Discussion
Not sure if I'm repeating myself or not, but does anyone else notice that some people (so far, mainly older gents in Mercs, Beemers, and smaller vans), will actually see you coming in their mirrors, and move out to the centre of the road to stop you filtering.....Why? What do they stand to gain. I can understand some motorists getting a bit p!ssed off with 25 bikes all over their cars at the lights, but 2 seconds later we're nowhere to be seen!
And breathe..........
And breathe..........
chilli said:
Not sure if I'm repeating myself or not, but does anyone else notice that some people (so far, mainly older gents in Mercs, Beemers, and smaller vans), will actually see you coming in their mirrors, and move out to the centre of the road to stop you filtering.....Why? What do they stand to gain. I can understand some motorists getting a bit p!ssed off with 25 bikes all over their cars at the lights, but 2 seconds later we're nowhere to be seen!
And breathe..........
and Black Cabs, lorries, buses, etc.....
One thing British drivers are generally not good at is allowing faster vehicles to pass. The inherited "queuing instinct" seems to take over all reason making drivers do some pretty stupid and pointless things just to keep the other road user “in their place in the queue”. 
There’s no logic to it and it achieves little but, after all, we British are the queuing masters of the world.
Thank those who do move out of the way and avoid those who don’t. There’s little else you can do.
To see the other extreme, go to the BMF show at Peterborough. Queues of bikes waiting to get into the bike park and there’s still those that “filter past” to get to the front. Given that the queue is only for bikes and filtering to the front will only cause other bikes to have to wait, it does seem just a little selfish!
There’s no logic to it and it achieves little but, after all, we British are the queuing masters of the world.
Thank those who do move out of the way and avoid those who don’t. There’s little else you can do.
To see the other extreme, go to the BMF show at Peterborough. Queues of bikes waiting to get into the bike park and there’s still those that “filter past” to get to the front. Given that the queue is only for bikes and filtering to the front will only cause other bikes to have to wait, it does seem just a little selfish!
Davel said:
I'm thinking of louder cans for the very same reason.
If they can't see you on a brightly coloured bike, with headlamps on, and wearing a high viz waistcoat or whatever, maybe a louder exhaust might just make a difference.
Ah, but that's my point....They CAN see you.....Thy just take great joy in stopping us from maling "steady progress"!!
As it's so easy to get stereotyped as a biker, especially with some of the antics that couriers get up to in London, being nice to drivers who make space would seem to be a good way forward.
I'm constantly amazed at just how misguided the Joe Public perception of motorcycling is. Anything that can be done not to reinforce their bizarre self righteousness does help. Some people expect to be cut up by bikes. When I'm driving my cage and I've made space for bikes I've had passengers notice the wave of thanks from a biker.
Of course, you could give in to the tempation to rip Mr Mercs lower jaw off and use it to disembowel the tw*t from crotch to throat. I could go for that as well
I'm constantly amazed at just how misguided the Joe Public perception of motorcycling is. Anything that can be done not to reinforce their bizarre self righteousness does help. Some people expect to be cut up by bikes. When I'm driving my cage and I've made space for bikes I've had passengers notice the wave of thanks from a biker.
Of course, you could give in to the tempation to rip Mr Mercs lower jaw off and use it to disembowel the tw*t from crotch to throat. I could go for that as well
Most are ok with bikes and do move over because most car commuters are used to bike commuters as we both do the same route each day.
I can say there has been the odd black cab, National Express coach and VW Golf that has had a slight aero dynamic rearrangement to a panel from my boots when they have tried to knock me off the bike after looking straight at me
I can say there has been the odd black cab, National Express coach and VW Golf that has had a slight aero dynamic rearrangement to a panel from my boots when they have tried to knock me off the bike after looking straight at me
I can cope with most of the behaviour described.
BUT THIS I DON'T LIKE:
1. Quite a lot of other bikers scare me with their pushey antics.
2. I get really upset, however, when I have someone driving TOWARDS me in the middle of my lane down narrowish roads from the spatially unaware.
3. This is worst from the "Let-me-through-I'm-a-busy-mother" in an alpha-male motor. Happens all the time round here
BUT THIS I DON'T LIKE:
1. Quite a lot of other bikers scare me with their pushey antics.
2. I get really upset, however, when I have someone driving TOWARDS me in the middle of my lane down narrowish roads from the spatially unaware.
3. This is worst from the "Let-me-through-I'm-a-busy-mother" in an alpha-male motor. Happens all the time round here
The only way to effectively combat the numpty's is to change the impression people have of biker's. Thank those that do move over, and try not to get wound up by those that don't. You'll only cloud your judgement and make your ride more dangerous for yourself.
In France, riders tend to dip a toe off the foot peg after passing to thank a driver or say hi to a biker, when asked by a bike mag, many motorist's beleived the gesture was agressive, which it is not. The percentage of people was quite high, it show's the lack of understanding and poor impression some drivers have of motorcyclist's.
It's just a question of education.
In France, riders tend to dip a toe off the foot peg after passing to thank a driver or say hi to a biker, when asked by a bike mag, many motorist's beleived the gesture was agressive, which it is not. The percentage of people was quite high, it show's the lack of understanding and poor impression some drivers have of motorcyclist's.
It's just a question of education.
One of my first memories of filtering in Stratford upon Avon was a Jag coming the other way deliberately swerving out to the centre to scare me as I was filtering.....
Yep, the boot answer is very tempting, but who's going to come off worse if the car wants to it out. Recon i'll settle for the 'bird'
Yep, the boot answer is very tempting, but who's going to come off worse if the car wants to it out. Recon i'll settle for the 'bird'
Hi all,
I'm lucky enough to be a commuter both on a bike and in a car. (no not at the same time.. i aint that clever!
)
I've recently got back on a bike again after a good number of months break which has been quite good at giving me a clearer view of how things are.
Its a double edge sword. Generally motorists are ruder these days. And pedestrians too. Less people thank you for stopping at a Zebra crossing for them. Bikers generally are becoming less polite in thanking those cars which make a special effort to make space for them.
I've gotta be honest, on a number of occasions in my car it has p!ssed me off that i've made a definite move out of the way for a bike and they have made no acknowledgement. It obviously doesnt make me want to 'Close the Gap'. Thats just being a Tw@t, but it does make me less keen on making any effort to make extra space.
I agree with some of the other posts that we need to make an effort on bikes to be polite when people do get out the way etc then we can't be blamed for enraging the car drivers.
On the other hand (or boot) some car drivers should be given a less than gentle 'clip round the ear' and sent back to driving school!!
Thats my observations.
all the best,
Nick
I'm lucky enough to be a commuter both on a bike and in a car. (no not at the same time.. i aint that clever!
) I've recently got back on a bike again after a good number of months break which has been quite good at giving me a clearer view of how things are.
Its a double edge sword. Generally motorists are ruder these days. And pedestrians too. Less people thank you for stopping at a Zebra crossing for them. Bikers generally are becoming less polite in thanking those cars which make a special effort to make space for them.
I've gotta be honest, on a number of occasions in my car it has p!ssed me off that i've made a definite move out of the way for a bike and they have made no acknowledgement. It obviously doesnt make me want to 'Close the Gap'. Thats just being a Tw@t, but it does make me less keen on making any effort to make extra space.
I agree with some of the other posts that we need to make an effort on bikes to be polite when people do get out the way etc then we can't be blamed for enraging the car drivers.
On the other hand (or boot) some car drivers should be given a less than gentle 'clip round the ear' and sent back to driving school!!
Thats my observations.
all the best,
Nick
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff