Courteous cagers

[taff1954]

.. and truckies too....

Last Monday my wife and I had to head down to Wellington for a day or two, and decided to ride rather than drive. Over the whole trip, there and back, we saw nothing but courtesy and 'bike awareness' from car and truck drivers, from the delivery van driver who aborted his (albeit rather slow) overtaking move by New Plymouths' crematorium to wave us by when we headed down, to the milk tanker driver who went as far left as he could (when he didn't really have to) so we could get past safely at Waitotara on the way back. I've rarely had a ride anywhere in the last few years when I haven't had to deal with SMIDSY or one of its' variants at least once. I have to wonder if the ACC campaign putting bikers in Joe Publics' eye has had something to do with it? When we stopped at Maccas in Levin for breakfast on the way home a couple of guys seated near to us made comments about how car drivers need to be more aware of bikers, a similar comment made by the lady in the motel room next to ours in Petone.

Whether it was that or not, it was great to have a ride when I didn't need to take evasive action at some time or another. Great fun too having the motorway out of Wellington to ourselves at 5:30 am ;)

[golfmade]

It's always nice when you go out for a ride and there is little, if any reason, to complain about cagers, truckies or even other bikes/scooters.

Doesn't happen that often here but I sure enjoy it when it does happen.

[CookMySock]

I have absolutely zero problem with cars. If there were no cars half the fun would be gone. If wonder if cagers would still love bikers so much if they knew we just lived to carve them up. Mmmmmm, the only thing better than a bunch of corners to carve is a line of cars to slay.

Steve

[JimO]

I have absolutely zero problem with cars. If there were no cars half the fun would be gone. If wonder if cagers would still love bikers so much if they knew we just lived to carve them up. Mmmmmm, the only thing better than a bunch of corners to carve is a line of cars to slay.

Steve
i rest my case

[YellowDog]

Yes I suppose getting around cars is quite good fun. Especially the ones that play that game where they indicate whilst (rather than before) they turn across your path.

[trumpy]

Generally don't have a problem with cars etc. every ride I go on I have cars pull hard left to let me through and I always aknowledge the courtesy.
Last sunday I was following a milk tanker along Wharepapa rd heading south towards Mangakino, coming up to a fast right hander shaded by trees and contemplating the pass when he suddenly swithches on his hazard lights as he enters the corner, so I back off and have a proper look at the corner. Bugger me the road has been torn up and is just loose shingle. There were signed road works prior to this corner, but this bit of works was well after the 100k sign. Big thanks to that lad, thumbs up from him as I pass. There are a few drivers out there that do pay attention.

[taff1954]

Generally don't have a problem with cars etc. every ride I go on I have cars pull hard left to let me through and I always aknowledge the courtesy.
Last sunday I was following a milk tanker along Wharepapa rd heading south towards Mangakino, coming up to a fast right hander shaded by trees and contemplating the pass when he suddenly swithches on his hazard lights as he enters the corner, so I back off and have a proper look at the corner. Bugger me the road has been torn up and is just loose shingle. There were signed road works prior to this corner, but this bit of works was well after the 100k sign. Big thanks to that lad, thumbs up from him as I pass. There are a few drivers out there that do pay attention.

So often it's the 'professional' driver that will do something like that - and yes, I always give a thumbs up or wave to anyone that does the right thing. I was just surprised on the trip to Welly and back how observant everyone seemed to be. Made a real difference to me on this trip as it's the longest trip my wife has ever done on a bike, in fact, only the third ride she's been on heading out side of Taranaki. Made for a great ride - and better still, we missed all the rain.

[hellokitty]

you guys obviously don't live in Auckland - nothing but wankers in cars up here!!!

[Bren]

you guys obviously don't live in Auckland - nothing but wankers in cars up here!!!

Hence why we dont live up there.....we are the sane ones....!

[oldrider]

I agree with you, I have noticed that other motorists have been improving their attitude to bikes out on the highways especially!

It makes me consciously try to be a bit more conciliatory in my behaviour towards them too!


