to ask if some drivers really do have this opinion about motorcyclists?

[Shinyredbike]

I ride a bike. A shiny red one in fact

I'm a member of a biker group/page thing on FB and came across a rather nasty post, it was a screenshot of someone ranting about motorcyclists and how irresponsible they are, how they should grow up and get a car and stop messing around on their toys (bikes).

He also suggested that it wasn't his responsibility to look out for bikers when he is driving, as the adverts suggest you should, and that bascially if you ride a bike its your own fault if you get injured or killed as you shouldn't be on a bike in the first place.

Now, obviously this particular guy was a prick but is his view actually quite representative of a lot of drivers? Ok they might not say it so harshly but actually I do think, from the conversations I've had with car drivers that a lot of them do seem to feel this way.

I know a lot of bikers do ride like twats and obviously they shouldn't, and I can't blame car drivers who dislike bikers who act this way but aibu to wonder if some drivers really do just inherently dislike bikers even when they don't ride like twats?

Fwiw, I don't ride like a twat, I don't speed, overtake stupidly or filter when I shouldn't. Actually I don't really filter at all because in most cases I don't feel safe doing it but I've had some pretty harsh comments directed at me just because I prefer bikes over cars, as if I am some sort of idiot with a death wish!

We don't judge all bikers by actions of some..we are nervous of them however as we have almost hit two who came towards up overtaking at high speed and only just managed to get back in..by inches..even though we had to slow right down (separate incidents). And seen or heard of so many accidents. So we worry for them rather than hating on them.

Cyclists cause an issue due to the actual drivers who pull out at random to go round them but we appreciate they are people just enjoying their lives, like bikers.

But also had many encounters with twatty drivers..we drive a lot in countryside with DD..makes.me fear for our future tbh

Quite shocked by the callous responses on here.

Bikers and cyclists are people like you and I. With families and friends who love them.

Killing one would be more than a "pain in the ease even if they were in the wrong"

What really gets me is the constant rant by car drivers about bikers filtering and how they should wait in line blah blah and shouldn't do it

I say my bike test in 2010 and during my lessons I was activity encouraged to filter even though it scared me, when I took my test I was told if I filter I will score browny points with the instructor as its actively encouraged to keep traffic moving.

There is no GREY area about filtering motorbikes it's totally legal and if u change lanes and hit one you WILL be responsible not them

So car drivers who moan about it, try to squeeze filtering bikes out need to get over themselves, learn what the uk road rules are and behave accordingly and not just look in front but always be aware bike can and might be passing on your right hand side in slow or Stopped traffic.

If it bothers you that much they are jumping the Q as often so many drivers think we'll get out your cars and learn to ride a bike then you won't need to sit in traffic and can also risk your life daily and move through the traffic swiftly .

I dislike cyclists who don't take minimal precautions to ensure their own safety - by not wearing visible clothing, having lights, and cycling in dangerous ways.

But most cyclists are not like that. I can't bear drivers who think they are more important than anyone else on the road.

For me, motorcycling is a bit different. I am willing to be corrected, but I think a fair proportion are attracted to motorbikes because of the speed and the apparent freedom. I don't inherently dislike bikers but when I see those adverts I do wonder whether some of them realise that seeing and judging the speed of them can be more difficult for drivers.

In an ideal world, everyone would experience what it's like on the road for drivers, cyclists and bikers.

(Mind you, everyone knows what it's like to be a pedestrian, and some of them still behave like idiots - stepping out onto the road without looking; wearing headphones or looking at their mobiles, so what can you do?)

Dirty, you are supposed to check your rear view mirrors approximately once every 20 seconds even when not making "special" manoeuvres (it only needs to be a glance, not a long stare). You should be aware of what is happening around you (not just in front) at all times. You are also incorrect that the vehicle behind is always in the wrong, even if the car in front is reversing.

Filtering (moving between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, or overtaking slow moving traffic in only one direction) is a perfectly legal manoevre for a bike to be doing and if you would take someone off who was doing it, you would, in all probability, be done for driving without due care and attention, possibly for causing death by dangerous driving. Filtering through slow moving traffic is often the safest option for bikes in traffic jams, in particular due to the risk of being rear-ended if crawling along. It is also incredibly difficult to maintain walking pace on a 250kg+ bike for a mile or more.

I use a helmet cam when riding and catch dangerous behaviour from all types of vehicles on there every day and some drivers seem to make it their job to make it at dangerous as possible for others on the road, e.g. by tailgating (especially when you are shock, horror, doing 30 in a 30 zone), using the phone whilst driving or trying to undertake on the left.

I do think there are way way more terrible, dangerous drivers out there than motorcyclists

Actually, sorry, just double checked, it's officially every 5-10 seconds that you should be checking your rear view mirror (I have to say, I tend to do it by default).

I don't have a problem with motorcyclists in general.....I have a problem with the motorcyclists who think the rules of the road don't apply to them - like the arsehole behind me yesterday for example.... I was driving through a village, a 30mph zone, with very narrow, windy road, with my sleeping baby in the back. This dickhead was tailgating me from the moment I slowed down to 30 to go through the village. He then decided a sharp bend was the perfect opportunity to rev the guts out of his two-wheeled death machine and whizz past me as fast as he could possibly muster, narrowly missing the oncoming transit van. His idiocy forced me to slam on my brakes to avoid killing him and woke up my DD who them cried all the way home I wish death on that motorcyclist.....but not all motorcyclists I'm sure you're of the sensible kind OP

Filtering may be legal, but every case I've seen (I used to assist a solicitor specialising in motorbike claims) has had an element of contrib. applied to the biker due to something they were doing which made them partially liable.

This is an interesting article from a police biker: www.bikesafe.co.uk/advice-centre/filtering/

And the person who said that the fault ALWAYS lies with the person at the back is wrong. You can't negligently reverse into somebody behind you and them be responsible for your negligent action! Also, if you're hit from behind but have darted in front of somebody and shortened their stopping distance, an element of contrib. can be applied then too. It isn't as cut and dried as suggested.

I'm not keen on bikes to be honest. I've seen some terrible injuries in my time and would hate to be that vulnerable. I can remember almost every client we helped in my previous job and so many had life-changing injuries. It was a sobering job.

One of my friends died in a motorbike accident when he was 24, so I am very aware of them when I'm driving. I can't help but think how vulnerable bikers are. Some do ride irresponsibly but there are also plenty of irresponsible car drivers an pedestrians. I wish they wouldn't cut in between traffic, that whole making a third lane thing makes me very nervous.

I don't mind bikers and often envy them, but:

• don't weave through stationary traffic (I did have a giggle earlier on at stationery traffic, sorry) and then position right in front of me at the traffic lights. I usually take off before you do and it's annoying having to wait for you.
• don't weave through heavy traffic and then stand between me and the car in front as if you were a car, forcing me to slow down to keep a safe distance. Yes, you're being as twattish as cars doing it.

Motorcyclists seem a lot more vulnerable on the roads to me than drivers which makes me more aware and nervous when around them if that makes sense.

I know a driver who deliberately drives at motor cyclists. He is a small fat pathetic man, though.

My DH is a cyclist (pedals, not motor) and has been deliberately driven at a number of times. That is, people have potentially tried to kill him simply because he is a cyclist.

It seems to me that being a motor cyclist or cyclist, you are held to be an ambassador for all people on two wheels, whereas an idiot in a car is just one idiot in a car.

I don't come to the front of the queue, but those who say their car will accelerate faster than a bike from the lights - really? Even a small bike will out-accelerate most cars. My bike (650cc) will do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds which is significantly faster than most cars (by comparison, according to Parker's Guide, the official figures for most models of VW Golf are between 7.4-11 seconds).

Whenever i see bike, push or motor, i see one less car on the road, and therefore less traffic.

If everyone who makes a car journey on their own got on a bike instead, the roads would be much quieter, much safer for everyone, less sitting in endless traffic. Generally quicker and easier for everyone.

Taking off at the lights it's not about acceleration only. It's reaction time too.
If a biker stands in front of me I have to wait for them to start and then get to a safe distance. They slow me down. And I like taking off with nobody in front.
Fine if they do it side by side, but not in front. And I usually take off before they do.

Ive seen good drivers and bad drivers of motorbikes. Hate it when they buzz around at your back going in and out i much prefer them in front of me where i can see them. I tend to move in slightly and hope they go past. I give them more space than a car as you never know if they might suddenly do something silly. Sorry think ive got sucidental motorcyclists near me. Mind you there are alot of bad car drivers too and i view every car as wanting to kill me. People dont wait coming out of junctions here! The driving in london was so much better.

Shit dirty.

When some arsehole runs you off the road into a ditch and kills you all, at least your conscience will be clear hey? Who cares if a quick glance in your mirror would have meant you would have known he was there and avoided him, he's in the wrong and thats all that matters.

