Bikers - What do you expect of cars in this situation...
Discussion
First of all, this is not designed to be rant about bikers or car drivers. I am of the opinion that all road users are equal, whether you're driving a horse drawn carriage or an articulated lorry. Also, this isn't a question about filtering, I get that but this is different (I think).
Today, on an A road somewhere in East Sussex on a bank holiday (busy day for bikers), I observed the car in front of me deliberately making room for bikers to pass. Fine, no issue with that so far. However, this dude was taking it to the extreme. He was diving to the left when bikes approached, driving over chevron areas, almost mounting the pavement at times in order to make room. It got even more dramatic to watch when he did it while the biker was still behind me, or behind the car behind me!
So far, so chuckle inducing, but what got me thinking was when a biker, having passed us both (credit to him for waiting for a safe moment), gave the driver in front of me a huge and very enthusiastic thumbs up. It was as if he was saying "that's it mate, do everything you can to keep the f*** out of my way!".
I have always been of the impression that the correct behaviour in this situation is to continue driving normally, conscious of the biker wishing to pass, and allow extra space when it is safe and appropriate to do so. That's what I was doing during this journey, and the bikers were happily passing me all day long.
To my question though, what do you expect? Was it right for this biker to encourage the guy who was driving erratically and unpredictably in order to create space that shouldn't have been there, or was I right to protect my lane position unless and until it was safe to do otherwise?
Today, on an A road somewhere in East Sussex on a bank holiday (busy day for bikers), I observed the car in front of me deliberately making room for bikers to pass. Fine, no issue with that so far. However, this dude was taking it to the extreme. He was diving to the left when bikes approached, driving over chevron areas, almost mounting the pavement at times in order to make room. It got even more dramatic to watch when he did it while the biker was still behind me, or behind the car behind me!
So far, so chuckle inducing, but what got me thinking was when a biker, having passed us both (credit to him for waiting for a safe moment), gave the driver in front of me a huge and very enthusiastic thumbs up. It was as if he was saying "that's it mate, do everything you can to keep the f*** out of my way!".
I have always been of the impression that the correct behaviour in this situation is to continue driving normally, conscious of the biker wishing to pass, and allow extra space when it is safe and appropriate to do so. That's what I was doing during this journey, and the bikers were happily passing me all day long.
To my question though, what do you expect? Was it right for this biker to encourage the guy who was driving erratically and unpredictably in order to create space that shouldn't have been there, or was I right to protect my lane position unless and until it was safe to do otherwise?
To be honest, I actually prefer car drivers to do nothing and just continue as normal.
I can quite often see more of the road ahead and I'll pick my moment to pass when I feel it's safe.
The bike has more than enough power and acceleration to get past in less than a second or two so it isn't necessary to pull to the left.
To be brutal, I dont like it when people pull to the verge when driving normally. It'll kick a load of dust and s
te up at me and the guy driving is often then paying more attention to me than his driving and puts pressure on me to pass.
That said when filtering it's nice that people pull over a little, its let's me know they've seen me and gives a little extra room. The wave was probably just to acknowledge and say 'thanks', but equally most riders won't get annoyed if you dont move over, we can pass quite easily.
I can quite often see more of the road ahead and I'll pick my moment to pass when I feel it's safe.
The bike has more than enough power and acceleration to get past in less than a second or two so it isn't necessary to pull to the left.
To be brutal, I dont like it when people pull to the verge when driving normally. It'll kick a load of dust and s
te up at me and the guy driving is often then paying more attention to me than his driving and puts pressure on me to pass. That said when filtering it's nice that people pull over a little, its let's me know they've seen me and gives a little extra room. The wave was probably just to acknowledge and say 'thanks', but equally most riders won't get annoyed if you dont move over, we can pass quite easily.
I'm personally not a fan of cars moving over for me, it's nice to know they've observed me but i'll decide if and when i'm going to pass the car.
I've seen quite a few times cars trying to pull so far out the way they kick up all the crap in the gutters and on one occasion i've seen a car run along the curb, it's very nice people are happy to make room but i just don't think it's needed.
If the traffic is slow and it's to aid filtering then yes, thank you very much.
I've seen quite a few times cars trying to pull so far out the way they kick up all the crap in the gutters and on one occasion i've seen a car run along the curb, it's very nice people are happy to make room but i just don't think it's needed.
If the traffic is slow and it's to aid filtering then yes, thank you very much.
YTee said:
So far, so chuckle inducing, but what got me thinking was when a biker, having passed us both (credit to him for waiting for a safe moment), gave the driver in front of me a huge and very enthusiastic thumbs up. It was as if he was saying "that's it mate, do everything you can to keep the f*** out of my way!".
