Think! Take longer to look for bikes.

Some people don't even bother to look both ways, let alone spend extra time checking for drivers. However, I am sure it will have the desired effect
 
A very shocking advert, certainly drives the message home!

I generally 'scope out' junctions as I'm approaching them from a point at which I often have a better view of the road I'm about to join. I find this generally helps anticipate cars/bikers appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

I must admit though, I do sometimes unintentionally frighten bikers by approaching junctions very quickly. I guess they think I'm not planning to stop... :p
 
I had the same accident when i used to ride, like Scuzi i was thrown over the car.
I haven't ridden since (some, 20 yrs ago). :(

That advert has been around for quite a while, remember seeing it on late night telly a few yrs back, really gets the point across well.

THINK TWICE
THINK BIKE !!
 
:eek:

That is literally 5 mins drive from me, and on the way to work EVERY day! In fact, I remember them filming there a few weeks back, and was wondering what was going on...
 
I can see where a lot of bikers come from. However most bikers I seem to see have death wishes. Zooming down stationary/slow moving motorway traffic darting in and out of lanes. Really does my nut in how they get away with it too.

Does undertaking not apply to them?
 
Oblivious said:
I can see where a lot of bikers come from. However most bikers I seem to see have death wishes. Zooming down stationary/slow moving motorway traffic darting in and out of lanes. Really does my nut in how they get away with it too.

Does undertaking not apply to them?
Click to expand...

Dont be silly, We're above the law. I tend to keep it under 190MPH while filtering now and wheelying saves wear on the front tyre.
 
I always move right out of the way for passing bikes, for which I almost always get a thankyou - unlike cars I let through gaps! As an ex-rider from a biking family I like to think that I'm pretty aware when it comes to 2 wheels :)
 
Aye, I try and keep an eye out. Shoulder checks would prevent a lot of accidents, in particular when entering the carriageway, when changing lanes, and when exiting roundabouts to name a few.

I have to agree, being a non biker my views my seem biased but some bikers expose themselves to stupid amounts of danger trying to filter in slow moving traffic. In some situations I've seen them go through very tight gaps and zig zag in and out, even going up the inside of cars..asking for it IMO.
 
Oblivious said:
Does undertaking not apply to them?
Click to expand...

No, because they call it filtering.

I don't have a problem with bikes filtering in the appropriate circumstances, and I generally move over as best I can, but some bikers seem to think it is their god given right to filter even where the gaps between cars simply aren't there. There is a set of traffic lights I go through several times a day which is 2 lanes but they narrow at the lights, over the other side of the junction it goes into one lane. Frequently there will be a bus on the inside lane and me in the outside lane with about a 6" gap between us because the road is so narrow, and still bikers will come flying up the middle and then have to tiptoe through the gap because they realise its not there.
 
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There is a difference between filtering and undertaking. Any biker who doesn't know the difference shouldn't be filtering ;) .
 
I will move out of the way for bikes, however like I said before some bikers just seem to have a death wish.

Ive seen some really stupid behaviour, that certainly isnt what you refer to as filtering. You may say that there are only a few rotten apples, but sadly I see lots of bikers that are complete and utter nutters.
 
Oblivious said:
I can see where a lot of bikers come from. However most bikers I seem to see have death wishes.
Click to expand...
I've seen some horrifying antics from stupid bikers like moving into the manoeuvring space of large vehicles, idiots.

There are bad riders and drivers.
 
I love how in that video it shows you the slow motion 'replay' of the first scene where the driver is looking side to side. It shows clearly the bike, but if you actually frame-by-frame look at the first bit, there is no bike.

So it makes it very easy to say "omg.. didnt see the bike, i have no awareness!", when actually the bike was never to be seen in the first place

I wonder how many people would have spotted it if it were visible in the first section though

There are bad riders and drivers.
Click to expand...

I think that sums it up nicely. there are so many bikers who say their awareness is far superior to any car driver, and yes that might be true for some, but i don't think its a blanket rule!
 
You filter at your own risk in a bike. On a clogged motorway, I'll creep past at 20mph or so - I can pretty much come to a stop instantly if a moron pulls out or decides to get out of his car to see what's going on. That is one thing that annoys me about other bikers - burning down between cars on a motorway which is at a stand still. So dangerous.

In town if there is 2 lanes of traffic, I will go on the outside (RHS) and nip in by the lights. However a lot of the times people don't leave a gap by the curb of traffic island. And I have to hope that the car behind the lead car will let me in. However, if it's too dangerous to filter I won't. Though if there is a gap in the middle of the 2 lanes, I will go down there, if it's safe to do so and it's wide enough. I do it past police cars too and sometimes with police bikes. I always give a little nod to people aknowledging that I'm passing.

I will always thank drivers who are curteous and driving safely. i.e. I will give a nod, or raise my hand a little at a T junction as I pass a van or car to thank them not for pulling out on me, I do the same for people who let me filter, and for people who generally drive defensively and with a good awareness.

Yes a lot of bike riders don't give the others a good reputation, but dammit they are so much more exposed - let them behave like idiots and injure themselves without you being involved trying to play cop. Bikes will filter, bikes will go quicker, bikes will be harder to see. It's the way it is.

Let's at least try and be safe out there - we all share the road, it doesn't matter who you are or what you drive, let us be sensible, cautious and aware of each other on the roads. Then we can all have a laugh, all have our thrills, and go home in the evenings not shaking like a leaf through fear.

There's far too much finger pointing, "it's not me guv..." and other excuses people use. Let's take responsibility for our actions. There will of course always be accidents - because that's what they are, unfortunate accidents.

Feel the love dudes...
 
Very good post Freeefaller. Some people seem so consumed with being in the right and getting narked off with people that they lose their common sense.

For example, two lane dual carriageway with a few sets of traffic lights (A34 at Trent Vale by Tesco) it merges from two lanes into one and there are often parked cars on the left. I saw a car driver roll up to the lights and carried on as they turned green, the first car accelerated hard just to stop the guy going forward. He couldn't out accelerate him then hit a speed camera so had to slow down. From this point onwards the following car proceeded to tailgate, beeping his horn manically. British que mentality eh?

I wouldn't hinder somebody else's progress...dangerous and immature IMO. More so when it is somebody on a bike who just wants to make use of the free road space. Yet it seems to be seen as que jumping in this country.
 
I had a little scare while filtering yesterday, I was doing about 10mph and a taxi which was stuck in traffic suddenly decided he wanted the road to the right of us, no indication or checking of the mirror, I was literally a few inches from him.

I always ride with my lights on main beam even in the summer, its suprising how much sooner you notice another biker when they have lights on compared to when they dont. its not worth the risk riding with them off really.
 
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