Giving bikers room...
Discussion
Usually if there is a biker closing on me or sitting behind and if it's safe to do so, I'll position the nearside of the car a bit further over to the left if it will leave the biker room to pass safely on my offside in the same lane, without them having to cross into oncoming traffic. Basically just to give them a bit more room to pass, which they are inevitably going to do anyway.
Usually this used to result in a wee wave from the biker in appreciation. But nowadays it seems they just blast on without a hint of thanks. Some just sit there, close to my bumper with their light blinding me in my rear view mirror.
Am I in the wrong doing this? Is it somehow endangering the biker in a way I've not realised? Or are the bikers just more ungrateful these days?
Usually this used to result in a wee wave from the biker in appreciation. But nowadays it seems they just blast on without a hint of thanks. Some just sit there, close to my bumper with their light blinding me in my rear view mirror.
Am I in the wrong doing this? Is it somehow endangering the biker in a way I've not realised? Or are the bikers just more ungrateful these days?
I wish drivers wouldn't do this. It happened to me, car pulls over to the left and threw up a big stone. £400 Arai wrecked. I know he was only trying to be helpful but he wasn't.
Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
I commute on a bike and always appreciate cars that give you room. I try to wave to them all but sometimes i can't (maybe changing gear or braking etc.)
So if they don't wave don't think they don't appreciate it as most do.
Just like with car drivers you always get the odd prat mind you.
Johnny
So if they don't wave don't think they don't appreciate it as most do.
Just like with car drivers you always get the odd prat mind you.
Johnny
I tend not to do this at speed for a few reasons - but ultimately not wanting to 'press' the rider into a botched overtake. Leave the judgement to the overtaker.
In traffic though I'll move over where possible to let them filter and almost always get a 'thanks'. Remember sometimes they won't have a hand free to wave to you with - you often get a flick of the boot or a nod of the head, which can be quite hard to notice but is just as friendly.
In traffic though I'll move over where possible to let them filter and almost always get a 'thanks'. Remember sometimes they won't have a hand free to wave to you with - you often get a flick of the boot or a nod of the head, which can be quite hard to notice but is just as friendly.
CBR1000RRider said:
I wish drivers wouldn't do this. It happened to me, car pulls over to the left and threw up a big stone. £400 Arai wrecked. I know he was only trying to be helpful but he wasn't.
Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
This exactly. Some inexperienced riders may feel pressured into going for an overtake when it's not on because you've moved over. Bikes can get past easily, they just don't want you to do anything unexpected. Probably more important to leave a gap in front, so they've got somewhere to go, to be honest. Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
CBR1000RRider said:
I wish drivers wouldn't do this. It happened to me, car pulls over to the left and threw up a big stone. £400 Arai wrecked. I know he was only trying to be helpful but he wasn't.
Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
I hadn't considered this. Thanks for enlightening me. Safer to just let the biker do his own thing then?Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
jason s4 said:
I just carry on as normal and let them sort it out for themselves.
You are right though, when i do, no wave of thanks of anymore.
Most times I'll lift a finger or wave a boot, but it depends on the circumstances as it may be awkward. Either way, you don't really need to pull over, just let us get on with it, we'll sort it out.You are right though, when i do, no wave of thanks of anymore.
JustNeil said:
CBR1000RRider said:
I wish drivers wouldn't do this. It happened to me, car pulls over to the left and threw up a big stone. £400 Arai wrecked. I know he was only trying to be helpful but he wasn't.
Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
This exactly. Some inexperienced riders may feel pressured into going for an overtake when it's not on because you've moved over. Bikes can get past easily, they just don't want you to do anything unexpected. Probably more important to leave a gap in front, so they've got somewhere to go, to be honest. Just make eye contact and the rider will know you have seen him. Its the rider who makes the overtake decision, not you.
If the overtake is going to involve a gear change it's unlikely either my left hand or foot will be free to acknowledge. I try to if other motorists have been helpful though.
To be honest, I don't much see the point unless it's to make filtering easier in slow/stopped traffic. Bikers get a pretty good view of the road over the top or around the side of cars. We can work out for ourselves when it's safe to pass. A car moving to the left of the lane could mean all sorts of things - you're slowing or stopping (without indicating), gawping at the scenery, possibly wanting to do a u-turn, possibly just daydreaming and not following the line of the road. You could be a psycho wanting to scare or squish a biker. Either way, I'd much rather wait for a gap and pass wide than get between a car and oncoming traffic just to save a few seconds.
To be honest, I don't much see the point unless it's to make filtering easier in slow/stopped traffic. Bikers get a pretty good view of the road over the top or around the side of cars. We can work out for ourselves when it's safe to pass. A car moving to the left of the lane could mean all sorts of things - you're slowing or stopping (without indicating), gawping at the scenery, possibly wanting to do a u-turn, possibly just daydreaming and not following the line of the road. You could be a psycho wanting to scare or squish a biker. Either way, I'd much rather wait for a gap and pass wide than get between a car and oncoming traffic just to save a few seconds.
BonzoG said:
I tend not to do this at speed for a few reasons - but ultimately not wanting to 'press' the rider into a botched overtake. Leave the judgement to the overtaker.
In traffic though I'll move over where possible to let them filter and almost always get a 'thanks'. Remember sometimes they won't have a hand free to wave to you with - you often get a flick of the boot or a nod of the head, which can be quite hard to notice but is just as friendly.
I'd say this is spot on, it's what I did for bikers when I wasn't one.In traffic though I'll move over where possible to let them filter and almost always get a 'thanks'. Remember sometimes they won't have a hand free to wave to you with - you often get a flick of the boot or a nod of the head, which can be quite hard to notice but is just as friendly.
Now I do ride a bike when filtering it makes my life much more easy if people just pullover a bit which makes no difference to them sat in a queue.
When out on the open road not all bikers will want to blast past at any slim opportunity and i think it makes little difference / is of little help to the biker as at speed I'll only be passing if there is plenty of room anyway.
I find when filtering I can't really thank everyone as I'd need to be a nodding donkey or riding along with a hand permanently waving.
If there is a line if cars that are already close to the curb leaving loads of room but then I come up behind a car that's out near the centre line blocking the way then actively pulls back in to let me pass then I'll say thanks.
Cool. I can appreciate there will be some bikers less experienced than others who aren't sure what the car driver is about to do.
The other reasons make sense too, some things I don't think about, not being a biker.
What is the best thing to do then? Nothing, carry on in normal method? Indicate once? Would like to make a pass as safe as possible for you guys as I've seen some crazy near misses and heard the stories of oncoming traffic tragedies.
The other reasons make sense too, some things I don't think about, not being a biker.
What is the best thing to do then? Nothing, carry on in normal method? Indicate once? Would like to make a pass as safe as possible for you guys as I've seen some crazy near misses and heard the stories of oncoming traffic tragedies.
All very well saying to allow them to make the decision to overtake, but personally I don't like having a bike sitting behind me in traffic, as I end up spending a disproportionate amount of time anticipating his inevitable overtake move. Thereby reducing my time concentrating on other things around me.
calibrax said:
All very well saying to allow them to make the decision to overtake, but personally I don't like having a bike sitting behind me in traffic, as I end up spending a disproportionate amount of time anticipating his inevitable overtake move. Thereby reducing my time concentrating on other things around me.
The biker will always make the decision when to overtake, and won't be influenced by a driver driving in the ditch. He genuinely doesn't need help from you as a driver, however well meaning. Just do your thing, and let us do our thing.The best thing you can do is keep central in your lane helping us to filter
if you need to move a bit for filtering you'll get a wave most of the time unless it's dangerous to do so.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff