Guess the boy racer's latest IN car?

[Commandingtripod]

Yeah - a car is more like a tank when you're on a bike.

Unfortantly, as many idiot drivers as there are, there are plenty of good ones who do the right thing - but those few seem to give all a bad name.

[rusti]

BMW drivers are the worst. Snotty nosed reps they usually are.

[thedonal]

To be honest, when I'm filtering on the outside of traffic, a large majority move left and allow me space- and this is all sorts of cars (& therefore drivers). I'd say that the more respect each of us gives to other road users, perhaps the more respect there'll be on the roads. I know this is a bit of a 'wishful thinking' attitude, but if you can't give respect, how do you expect to get it?

My big thing at the moment is that people tend to jump red lights more on roundabouts than on any other junction. My case examples are the Tolworth and Painshill roundabouts in Surrey. It only adds to the queue for the next set of lights- blocking those who have the green light from going anywhere...

[steann]

when i went for the spin on me mate's bike ( WOOOOOHOOOO ) at last ... i was stunned how some of the drivers just drove around the roundabout NO INDICATIONS but i reallllllllllllly enjoyed the spin ;D once we got to the M50 we could really go full throttle

[David Faltskog]

Lucky Swine (your mate that is, having you on his bike) not that i,m jealous in anyway...

D.F.

[killraven]

thedonal said:

To be honest, when I'm filtering on the outside of traffic, a large majority move left and allow me space- and this is all sorts of cars (& therefore drivers). I'd say that the more respect each of us gives to other road users, perhaps the more respect there'll be on the roads. I know this is a bit of a 'wishful thinking' attitude, but if you can't give respect, how do you expect to get it?

Too right Eufar, its all about mutual respect. With bikers, this generally means recognising when doing what a car driver can't (e.g. filter between lanes or overtake in traffic) might prove to be antisocial or just downright dangerous... For example, weaving in and out of traffic on a motorway when all the lanes are full is neither funny nor clever It's also important to consider whether what you are doing might hold up other road users. Case in point...last night I was heading back from Slough to J7 of the M4 to head back to Reading. Whilst I was waiting at lights on a DUAL CARRIAGEWAY some twat on a commuter bike (well it was part faired and didn't look particularly new) decides to pull around across the line on the edge of my lane. Now I want to progress, so when the lights change I pull away and he gets left behind. At the next two successive sets of lights he arrives a few seconds after me, but still tries to pull alongside IN MY LANE either to the left or the right. Again, I accelerate away more quickly and leave him behind. If you've no intention of going faster than someone else, and they've demonstrated their desire to press on more than once, why try and overtake/get in their way? COCK!! Its people like that give bikers a bad name. I've had tw*ts on pizza mopeds try to do the same thing too

KR

[thedonal]

Yeah- I will filter over the line at lights in these situations- but get going asap so I don't hold someone up. The main reason I might twist into one of the lanes though, is it is safer for me to do this- I've had people just accelerate alongside me, where I could have been out of their way and made next to no difference on their journey (they'd still be stuck behind the other cars that jumped the red light and are now queueing in the way). But to do that and just hang around is daft- I do have a good look before going, but try and be ahead of the game with it (though some areshole will still try and cut you up sometimes).

Generally, I find drivers fairly respectful when I filter/overtake. Many move aside a little- it makes no real difference to them. Sometimes, people on the other side of the road move out ahead of me and back in again- even while I'm riding in a central hatched area and in no-one's lane- don't understand that one!!

Of course, I always try and give a good impression and say thanks when I can. Don't do the filtering at speeds on mtorways etc- you've gotta either be a)fearless b) VERY experienced/confident or c) just a twat who's racing everyone. Though I've been tempted to dart through spaces in lanes where people aren't using the overtaking lane to overtake as such (and the left land is empty).... There are too many unpredictable/beemer drivers out there for it to feel safe for me right now...

Anyway- rant over. Had a lovely ride home tonight and out to see someone this evening- the temperature was just right and the sunset lovely. Brings home the joys of the pursuit....