To gently remind car drivers of some things about motorcyclists?

[Sharkirasharkira]

Not really an aibu but since summer is here there seems to be more and more people on the road driving in a not very sensible way that makes just being outside a lot more risky for us bikers!

So (at least in the Uk), for those who are unsure or curious;

Hardly any bikes have a reverse gear, and it is nigh on impossible to reverse up a hill. So if we are refusing to reverse it is likely because we physically can't, we're not being dicks. Cars can, so please do.

Bikes are allowed to filter, it is completely legal and, when done appropriately, is encouraged by instructors and helps the flow of traffic. Please do not block us from doing it.

Small bikes (125cc or less, for example) do not have the power to go at high speeds uphill so if we slow down on one it's not to piss you off it's just that we physically can't go any faster. Ditto overtaking, if we aren't overtaking a tractor (for example), don't get pissed and tailgate because that won't do anything. We won't speed up because we physically can't.

You should give as much space when overtaking etc to a bike as you would a car. Please do not squeeze past leaving a 6in gap just because you don't want to go into the other lane. If it wouldn't be safe to do it to a car, don't do it to a bike. Ditto driving straight at a bike on a narrow single lane road and expecting them to just move over for you. Bikes are sometimes wider than you think.

Bikes sometimes 'weave' over the road to avoid obstacles, not to annoy you. Things such as animal poo, diesel, gravel, sand, dead animals etc are nothing to a car but can be really hazardous to a bike.

Not trying to be patronising, it's just that I've experienced a few close calls lately and last summer my bike was written off by someone pulling out in front of me and not looking which caused me months of grief. I don't want the same thing to happen this year!

@PolPotNoodle you are right in that vehicles travelling uphill do have priority however in some situations, like where I live, there are a lot of blind corners, high hedges, and a single track road only wide enough for one car. If the passing place happens to be behind me and I couldn't see the car in advance to pull in they will have to go back because I can't. There are some times when you have to use your judgement.

As for the filtering, yes it isn't an entitlement and you shouldn't do it if it isn't safe however if the conditions are right then you are actually taught in your test to filter where you can because it is safer than sitting in traffic and allows you and the other traffic to make progress. If drivers are just too far over then fair enough but they shouldn't purposely block you from doing it.

Can you not turn your bike around and go back to the passing point? Use a horn to alert drivers shortly before passing a lay by? I have had to reverse down a single track in Dartmoor as a belligerent driver refused to reverse back up, and ended up damaging my car.

Again, even if they do purposefully sit in a way to prevent you passing (which is much less likely in reality), it is too bad. Frustrating for you yes, but you are not entitled to filter. I've had many a hole revving at me in displeasure about not being able to squeeze past me, however I leave space on my inside to allow cyclists to move on. Cant please everyone.

It depends on the bike but mine has too long a wheelbase to be able to turn around in a lane that narrow, plus it's heavy, and when you are trying to turn on a slope (they are inherently unstable) you risk dropping it on yourself or the ground and not being able to pick it up. It isn't always possible.

Well obviously if someone blocks you then you can't filter but what I'm saying is they shouldn't do it on purpose specifically to block you from getting past, which some people do.

Hardly any bikes have a reverse gear

Knew the rest of it, but I didn't know that one! Thanks OP!

I hate filtering and think it should be banned. Bikers always seem to filter and sit right in my blind spot, then rev and take off when the lights change without me even knowing they are there. They should be taught to be aware of the visibility of other vehicles and where they choose to stop if they want to complete such a dangerous manoeuvre.

@MidniteScribbler bikers are taught about visibility, many, many times over the course of their tests/lessons. It really is drummed into you over and over again because you so much less noticeable and more vulnerable on a bike, you wouldn't be riding very long if you weren't aware of that.

Of course over time people get more confident, develop bad habits or just outright ignore what they 'should' be doing and do what they want. Happens with car drivers all the time too! I very rarely filter as I want to be sure it's safe so I'm just as mystified as you by those you do it so dangerously. I don't want to get injured, have my bike broken or piss off drivers, I just want to enjoy riding my bike and get to where I'm going safely

@Sashkin you're welcome! Unless you've actually ridden one yourself you wouldn't really know, I don't know much about cars and I don't drive

Only the biggest, heaviest, super huge American style cross country bikes like a Goldwing have a reverse gear so any other time you just have to physically push the bike or pedal with your feet. With an unstable surface and something that weights several hundred kilos this is very difficult, as you can imagine!

