to hold position to dissuade them, but with the plan that I have time/space to concede that position if they decide it's on. I can't remember the last time I gave up the position so it must be working ok, or my memory is broken which is also quite possible!
Chris
Chris
Davel said:
I drive and ride - but not at the same time.
If there is a faster biker coming up behind me, whatever I'm doing, I will try to make it easier for she/him to filter past.
Why wouldn't you?
Likewise I both ride and drive, for over thirty years. If there is a faster biker coming up behind me, whatever I'm doing, I will try to make it easier for she/him to filter past.
Why wouldn't you?
I will never deliberately block but I won’t move to make easier either. In the same way I won’t flash people out of junctions. I’m not going to do anything that takes any responsibility for another driver/riders actions. If someone wants to overtake, I have no problem with it, but they need to be fully in control of it and making their own decisions about it.
I drive and ride. More important to a rider I believe is to know that the driver in front sees them, not to necessarily make space for them.
When driving with a bike behind, good head movement towards mirrors I believe helps the rider more than anything. Seeing my eyes in either mirror helps them to have confidence that i'm aware they're there.
When driving with a bike behind, good head movement towards mirrors I believe helps the rider more than anything. Seeing my eyes in either mirror helps them to have confidence that i'm aware they're there.
dvenman said:
Davel said:
Why wouldn't you?
If it makes it less safe for me...why should I sacrifice my safety for a biker who's only concerned about their progress?On my ride into work, cars often pull slightly left to allow more space for me to pass (double white lines mean I can't get past without), but I never really considered how it affected them negatively.
boyse7en said:
How does moving a few feet laterally sacrifice your safety?
On my ride into work, cars often pull slightly left to allow more space for me to pass (double white lines mean I can't get past without), but I never really considered how it affected them negatively.
Bikes seem to ignore double white lines anyway, IME. I just keep the standard position.On my ride into work, cars often pull slightly left to allow more space for me to pass (double white lines mean I can't get past without), but I never really considered how it affected them negatively.
boyse7en said:
How does moving a few feet laterally sacrifice your safety?
Someone's put it more succintly and more readably than I. If it's safe I will move but I feel under no compunction to do so if it reduces my view, puts me somewhere I don't like, or sticks me in the crud along the verge.I moved over on the straight as he came up close and tight to the centre, little did I know he waited for the bend to pass at the same time as the fabia.
In some cases I get a wave of thanks, this darling just kicked stones from the hazard line as that's how he passed me and the 335d, onto sold whites just ahead.
Slowest 335d every didn't manage over 40 in 50 but sailed at 40 into the 30 as you do!
In some cases I get a wave of thanks, this darling just kicked stones from the hazard line as that's how he passed me and the 335d, onto sold whites just ahead.
Slowest 335d every didn't manage over 40 in 50 but sailed at 40 into the 30 as you do!
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