[video] My ride home from work.....

[aerospacemango]

I'd knock bikers off in my car if they acted like this on the road if it wasn't Illegal as a demonstration your taking the Pi**. I don't think it's acceptable to weave around the traffic in the ways seen in the Video regardless of how competent you are. you put other people in danger just as much as car drivers. nice camera tho

 

Have you actually looked at a biker before?

 

Have you not noticed how much higher they sit, than you in your car? Therefore, they actually have the best view of the road ahead.

 

As mentioned before, I am NOT a biker...never have been, and never will....My best mate was killed at 16 on one....but that doesn't mean that I cannot appreciate riding skills.

 

And I can't believe how this thread has been resurrected, like an un-dead discussion, now wandering through the internet looking for other discussions to cannibalise!

[RageRiot]

hahaha. for the record I'd don't dislike bikers and would ride my self but cant afford it right now anyway but .. it still doesn't give you the right to treat the road like you own it. and there is nothing to be said to prove otherwise.

why exactly would I be wasting away..

[aerospacemango]

hahaha. for the record I'd don't dislike bikers and would ride my self but cant afford it right now anyway but .. it still doesn't give you the right to treat the road like you own it. and there is nothing to be said to prove otherwise.

why exactly would I be wasting away..

 

I'm pretty sure that that accusation could be levelled at any number of drivers on the road, not just bikers!

 

What about that BMW that is always up your a*** in the outside lane of the motorway? Or the Beemer that HAS to pull out of that turning, as you approach it? Or the Beemer.....Hold on.....wait a minute! It's bikers and BMW drivers that are the curse!!!! Now we've sorted that out, can we have a ritualistic burning of them ALL????

[RageRiot]

no but the topic is about bikers. open it up to other drivers if you wish. I'm constantly muttering under my breath at drivers who disregard the highway code. I don't claim to be a perfect driver but the amount of drivers that don't practice basic driving common sense and courtesy is just asking for trouble. I can take corners fast but I don't because one day it'll fail.

[CyberNerd]

 

What about that BMW that is always up your a*** in the outside lane of the motorway? Or the Beemer that HAS to pull out of that turning, as you approach it? Or the Beemer.....Hold on.....wait a minute! It's bikers and BMW drivers that are the curse!!!! Now we've sorted that out, can we have a ritualistic burning of them ALL????

 

hey - my bike IS a BMW !!!!

 

 

 

Have you actually looked at a biker before?

 

Have you not noticed how much higher they sit, than you in your car? Therefore, they actually have the best view of the road ahead.

 

Not only that, but bikes generally have a better view of the road ahead due to positioning - as we have more road to play with it is much easier seeing around a (left-hand) corner by by moving to the right hand side of the road and vice versa. From behind a car, if I sit about a metre or so to the right of the car drive, I can see hazards infront of that car that a car driver wouldn't be able to see.

[aerospacemango]

hey - my bike IS a BMW !!!!

 

Sorry....but that's you in for a double dose then!!!!!

 

Not only that, but bikes generally have a better view of the road ahead due to positioning - as we have more road to play with it is much easier seeing around a (left-hand) corner by by moving to the right hand side of the road and vice versa. From behind a car, if I sit about a metre or so to the right of the car drive, I can see hazards infront of that car that a car driver wouldn't be able to see.

 

This was my point, entirely! Thank you for re-enforcing it!

 

By the way....my previous couple of posts WERE meant to be taken a slightly tongue-in-cheek, for those that didn't realise!

[SYNACK]

hey - my bike IS a BMW !!!!

 

Ouch, be careful admitting that, given the current threads trend someone we be along shortly to threaten to shoot you into the sun

[TechMonkey]

I'd knock bikers off in my car if they acted like this on the road

 

doesn't give you the right to treat the road like you own it

 

I think the contrast between these 2 statements need highlighting.

 

I'd love to know how when riding within the limits of the conditions and of your self and keeping with in traffic laws you are being a danger & putting others lives at risk. This generally only happens when someone else does something stupid (which most bikers take into consideration), isn't following the laws or riding the conditions themselves, or some petty individual decides that someone shouldn't progress more than they can, even if it wouldn't inconvenience them or cause them any grief. Examples are not leaving a good enough gap between cars, either while travelling or while stop in a jam, phone use, shifting over to block a bike coming through or speeding up to try and stop a bike moving in.

[TechMonkey]

Not only that, but bikes generally have a better view of the road ahead due to positioning - as we have more road to play with it is much easier seeing around a (left-hand) corner by by moving to the right hand side of the road and vice versa. From behind a car, if I sit about a metre or so to the right of the car drive, I can see hazards infront of that car that a car driver wouldn't be able to see.

URGGGHHHHH, & this is really bugging me at the moment, especially with the wet mornings floating all the diesel. Why do so many car drivers seem to be unable to stay on their side of the road all of a suddenly? I shift over to the right hand side to get a better view of a left hand bend & nearly get my tyre run over by someone either trying to be a rally star or just unable to turn corners!!!!