Different country but we were first on scene a few months ago to an accident where a motorcyclist on a Harley had driven into a car turning round where it shouldn’t have been. It was a fatality, the guy had all the right gear on, just had no chance, the car was severely dented but passenger and driver both fine.

Needless to say it’s made me far conscious now of how vulnerable motorcyclists are, I mean I knew before obviously but it was still an eye opener. I’ve started keeping far more distance now, two cars distance ideally.

I have a couple of questions:

I thought bikes always had to have headlights on - I am sure they did when I learnt to drive a car nearly 35 years ago. But over the last few years I have noticed fewer and fewer bikes having lights on during the day. If they don't have to I think it is a shame - it makes them so much easier to spot. If they are in dark leathers, at the side of a road in the shade etc anything to help them show up must be a bonus?

Do bikes have horns? I was out the other day, and was in a situation where if I had been the biker, I would have hooted the driver in the big car who was exhibiting some appalling driving, but the biker didn't and I suddenly wondered whether a bike has such a thing!

I don't think there are any specific rules about lights having to be on in the daylight unless there's bad weather, poor visibility etc but everyone I know rides with lights on all the time anyway. My bike, and all recent-ish bikes have lights that come on automatically so you can't turn them off. I think it's better having them on all the time, just in case.

We do have horns but sometimes the positioning can make it slightly difficult to get to as they are (usually) underneath the accelerator. Not all bikes have hazard lights though, mine doesn't.

Again classic moped rider here. There is no obligation to have lights on, it was always an in community thing. Indeed if a bike is not fitted with lights it is still permitted to be used in daylight.

Gear quality can affect survival chances. A cheap helmet is better than none but a more expensive helmet is usually better still.

My bike has a squeezy horn I fitted myself. It isn’t loud and the bell fitted new in France is far more effective but still barely audible in a modern car.

My bike doesn’t even have indicators never mind hazard lights. I am the indicator! I have bright blue leathers and a bell (USA spec) helmet to try and defend myself.

Mind you most bikers I know (because it’s a classic bike and moped community) are far better roadside mechanics than most car drivers.

Read and noted. Bikers, when filtering can you PLEASE not not pull back in in front of us leaving barely a foot to spare. It endangers you, scares us and risks a collision when we try to avoid you that you will invariably come off worse in.

Re single track lanes and priority, the highway code says "give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can"- it's not a "must" and the highway code acknowledges that some vehicles/road users etc are less able to reverse. If you meet a road user who's less able to reverse e.g. because they are towing or using something that doesn't have a reverse gear (e.g. a motorbike/horse and carriage) you should still be prepared to reverse.

I think like all groups, there are some bikers who are more responsible (and lovely, who often stop and turn the engine off if I meet them whilst (horse) riding) and some who are stupid. I think this is all really useful advice, and I do always try my hardest to be aware of vulnerable road users, but it's good to have a reminder!

I drive along narrow country roads everyday and the amount of bikers that just speed past without even slowing for corners is ridiculous - often they're on the wrong side of the road and it's an accident waiting to happen.

I get that it's great fun to speed along the road on a bike but some common sense is needed surely?!

Bikes are terrifying, I hate them so much. It gives me real anxiety when I’m driving, cyclists do too. The last thing I want is to ever be responsible for hurting someone but when bikes are weaving in and out and also speeding (which yes they do A LOT), it’s so scary. I’ve also witnessed a few near misses with bikes pulling out thinking they can quickly speed out of the junction even though they have seen the oncoming car.

My best friend was in a motorbike accident last year and is still recovering, she said she’ll never ride again.

The worst drivers I have seen on the roads are driving motorbikes. Please be reassured I will give you as much space as humanly possible.

OP a on behalf of DH, thank you, very informative post

Another one, please look for bikers extra carefully before pulling out.
If a biker has to do an emergency stop and put their foot down there is a real risk of the bike over balancing and falling on the rider's leg. It's tricky to hold up 1/4 of a ton!

Arrrrg and again today on my way home, a driver coming up a narrow toad decides to plough ahead and not wait for me to pass - I had nowhere to pull in, the side of the road was full of parked cars! All he had to do was just wait 10 seconds for me to pass (I was already riding past the parked cars when he appeared) but no he decided to squeeze past and risk smashing into me, or me smashing into a parked car trying to avoid him!