Ever had any repercussions from reporting bad driving?

[caseye]

The point is, if you leave the room, the barstewards will attempt to take it.
Own your part of the road, you don't have to weave all over it but certainly do keep a good eye out back there, the ones who get you from behind really hurt.
Had an old fart in a Renault try undertaking me on the strand rail bridge last Wednesday evening in rush hour traffic, I noticed him coming and closed the door, mongrel still got right up along side me before he realised the door was being closed. I politely gave him a one finger wave and offered to follow up if he'd be so kind as to stop and discuss our predicament.
He declined, was happy to try it on in the first place though. Prick wasn't even going to turn left over the bridge like I was, just wanted to be ahead before the lights.
Advice doesn't always have to be couched in nice language to be relevant or helpful, this IS kb after all.

[Gremlin]

Noted, next time I go on the road I'll keep veering left and right all over the show so no one can over or undertake me

While the delivery was blunt, there was some useful information in there. Positioning yourself and your motorcycle on the road is more complex than simply riding on the correct side of the road.

Naturally none of us were there, so can't say for sure, but if a car is able to undertake you, then it is likely you are in the wrong position. On roads (most often suburban), where the "lane" is the entire half of the road, placing yourself too close to the centreline will allow cars to undertake you. In these situations you should place yourself more in the middle of the lane (but this depends on the environment surrounding the road, and circumstances).

There are also subtle games you can play, which often the car drivers never know, by placing your body in their line of sight. When they cannot see (because you are now in the way) they either back off or move. By slowly following moves most of the time they end up backing off. Same way drivers won't tailgate bigger vehicles, because they can't see (but they can easily see past a bike, and hence the next vehicle isn't that close). Obviously, some just tailgate everything on the road, and it's best to get yourself out of the way and let them crash into someone else.

Being aggressive isn't the answer, but being assertive can yield plenty of gains.

[unstuck]

Being aggressive isn't the answer, but being assertive can yield plenty of gains.

What he said.

[bosslady]

The point is, if you leave the room, the barstewards will attempt to take it.
Own your part of the road, you don't have to weave all over it but certainly do keep a good eye out back there, the ones who get you from behind really hurt.
Had an old fart in a Renault try undertaking me on the strand rail bridge last Wednesday evening in rush hour traffic, I noticed him coming and closed the door, mongrel still got right up along side me before he realised the door was being closed. I politely gave him a one finger wave and offered to follow up if he'd be so kind as to stop and discuss our predicament.
He declined, was happy to try it on in the first place though. Prick wasn't even going to turn left over the bridge like I was, just wanted to be ahead before the lights.
Advice doesn't always have to be couched in nice language to be relevant or helpful, this IS kb after all.

I don't know how I could own that certain part of road any better. If anyone knows it, it's that stretch of glenfield rd that runs past eskdale road, before the lights and after the graveyard. It's very wide so even if I rode in the middle, he could have over or undertaken me still. Anyway I think he was just that type, or in a rush, cause he tailgated the car in front of him too. I don't mind constructive advice/criticism, but like most people it's in one ear and out the other when it is presented poorly, tis a pity.

[bosslady]

While the delivery was blunt, there was some useful information in there. Positioning yourself and your motorcycle on the road is more complex than simply riding on the correct side of the road.

Naturally none of us were there, so can't say for sure, but if a car is able to undertake you, then it is likely you are in the wrong position. On roads (most often suburban), where the "lane" is the entire half of the road, placing yourself too close to the centreline will allow cars to undertake you. In these situations you should place yourself more in the middle of the lane (but this depends on the environment surrounding the road, and circumstances).

There are also subtle games you can play, which often the car drivers never know, by placing your body in their line of sight. When they cannot see (because you are now in the way) they either back off or move. By slowly following moves most of the time they end up backing off. Same way drivers won't tailgate bigger vehicles, because they can't see (but they can easily see past a bike, and hence the next vehicle isn't that close). Obviously, some just tailgate everything on the road, and it's best to get yourself out of the way and let them crash into someone else.

Being aggressive isn't the answer, but being assertive can yield plenty of gains.

hmmm I am trying to picture that in my head... so in what scenarios would you be closer to the centre line and in what scenarios would you be in the centre of the lane?

hmmmm

[Gremlin]

I don't know how I could own that certain part of road any better.