[LeMarchand]

Examples are not leaving a good enough gap between cars, either while travelling or while stop in a jam

 

Hold on! We're supposed to leave safe stopping distance + bike space at all times? Surely that would double the length of any traffic jam?

[TechMonkey]

Hold on! We're supposed to leave safe stopping distance + bike space at all times? Surely that would double the length of any traffic jam?

 

& where did I say that? When stopped you should leave space between cars any way, to stop shunting if an accident happens at the back & to allow you to move in case of emergency. If you stop nose to tail you are buggered if anything happens. While actually travelling you should leave the stopping distance plus a safety margin. Most cars doing this would be nice full stop.

 

From a bike point of view (this will cause fury, rage and a lot of discussion but bear with it) this is a distance is a safe gap to move into sensibly, allowing the car that has just been overtaken to slow down slightly without breaking hard or causing issues. The bike will more than likely only be there a short while when it will move on. If this gap is too small as some eejit is tailgating or just being an arse firstly the biker would probably think twice but it means is they do slot into that gap the car behind WILL have to brake.

[localzuk]

From a bike point of view (this will cause fury, rage and a lot of discussion but bear with it) this is a distance is a safe gap to move into sensibly, allowing the car that has just been overtaken to slow down slightly without breaking hard or causing issues. The bike will more than likely only be there a short while when it will move on. If this gap is too small as some eejit is tailgating or just being an arse firstly the biker would probably think twice but it means is they do slot into that gap the car behind WILL have to brake.

 

No, this isn't a safe gap - it is the stopping gap for the car!! That gap is not there for bikes to decide to slip into when its convenient for them.

[HarryMonkey]

I think the contrast between these 2 statements need highlighting.

 

I'd love to know how when riding within the limits of the conditions and of your self and keeping with in traffic laws you are being a danger & putting others lives at risk. This generally only happens when someone else does something stupid (which most bikers take into consideration), isn't following the laws or riding the conditions themselves, or some petty individual decides that someone shouldn't progress more than they can, even if it wouldn't inconvenience them or cause them any grief. Examples are not leaving a good enough gap between cars, either while travelling or while stop in a jam, phone use, shifting over to block a bike coming through or speeding up to try and stop a bike moving in.

 

So, in the original video, the bike weaving in and out and riding the wrong side of the bollards is in keeping with the traffic laws??

[laserblazer]

So, in the original video, the bike weaving in and out and riding the wrong side of the bollards is in keeping with the traffic laws??

 

And so we come full circle!

[HarryMonkey]

Lol ... inevitable really

[aerospacemango]

Ok.....so shall we see, this time, if we can take longer than another 13 pages to go full circle???

 

Who's up for that?

 

Rules are : You can't repeat yourself, but must try to get back to original post!!!

[laserblazer]

Rules are : You can't repeat yourself, but must try to get back to original post!!!

 

Can you take bollards on the wrong side?

[tech_guy]

I feel I must take this as an opportunity to applaud the multitasking skills of young ladies who can both drive and text message at the same time.....

[TechMonkey]

So, in the original video, the bike weaving in and out and riding the wrong side of the bollards is in keeping with the traffic laws??

 

I was replying to RageRiot who was making sweeping statements about bikers. If Mattx was knocked off his bike while going around these bollards he would be in the wrong. But my understanding of those bollards are they are informational anyway, the law says that all vehicles must move over to the left when approaching an oncoming vehicle. So as far as I am aware (happy to be proved wrong) you can pass on the right if it is safe to do so. They are more a warning that there is something in the road. The issue of weaving depends on what bit you are talking about, just bunny hopping cars or going nearside/offside?

 

No, this isn't a safe gap - it is the stopping gap for the car!! That gap is not there for bikes to decide to slip into when its convenient for them.

 

As long as there is nothing happening ahead to cause the traffic to stop (which comes back to the issue of bikes being higher up so have a better view of the road) then there is no reason not to come into that gap, which is why I also said a biker should do it safely. Otherwise what would people on multiple carriage ways move into when needing to get over to the left?

 

You also have to bear in mind drivers are meant to give way to traffic from the right, so as to stop people closing up trapping them out in other lanes. Add to that drivers should be aware of what is going on around them so a bike should never surprise them, they'll have seen it coming up and be prepared to act safely.

 

I would say it all comes down to whether people see travelling by road is a battle, to beat everyone else on the road, be first and give up no ground or as a means of transport to get somewhere with as few issues as possible.

[CyberNerd]

No, this isn't a safe gap - it is the stopping gap for the car!! That gap is not there for bikes to decide to slip into when its convenient for them.

 

It is. That's what gaps in traffic are for - The considerate car drivers are leaving gaps for motorcyles to filter into . Its the truth,

[localzuk]

As long as there is nothing happening ahead to cause the traffic to stop (which comes back to the issue of bikes being higher up so have a better view of the road) then there is no reason not to come into that gap, which is why I also said a biker should do it safely. Otherwise what would people on multiple carriage ways move into when needing to get over to the left?