I have absolutely zero problem with cars. If there were no cars half the fun would be gone. If wonder if cagers would still love bikers so much if they knew we just lived to carve them up. Mmmmmm, the only thing better than a bunch of corners to carve is a line of cars to slay.

Steve

What has happened to Katman?

Come back Katman all is forgiven, sadly the above quoted post suggests that your work here is still incomplete! :yes:

[Berries]

i rest my case

Nah, I'm with DB on this one. If I shoot over to Qtown for the weekend and traffic is light much of the fun disappears, it is just a boring ride interspersed with a couple of great sections for giving it laldy. Stopping in Roxborough for a mince and cheese pie goes without saying, it's traditional.

Traffic on the other hand gives me something to play with, shortens the trip and makes me grin as I sink the first pinot with my feet up on the balcony overlooking the lake.

[CookMySock]

Traffic on the other hand gives me something to play with, shortens the trip and makes me grin as I sink the first pinot with my feet up on the balcony overlooking the lake.Oh yeah. And caravans!! Do I love caravans!! Oh oh oh they stack cars up twenty-in-a-line!! The Joy!!

And campervans!!! :sunny: Campervans are the shizo!! :killingme

Steve

[Hitcher]

Ever since the Rimutakas have been doubled yellowed, cager courtesy on the hill has improved immeasurably.

[oldrider]

Ever since the Rimutakas have been doubled yellowed, cager courtesy on the hill has improved immeasurably.

Actually, that's nice to hear, I hope the courtesy is reciprical from the motorcycling fraternity!

Even Katman would have to be pleased with that! :yes: (where is Katman these day's?)

[duckonin]

i rest my case

Your reply to Steve's post is worth +1

[CookMySock]

Your reply to Steve's post is worth +1pfft, scaredy-cat putt-putt cruiser riders, stay in line and behave like a compliant little lemming, pat pat... ;)

Steve

[Cracker]

Too many biker meatheads slag off motorists. I reckon we are well treated by other road users and have taken to a courtousy wave for all the room they give me. Shit, even horsefloat drivers (the hippos of the roads) have got a little room for a bike to pass these days.

I'm starting to feel a little quilt when flying past seezed up motorists who probably don't even see you coming up there arse.

One thing hasn't changed and thats vehicles cutting corners on country roads

[slofox]

Mmmm...I see many cage drivers who are courteous and thoughtful. But I do see a few fuckwits as well. Like everything I suppose - there's good and there's bad...

Re hellokitty's comment about d'Auckland drivers, I would just mention that lane splitting seems easier up there than here in my experience. The couple of times I have been on the southern at rush hour am, I have seen many drivers make way for lane splitters...as opposed to my experience here where drivers will deliberately try to block you out...or come screaming up inside you after the intersection...

[shrub]

On any given day ride I'll experience cage drivers pulling over to let me past, chatting at gas stations and cafes and flashing their lights when there's a mobile revenue collector ahead. I would go as far as to say there are very few revenue collectors I don't get warned about and I have been saved thousands by good guys in cars.

The only consistently irritating people I see on the open road are tourists creeping in abject terror through windy roads in their rental cars - they never pull over or flag you through, but my guess is they're on the verge of evacuating their bowels from the fear of doing 70kmh, and the only scary people are tourists driving campervans that you should need an HT to drive on narrow back roads.

[SPman]

. Mmmmmm, the only thing better than a bunch of corners to carve is a line of cars to slay.

Steve or...a couple of cars, followed by a corner, followed by another car, corner....car....corner.......line up - squirt - hard brake - corner - line up - squirt -...........
Kopu-Hikuai was good for that.

[shrub]

I passed 4 sports bikes going the other way, and all waved. Just behind them was a car, he flashed his lights and gave me a slow down hand signal. A couple of ks later, just as I was about to turn into Tai Tapu a Harley flagged me down, and just round the corner was a revenue officer sitting just in the 50 k zone..

Sports bikes didn't warn me, but the cage driver and the Harley did.