He was showing his appreciation to the guy who moved over, making his life easier. If you shift left a bit (when safe) then maybe you too can get a thumbs up 
Been in France.Spain all week and the number of motorists there who help you out is brilliant. (They get a leg wave though).
I prefer it when cars just move across a little and I'll choose my own time to pass. If they move across a long way you feel a little as if you should pass straight away as they've made room. If you then pass and the car spots a pothole/something and swings back you'll get taken out.
When a car moves across 'excessively' I often stay behind anyway as I'm waiting for a better break in traffic, probably leaving the driver wondering why I'm not passing. I still thank them when I pass of course as they're trying to help and the intention was good.
OP - I think you're reading too much into his wave.
When a car moves across 'excessively' I often stay behind anyway as I'm waiting for a better break in traffic, probably leaving the driver wondering why I'm not passing. I still thank them when I pass of course as they're trying to help and the intention was good.
OP - I think you're reading too much into his wave.
Edited by Garybee on Monday 6th May 22:31
I wish cars would just drive normally.
I've had stupid drivers spot me in the mirror on the bike, slow right down (almost to a stop) and indicate left.... On a bend! For christ sake if I want to get past, I will get past when I'm good and ready to get past. I don't need you to slow down and "tell" me when to get past.
I've had stupid drivers spot me in the mirror on the bike, slow right down (almost to a stop) and indicate left.... On a bend! For christ sake if I want to get past, I will get past when I'm good and ready to get past. I don't need you to slow down and "tell" me when to get past.
I appreciate car drivers moving aside on dual carriageways and motorways but on A roads they are likely to be churning up all sorts of st out if the gutter that it’ll probably cause more problems.
Saw some old duffer do this once, it threw up a rock that cracked a mate’s fairing, he wasn’t happy.
t out if the gutter that it’ll probably cause more problems. Saw some old duffer do this once, it threw up a rock that cracked a mate’s fairing, he wasn’t happy.
Thx for the responses. It's what I was expecting to be honest and I'll carry on the way I've been doing it.
About the thumbs up thing, yeh I know I'm probably over-thinking it, but it does feel like you only get one if you do something very obvious and intentional to make room, and I think that means you must be doing it wrong and paying more attention to allowing the bike to pass than, say, stopping in time to avoid that child!
Some have said it's more helpful to leave more room in front so the bike can duck in and out (and I do that), but doing that won't get you a thumbs up most of the time as it's not obvious enough.
There's a small sense of injustice in driving properly but getting ignored vs driving like a prick and getting a thumbs up from all the bikers
About the thumbs up thing, yeh I know I'm probably over-thinking it, but it does feel like you only get one if you do something very obvious and intentional to make room, and I think that means you must be doing it wrong and paying more attention to allowing the bike to pass than, say, stopping in time to avoid that child!
Some have said it's more helpful to leave more room in front so the bike can duck in and out (and I do that), but doing that won't get you a thumbs up most of the time as it's not obvious enough.
There's a small sense of injustice in driving properly but getting ignored vs driving like a prick and getting a thumbs up from all the bikers
The worst is when you ride up a hill and the car in front of you decides to “compete” meaning going bks slow in corners (often also cutting over center line) and then accelerating just fast enough on straights to kill your entire drive.
Sometimes what looks like a car making room for a bike to pass is nothing more than car driver reading his phone or setting his navigation/radio.
I do not assume nothing on the roads.
I also filter in queues only between cars that stand still, one time car swerving and hitting me on my leg was enough.
ks slow in corners (often also cutting over center line) and then accelerating just fast enough on straights to kill your entire drive. Sometimes what looks like a car making room for a bike to pass is nothing more than car driver reading his phone or setting his navigation/radio.
I do not assume nothing on the roads.
I also filter in queues only between cars that stand still, one time car swerving and hitting me on my leg was enough.
Ho Lee Kau said:
The worst is when you ride up a hill and the car in front of you decides to “compete” meaning going bks slow in corners (often also cutting over center line) and then accelerating just fast enough on straights to kill your entire drive.
What kind of bike are you riding that a car acceleration is of any consequence?ks slow in corners (often also cutting over center line) and then accelerating just fast enough on straights to kill your entire drive. Ho Lee Kau said:
I also filter in queues only between cars that stand still, one time car swerving and hitting me on my leg was enough.
My only "big" accident was filtering between stationary cars. Car on the right hand side - passenger decided to fling his door open straight in front of me.You can't get rid of every risk.
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