Lane splitting - following distance

**p.dath** · 10th May 2010, 09:20

I was lane splitting along the motorway on the North Shore this morning. I try to do it along the guide lines I had from the Police (stay in same lane, left of centre line, no more than 40km/h, etc).
You might have a different idea on what is safe for you, that's fine.

What I don't like is another rider following me so closely that I am left in the position where I can not brake to avoid something, such as a car suddenly changing lane.
And that is the situation I found myself in this morning. Another rider following me so closely that I new they would hit me if I braked. In fact I was not even confident I could even slow down they were so close.

I new you wanted to ride faster. It was obvious. I eventually found a gap between cars that I could pull into without slowing down (so I could be confident I would not be tailed ended by the other rider) to let the other rider past.

So please, I ask only one thing, when behind another rider please don't follow so closely that you could not possibly stop in the distance in front of you without hitting them. You can choose to ride faster than me lane splitting - that's ok - but putting other riders at risk is not.

**bogan** · 10th May 2010, 09:22

did you try flashing you brake lights? usually gets people to back off I find

**CookMySock** · 10th May 2010, 09:31

Originally Posted by p.dath

So please, I ask only one thing, when behind another rider please don't follow so closely that you could not possibly stop in the distance in front of you without hitting them.

How do you know he couldn't, or is this just what you believe?

The easiest non-confrontational way to get ride of people on your ass, is to ride erratically. No one in their right mind will follow an erratic rider closely. Don't try to communicate with them - it usually only makes things worse.

Steve

**Latte** · 10th May 2010, 09:55

I'll typically follow about 5-6 bike lengths back, then slowly get closer untill I'm a couple behind - hopefully by then they'll have found a spot. If not I'll hop across to the other lane, or just give up and cruise behind.

You obvioulsy can't control the rider behind, but if you are feeling they are following to closely slow down and give yourself more breathing space at the front. So if you do have to stop you can do so "slower" and the guy behind will only shit himself, instead of shit himself AND crash into you

**Cayman911** · 10th May 2010, 09:57

If it was that bad i would have personally turned my neck around and made it clear with arm, or more specifically finger signals to him to bugger off.

**nodrog:Me** · 10th May 2010, 09:58

im sorry, i was in a hurry.

**Gubb** · 10th May 2010, 11:21

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

The easiest non-confrontational way to get ride of people on your ass, is to ride erratically.

Perhaps you could do us all a favour and ride erratically in Auckland traffic.

**scooute** · 10th May 2010, 22:31

I thought giving each other space was a given? flashing break lights would have been my first option... then ducking for cover as you did... Ride safe

**Thaeos** · 10th May 2010, 22:49

We like to go on about bloody cagers etc but the truth is there's plenty of tards out there on bikes as well... sounds like this person is one of them?

**jeffs** · 10th May 2010, 23:17

How far back did you see him/her catching you ? If you saw them a long way off, you should have been well prepared to move out of the way before it came to a panic situation.
Riding a bike in heavy traffic is like driving a car. If some one is coming up quick get out of the way.

This may sound hard, but its not a trackday so you should be using your mirrors.

If they cut in quick from several lanes across, so there was no seeing them coming, then just drop your throttle and coast into a passing position.

Harsh breaking with a bike behind ( as suggested by some ), just turns into a 2 bike crash and a place on the news about bad biking. If you have time to play the break light game, you also have time to get out of the way and get on with your life.

**Bulldog** · 11th May 2010, 00:03

I hear you mate and have several nut bags come up on me a lot on the western. I quite often see them coming way off (as I use my mirrors) and find a gap before they get to me. But the reverse can be true also. I am seriously starting to lose patience with people sitting the between or just behind the cars waiting for the 'right speed' to filter meanwhile those of us who want to go faster can't get through. Basic rule people, if you're not filtering move out of the 'bike lane'. I am the most patient bastard out there but man there is some ignorant buggers around. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE :/

**scooute** · 11th May 2010, 02:25

Originally Posted by jeffs

How far back did you see him/her catching you ? If you saw them a long way off, you should have been well prepared to move out of the way before it came to a panic situation.
Riding a bike in heavy traffic is like driving a car. If some one is coming up quick get out of the way.

Harsh breaking with a bike behind ( as suggested by some ), just turns into a 2 bike crash and a place on the news about bad biking. If you have time to play the break light game, you also have time to get out of the way and get on with your life.

Not actually braking suggested just a friendly lighting of the brake lights with a couple of very gentle taps on the rear brake to let him know you are there (just like when making sure the car behind has seen you)

**Swoop** · 11th May 2010, 08:21

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Basic rule people, if you're not filtering move out of the 'bike lane'. I am the most patient bastard out there but man there is some ignorant buggers around. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE :/

It is certainly not the chap on the blue scooter...

**rie** · 11th May 2010, 11:52

just move aside at the next possible opportunity. just like you have no way to communicate to them to back off, they have no way to communicate to you to move aside.

i definitely filter faster than 40k/h (whether this is wise is mootable) and usually if there is someone filtering slower than me i try to switch filtering lanes to be curteous. but this is not always the safest option. so i may simply sit behind them. and they might think this is too close on their bum even though i might think i am at a safe distance. again, impossible to communicate any of this to each other.

in short, i am always grateful to filter-ers who simply merge into traffic to let me through. and i always do the same for filter-ers who filter faster than me. nobody gets annoyed.

**rie** · 11th May 2010, 11:54

Originally Posted by scooute

Not actually braking suggested just a friendly lighting of the brake lights with a couple of very gentle taps on the rear brake to let him know you are there (just like when making sure the car behind has seen you)

i'd also add that i would never have guessed from brake-light-tapping that the rider wants me to back off, especially in a filtering situation