Motorcycles and lane weaving

[BrilloPad]

It's "interesting" driving in the US (or Dubai et al) where this is entirely normal practice.

So is the death penalty.

Maybe the death penalty should be driving a motorcycle on the dotted line....

[jamesbrown]

In the US it depends on local state laws.

I can't think of one off the top of my head. CO? Anyway, it's illegal in the vast majority of US states, having done several motorcycle road trips across the US

[PurpleGorilla]

It's only dangerous when car drivers don't know how to drive safely and courteously. If you change lane you need to make sure no bikes are coming through.

I can only assume you think it should be illegal because you can't be bothered to make sure it's safe to change lane before doing so?

And good bikers generally don't get caught out anyway - you can see the wheels turn before the car moves, sat higher up so have a better view, etc, etc. The bikers that stay alive tend to me much more aware of the road and their surroundings than car drivers are. Obviously the fast you filter the less that awareness compensates.

If a bike is coming up the inside at a closing speed of 20+ mph you won't 'see' them coming. No way.

[SpontaneousOrder]

I can't think of one off the top of my head. CO? Anyway, it's illegal in the vast majority of US states, having done several motorcycle road trips across the US

CA. Dunno about the rest - not many I think, as you say.

[jamesbrown]

CA. Dunno about the rest - not many I think, as you say.

Even those states where it's not explicitly illegal (such as CA), it is practically illegal, because there are other laws that are interpreted as preventing it. You're right to point out that there's some variation in status between states though. Some states explicitly allow riding two abreast, for example.

[Chuck]

I filter all the time, you have to in London otherwise you might as well be in a car.

However, I only do it when the traffic is stationary or very slow moving. Then I tend to go at up to about a 10mph difference in the traffic speed. It pisses off the lunatics on scooters and the smaller sports bikes but IDGAS. Getting there safely is more important than getting there quickly or not at all.

Like plenty of bikers, I don't cross solid white lines, I don't use cycle lanes, and I am courteous if someone helps me on my way. What really fecks me off is when a car or van driver sees you filtering and then pulls across to close the gap. Absolute fecking cnuts.

There are plenty of bad cyclists, riders and drivers around. Try and ignore them or your blood will boil. If someone pisses you off, count to 10, move on, forget about it.

[SpontaneousOrder]

If a bike is coming up the inside at a closing speed of 20+ mph you won't 'see' them coming. No way.

That video clip was alot slower than that. But 20mph?! If you can't see someone coming at 20 mph in time before you move then you shouldn't be driving.

[PurpleGorilla]

That video clip was alot slower than that. But 20mph?! If you can't see someone coming at 20 mph in time before you move then you shouldn't be driving.

Because I'm not looking for a tw@t on a bike undertaking me on the inside when I've got my indicators on and I'm in the middle of a manoeuvre.

[ShandyDrinker]

I filter all the time, you have to in London otherwise you might as well be in a car.

However, I only do it when the traffic is stationary or very slow moving. Getting there safely is more important than getting there quickly or not at all.

^^This.

As someone who has regularly ridden into London on the M4 and through it to various locations I think there's a big variation in the number of bikers riding defensively and those riding like complete lunatics. Even as a biker myself, I find people undertaking to be downright dangerous in busy traffic although I have seen car drivers doing similar things too.

Many car drivers don't begrudge us bikers filtering as we're not hampering their journey although there are some who seem to get really offended by it.

[bluetoaster]

Because I'm not looking for a tw@t on a bike undertaking me on the inside when I've got my indicators on and I'm in the middle of a manoeuvre.

not checking it is safe to complete a maneuver before undertaking it puts you squarely at fault if you cause an accident.