 

It is. That's what gaps in traffic are for - The considerate car drivers are leaving gaps for motorcyles to filter into . Its the truth,

 

No, you are still wrong here. It is not up to you to judge how safe it is for you to infringe on the safety of someone else in their car. Basically, you are saying that on the road, a biker is a better judge of traffic conditions to a car driver, who knows their car, than they are.

 

More things are taken into account than 'the view of the road ahead' when driving safely. You don't know if that person's car is fully up to spec, or if the car in front has been driving weirdly, so the car behind is driving further away to be sure they're safe, or the random wheel that flies off a car ahead and causes the car in front to slam on its breaks...

 

A car moving over in a lane is supposed to indicate, and look for an opening, not just a gap big enough for them to fit into. Cars in the lane they're moving into are supposed to allow them in by opening up a gap for them, not just by letting them into the safety buffer between them and the vehicle in front!

 

But my understanding of those bollards are they are informational anyway, the law says that all vehicles must move over to the left when approaching an oncoming vehicle. So as far as I am aware (happy to be proved wrong) you can pass on the right if it is safe to do so. They are more a warning that there is something in the road. The issue of weaving depends on what bit you are talking about, just bunny hopping cars or going nearside/offside?

 

Section 36 RTA 88: Fail to conform to a Traffic sign.

Edited October 18, 2011 by localzuk

[CyberNerd]

No, you are still wrong here. It is not up to you to judge how safe it is for you to infringe on the safety of someone else in their car. Basically, you are saying that on the road, a biker is a better judge of traffic conditions to a car driver, who knows their car, than they are.

 

More things are taken into account than 'the view of the road ahead' when driving safely. You don't know if that person's car is fully up to spec, or if the car in front has been driving weirdly, so the car behind is driving further away to be sure their safe, or the random wheel that flies off a car ahead and causes the car in front to slam on its breaks...

 

A car moving over in a lane is supposed to indicate, and look for an opening, not just a gap big enough for them to fit into. Cars in the lane they're moving into are supposed to allow them in by opening up a gap for them, not just by letting them into the safety buffer between them and the vehicle in front!

 

I'd better relearn it all then.

[HarryMonkey]

But my understanding of those bollards are they are informational anyway, the law says that all vehicles must move over to the left when approaching an oncoming vehicle.

 

My understanding is that a blue sign with a white arrow on it is an instruction rather than information.

[TechMonkey]

No, you are still wrong here. It is not up to you to judge how safe it is for you to infringe on the safety of someone else in their car. Basically, you are saying that on the road, a biker is a better judge of traffic conditions to a car driver, who knows their car, than they are.

 

More things are taken into account than 'the view of the road ahead' when driving safely. You don't know if that person's car is fully up to spec, or if the car in front has been driving weirdly, so the car behind is driving further away to be sure they're safe, or the random wheel that flies off a car ahead and causes the car in front to slam on its breaks...

 

A car moving over in a lane is supposed to indicate, and look for an opening, not just a gap big enough for them to fit into. Cars in the lane they're moving into are supposed to allow them in by opening up a gap for them, not just by letting them into the safety buffer between them and the vehicle in front!

 

Section 36 RTA 88: Fail to conform to a Traffic sign.

 

I which case none of us had better leave the house as it all seems much to dangerous to leave our safe little bubble! If someone's car is so unsafe that no one can be trusted to be near it it should not be on the road. I don't know if someone's car is up to spec but I doubt they do either & if they do they should be leaving even more of a gap and be driving even more cautiously. If a wheel were to fly off then that is bad maintenance or failure and the biker would have deal with it where ever they are. We may as well say that all cars should stay still as a cargo plane could disintegrate above them and a circus elephant could be dropped from above. The biker will take the information they can perceive and use it as they see fit. So should everyone else which does not include speeding up and blocking bikers, or moving over to try and prevent them.

 

In fact moving from right to left lane a car does not HAVE to indicate (as told me by a traffic cop) as drivers should not be undertaking & should be ready to give way if they need to move over. It is generally considered a Good Idea™. I see no difference though between allowing a car room to move in if they are moving from a side lane or if they are overtaking unless you are a of a persuasion to not let anyone get infront of them for fear their manliness will be tarnished.

 

Most councils are dropping them as they are pointless & replicate standard law. Yes that act can be used to enforce them but there is nothing to back up the use of the sign. You can not stipulate where to be on the road except for on the left hand side of the road when approached by oncoming traffic. But as I haven't been quoting that as a pristine bit of riding that is getting away from my point.

[aerospacemango]

The only thing that REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS about bikers is.............

 

I'll be driving along, generally on country lanes, and a biker will come up behind me. As soon as I can, I like to move over to the left hand side of my lane so that he/she can get past. In a vast majority of cases, you get a little wave of the hand to show appreciation.....The ones that just speed off? They're the problem!!!

 

*Sits back with a grin as he's started another in-topic row.....probably!!!*