Get the base skills sorted and I'm happy to take you out for a ride and fill your head with more advanced techniques.

Alternatively, do it more formally through IAM: http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/

[bosslady]

Get the base skills sorted and I'm happy to take you out for a ride and fill your head with more advanced techniques.

Alternatively, do it more formally through IAM: http://www.nz-iam.org.nz/

which base skills?

read the website found it a little confusing, how much is it? said something about needing to do a test beforehand or something... confusing..

[Blackbird]

I reported a bad driver to his employer rather than the cops and got a great result - got photos. Thread and photos here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ing-compulsory

[Gremlin]

hmmm I am trying to picture that in my head... so in what scenarios would you be closer to the centre line and in what scenarios would you be in the centre of the lane?

Your positioning is primarily based on safety and visibility. Riding next to the kerb for example will have most probably failing to see you. By riding closer to the centre line you are now increasing your chances of being seen, as there are less obstructions (like parked cars) in the line of sight. You're also increasing your angle of sight into side roads and driveways, so you're better able to see further.

For vehicles behind, it's about owning your piece of road, and controlling it. This means the space in front of you, where you are, and behind you. Control it all by increasing or decreasing your speed and move around to be more visible to those around you. It's very easy for a car driver to "see through" you, if you're not in their line of sight. By placing yourself in their line of sight it's hard for them to miss you.

Keeping it simple for now, look to ride in the right hand wheel track, but be aware of what other cars are doing. If everyone is driving very left, sit in their right wheel track, and if they're showing a tendency to tailgate place yourself in line with their steering wheel (ie, them). If you're riding to the right and they're to the left, they can easily think, oh, I'll sneak by, or, maybe they'll (meaning you) be turning right, so I'll go past.

A lot is about gaining the knowledge and pros and cons of situations, then applying that knowledge to given situations.

[Kornholio]

Do some wheelies, noo-one will come near you then

[Gremlin]

which base skills?

read the website found it a little confusing, how much is it? said something about needing to do a test beforehand or something... confusing..

Ride according to the law, not stall in traffic etc, ie, able to travel with the flow of traffic and be able to do it more automatically. From my point of view, if you're still working on those "first" skills, it's only going to confuse you moving more in-depth, and swamping you with information will never achieve anything productive.

For IAM, there is a monthly ride last Sunday of every month, out of Westgate. Philip of Riderskills is the IAM chief examiner in NZ. Essentially, riders are welcome to come along, see how it works and have an assessment of current riding. If you wish to join, it's uh (geoff?) $45 I think, which covers the full membership test. You're not a full member until the test is passed, so the first months, or year or two, are about getting your riding up to the IAM standard, then passing the test. Blackbird (just above) has recently graduated to observer status, which is after becoming a full member, meaning in the IAM world, he's qualified to observe other IAM riders and trainees. I'll be sitting the full membership test shortly (everyone including myself are busy).

[caspernz]

Dob in a driver does work, but it's quite rare to get serious results...my last one was when I had a turkey towing a racecar trailer try it on while I was driving a tanker...by the time I rang *555 the operator already had a couple of reports about the clown taking on a fuel tanker at the end of a passing lane (I let him sneak past, much less paperwork than tapping him into the barrier)...she laughed when she found out I was the tanker driver...and could tell me the guy lost his licence for an unrelated issue not long after my incident, towing a trailer at 1/2 lightspeed kinda does that...

But yeah, if you get hung up on every clown on the road might as well take the bus. Gremlin has the right idea for ya!
Assertive and defensive riding works wonders, and you can still boogie from A to Z in quick time

[bosslady]

Your positioning is primarily based on safety and visibility. Riding next to the kerb for example will have most probably failing to see you. By riding closer to the centre line you are now increasing your chances of being seen, as there are less obstructions (like parked cars) in the line of sight. You're also increasing your angle of sight into side roads and driveways, so you're better able to see further.

For vehicles behind, it's about owning your piece of road, and controlling it. This means the space in front of you, where you are, and behind you. Control it all by increasing or decreasing your speed and move around to be more visible to those around you. It's very easy for a car driver to "see through" you, if you're not in their line of sight. By placing yourself in their line of sight it's hard for them to miss you.