[CookMySock]

or...a couple of cars, followed by a corner, followed by another car, corner....car....corner.......line up - squirt - hard brake - corner - line up - squirt -...........
Kopu-Hikuai was good for that.That too! :niceone:

@shrub, sometimes I won't warn people who are obviously putt-putting, but I'll always warn a group of sport bikers.

Steve

[Filter_nz]

Just remember to give a wave if someone lets you through, esply if they're already doing the posted limit.

[Mikkel]

I passed 4 sports bikes going the other way, and all waved. Just behind them was a car, he flashed his lights and gave me a slow down hand signal. A couple of ks later, just as I was about to turn into Tai Tapu a Harley flagged me down, and just round the corner was a revenue officer sitting just in the 50 k zone..

Sports bikes didn't warn me, but the cage driver and the Harley did.

If the sportsbikes came via the Old Tai Tapu road they might not have seen the police. Dunno if that was the case, but a possibility.

One way not to impress car drivers is to overtake them moving into too narrow a space in front and then proceed to slow them down on the next 10 corners because you can't ride for shit. Just saying... no amount of tassles or fancy flags on your pillion's helmet will make it cool.

[Mikkel]

I passed 4 sports bikes going the other way, and all waved. Just behind them was a car, he flashed his lights and gave me a slow down hand signal. A couple of ks later, just as I was about to turn into Tai Tapu a Harley flagged me down, and just round the corner was a revenue officer sitting just in the 50 k zone..

Sports bikes didn't warn me, but the cage driver and the Harley did.

If the sportsbikes came via the Old Tai Tapu road they might not have seen the police. Dunno if that was the case, but a possibility.

One way not to impress car drivers is to overtake them moving into too narrow a space in front and then proceed to slow them down on the next 10 corners because you can't ride for shit. Just saying... no amount of tassles or fancy flags on your pillion's helmet will make it cool.

[barty5]

The other way to piss them off would be like some of the riders on Saturday doing the Coro loop heading down the coast. Ill be th 1st to admit that i like to throw the car in and around the corners something bout driving a nice big v8 and the sounds as you put your foot in to it down the straights and out of corners. But at least i stay on my side of the road!! on 4 different times in the space of less than 1/2 an hour i had bikes coming at me on my side of the road cause they where cutting blind corners at one point a group of 4 bike all trying to pass 3 cars up hill in my lane on a blind corner some people just need to think a little there are cars on the road as well. And then to give me the finger for it dang lucky i had a wedding to attend and didn't turn around.

[CookMySock]

[..] on 4 different times in the space of less than 1/2 an hour i had bikes coming at me on my side of the road cause they where cutting blind corners at one point a group of 4 bike all trying to pass 3 cars up hill in my lane on a blind corner some people just need to think a little there are cars on the road as well. And then to give me the finger for it [....] Sounds to me like you got pissed off and closed some gap up.

I often lane-share toward oncoming traffic, and generally I (and most others) have no problem with it except with two types of cager - the overtly-timid, where they dive into the hedge on their side of the road when they see me on or near the centreline, and the overtly-aggressive, who in a show of disapproval, point their vehicle straight at me as if it might control my actions somehow. Either way, it is of no consequence to me.

It is important to remember though, the roads are for all general laymen and consumer use - not just for experts, so it behooves the experts to not unduly frighten everyone else.

Steve

[barty5]

No i was staying as close to the left as reasonably possible givin there where so many bikes but when i drive im always looking ahead to check what is coming the other way and take a mental note of what you see coming like a check list as it goes by these guys where straight lining coming at me with not know or having anyway of knowning what was coming at them. Hey we all cut corners im just saying do it when you know there is nothing coming at you and you should need to use 3/4 on the on coming lane. End of the day we all got to or at least we did safely which is the main thing people just need to respect there are other road users out there.

[CookMySock]

No i was staying as close to the left as reasonably possibleMy humble apologise!

<img src="http://www.sohh.com/img/bow-wow-2009-10-29-300x300.jpg">

Steve