Most of driving safely is being aware of other road users so you know where everyone else is and can take safe action should anything happen.

There was a study once and they showed the people least likely to get caught up in accidents were the ones who "read the road" and drove with awareness of all the others around them. Meant they could see potential problems sooner and take evasive action.

But if you want to carry in looking straight ahead and only worrying about you being right go ahead. I hope you don't live near me.

Really honestly, I think all pushbikes should stick to bike paths, and motorcyclists should not do it at all...the risk is too great, cars will always win in an accident. I appreciate that some motorcyclists have them rather than a car due to budget, but I think it's mad if you're doing it just for fun.
I think, having lost loved ones in accidents, that I am a very careful driver, but all it takes is a moments inattention. I only ride my bike on cycle paths and would never contemplate a motorbike.

I don't like people who drive dangerously. Regardless of what they're driving, although it's particularly terrifying when they're behind the wheel of some massive juggernaut.

I don't dislike bikers who drive sensibly, but I have seen what seems like a disproportionate amount of dangerous driving from bikers given how vulnerable they are compared to other vehicles. My line manager a few years back gave our team a safety talk about being aware of motorbikes after a friend of his was killed by a car pulling out of a junction without looking properly (the car driver not looking, that is). He included lots of graphic photos of the accident.

We had one biker yesterday who overtook our car on a blind bend, and at least one more car on another blind bend before we lost sight of him (we were in a queue behind a caravan. Ironically on the sort of road with those "xxx accidents in the last 3 years" signs all over the place). He'd have had no chance if there'd been anything coming in the other direction.

defineme We don't have enough cycle paths in this country for push bikes to stick to bike paths, especially if they're using push bikes to commute to work.

We can't legislate against all risky of dangerous activities, though. That's the fast track to a nanny state and where does it end? I broke my ankle whilst training for a half marathon (runner for years) for example, so maybe we should ban running? I also scuba dive and know several people who died in diving accidents, so perhaps diving should be banned too?

The ones that get me are push-bikers who cycle on the pavement, causing a danger to small children and the elderly, but don't see any irony in the fact that they are wearing crash helmets. Also, push-bikers who use the pedestrian crossing (not a toucan crossing, where it would be allowed).

My driving instructor told me to always drive with the window slightly down as then you can hear a motorbike before you can see it coming up behind you. What frightens me is the youngsters on mopeds going to and from college along a winding country b Road. The local college hires them out to enable rural students to get to the college. You can tell that some of them have no or very little Road sense.

Dirty. The fact that you rely on hearing emergency vehicles coming up behind you rather than checking your rear view mirror is not good. Maybe the rest of your driving is great but I really think you need to reconsider how you use the rear view mirror.

Fanjo you quoted me when you said some of the comments on this thread about motorbikes were callous but the comment you quoted was clearly me being sarcastic in reply to Dirty

The real problem is self-entitled motorcyclists who think the road belongs to them, that the highway code is there for car drivers but not motorcyclists. That it's fine for them to weave through traffic, scraping cars, ignoringing red lights, puting their hands all over stationery cars to get their balance, knocking the wing mirrors in the process. And of course, never driving aggressively behind the car driver, revving your engine, steam coming out of your ears, just because you can't overtake due to oncoming traffic

Really? I've been driving since 1999, and I've NEVER seen a motorcyclist do any of those things, with the exception of filtering through traffic (which is legal in itself, obviously has to be done safely).

However, I often see (depressingly on most days) at least one of the following:

• Drivers on their mobiles
• Drivers distracted by kids/dogs/passengers in the back and not looking at the road
• Drivers tailgating other drivers
• Drivers tailgating or dangerously overtaking cyclists
• Drivers pulling into the ASL at red lights (which is technically red light jumping)
• Drivers full on red light jumping
• Drivers cutting up other road users (other drivers and those on two wheels) at junctions and roundabouts
• Drivers with appalling lane discipline
• Drivers who think that indicators are optional
• Drivers who illegally/dangerously park on junctions/double yellows, etc

I very rarely see poor behaviour from cyclists or motorcyclists - obviously it does still occasionally happen (thinking mostly of the odd pavement riders or ones with no lights at night), but I think that those on two wheels are more acutely aware of how vulnerable they are, so ride accordingly. Whereas a significant portion of motorists are either massively a) ignorant or b) entitled, with a questionable knowledge of the Highway Code and a lack of respect for the fact they're in control of several tonnes of metal that can be driven at high speeds.