Keeping it simple for now, look to ride in the right hand wheel track, but be aware of what other cars are doing. If everyone is driving very left, sit in their right wheel track, and if they're showing a tendency to tailgate place yourself in line with their steering wheel (ie, them). If you're riding to the right and they're to the left, they can easily think, oh, I'll sneak by, or, maybe they'll (meaning you) be turning right, so I'll go past.

A lot is about gaining the knowledge and pros and cons of situations, then applying that knowledge to given situations.

I do, position myself in the right hand wheel track, prolly why, as soon as I passed a parked car on the side of the road he perhaps saw in his eyes, a gap,zoooooom.

Do some wheelies, noo-one will come near you then

I'll start practicing immediately...

Ride according to the law, not stall in traffic etc, ie, able to travel with the flow of traffic and be able to do it more automatically. From my point of view, if you're still working on those "first" skills, it's only going to confuse you moving more in-depth, and swamping you with information will never achieve anything productive.

For IAM, there is a monthly ride last Sunday of every month, out of Westgate. Philip of Riderskills is the IAM chief examiner in NZ. Essentially, riders are welcome to come along, see how it works and have an assessment of current riding. If you wish to join, it's uh (geoff?) $45 I think, which covers the full membership test. You're not a full member until the test is passed, so the first months, or year or two, are about getting your riding up to the IAM standard, then passing the test. Blackbird (just above) has recently graduated to observer status, which is after becoming a full member, meaning in the IAM world, he's qualified to observe other IAM riders and trainees. I'll be sitting the full membership test shortly (everyone including myself are busy).

Apart from speeding, I do follow the law and basic road rules, don't stall anymore bar I think yesterday I stopped at a set of lights and in a brief moment of brain fart let the clutch out in first gear, haha. I think my ride to taupo helped a lot but I still can't get the balls to lane split or filter quite yet...

Hmmm sounds interesting, think I will sign up, not to early is it?

[Gremlin]

Apart from speeding, I do follow the law and basic road rules, don't stall anymore bar I think yesterday I stopped at a set of lights and in a brief moment of brain fart let the clutch out in first gear, haha. I think my ride to taupo helped a lot but I still can't get the balls to lane split or filter quite yet...

Hmmm sounds interesting, think I will sign up, not to early is it?

Don't worry, lane splitting and/or filtering is a complex thing in itself.

It's unusual for learners to sign up, but at the same time, it will also mean years of bad habits don't have to be undone (and the associated crushing of an ego). Generally, holding a full licence means a few years of riding experience, which assists with learning, as you've likely encountered a few hairy scenarios and learnt a few things. Expect however, to obey ALL road rules. Speeding is viewed as a lack of control of the bike (including slowing before lower speed limits, and not speeding up until you enter a higher speed zone). Stopping at stop signs is a given as well. On the other hand, making smooth progress is expected and travelling below the speed limit for no reason will also be marked down.

The IAM process is something you would need to commit to. The full test is demanding and exacting. No passes because you smiled nicely. We've seen the odd ones try to "turn it on" when being observed, but believe me, the riding style and thought process isn't something you can turn on and off when required.

[FJRider]

hmmm I am trying to picture that in my head... so in what scenarios would you be closer to the centre line and in what scenarios would you be in the centre of the lane?

hmmmm

On a single lane (each direction) open road situation ... you can expect the wheel tracks part of your side to be smoother. Usually it's about half a metre in from the centerline. Moving to the left of that can "invite" motorists to pass you without crossing too far across the centerline. It is also in the direct line of sight forward from a drivers seat of a car behind you.

This position on the road is favoured ... if not recommended for most motorcyclists ... in MOST circumstances. Easier for YOU to overtake ... and still room for you to move about in your half of the road. To avoid bumps/pot holes/stuff on the road. (or other vehicles)
Riding on the left of the lane "invites" vehicles coming alongside you. (Or try to) or passing you without crossing the centerline.

Some rider do a gradual and unpredictable moving about in the "middle half" of the lane. It keeps people guessing about where you will be on the road. And they will notice you better. Some motorists take advantage of predicable riders.

If you want people to pass you ... move to the left wheel track and left indicator on. Don't move further left ... unless there is PLENTY of sealed road to the left of that. Or to the left of the white line at the road edge. Riding on the very edge of the seal leaves you few options in wind ... or gusts from trucks going in the opposite direction.
Riding near the centerline leaves you even more prone to wind blast from large vehicles. (and mirrors that stick out from cars ON the centerline)