cage drivers --sometimes they really cant see ya

[FROSTY:Me]

I was stuck in a cage last night. Travelling down the norwestern crawlway at about 40km/h I decided to change lanes -Indicator on --a look in the mirror -all clear and I started to move over. A bike suddenly apeared in the gap between the cars 3 back from me.
Lucky for him I was watching my rear vision mirror the whole time.
My point is from a cagers point of view there was a clear gap in evenly moving lines of traffic.
Ya might wanna concider what the cage drivers actually can see when you're passing them

[Motu]

Done that alright - I keep a good eye on my mirrors,lane changes need to be planned well ahead so you don't get locked in the wrong lane.Check your mirrors,check again and there's a bike you never even knew was on the road,invisable behind other cars until he made his move.Make sure you are in their mirrors long enough for those in front to pick you up - cars change lanes too,it's not just the perogative of motorcycles.

[Flyingpony]

Very true, I'm careful when filtering and pick my moments and in the cage very aware of how quickly motorcycles can appear.

When lane changing, I try to make it obvious by having indicator on for at least three seconds, check mirrors, do head turning scan, check mirrors and then one more head scan encase momentarily both blind spots where hiding a bikie. Then it's a slow merge into desired lane with one final head scan half way while listening for any blasts of a horn. So far so good.

When waiting to cross an intersection, I'll actually still remain waiting if I've doubt there might be a bikie behind this vehicle approaching from the right which is about to turn left into my side street. Not all cage dwellers understand this pause, they think I'm a slow coach but we know better.

[John]

at intersections that are abit blind give way, saves the risk.

[parsley]

I understand that cages sometimes have limited vision, but that's still no excuse for not indicating before they change lanes!

[FROSTY:Me]

I'm not arguing the rights or wrongs of the situation.
All Im saying is that there are times car drivers can't possibly see you and it is not a place anyone should be coming from anyways-like between lines of moving traffic

[bugjuice]

just don't split while the traffic is moving. problem solved.
I never split (merge back in) when the traffic gets up to 20kph.. anything more than that starts cutting down reaction and notice times of drivers. So merge back in, the split when the stop again.

[Fryin Finn]

Car drivers will say they didnt see you after taking you out simply because it convenient for them to say so to avoid a ticketing - most of them don't care

[FROSTY:Me]

Finn-- aint arguing with ya there matey -

[Postie]

pepole who drive cars aswell as ride bikes seem to make much better car drivers.
How nice would it be if it was law that everyone must obtain at least a restricted motor bike licence before they can get a car licence.

[James Deuce]

Car drivers will say they didnt see you after taking you out simply because it convenient for them to say so to avoid a ticketing - most of them don't care

Like on Sunday, eh Finn? At least he looked uncomfortable when he saw us on the side of the road opposite Caltex Rimutaka.

[ManDownUnder]

pepole who drive cars aswell as ride bikes seem to make much better car drivers.
How nice would it be if it was law that everyone must obtain at least a restricted motor bike licence before they can get a car licence.

yep - I reckon two years in the saddle should be mandatory for everyone. Learn 'em what can happen if things go wrong...

It'd teach a lot of people all about the road surface and other "unexpected" threats too if they were more vulnerable (people stepping out off footpaths, cars nosing out into traffic, etc etc etc)
MDU

[Lou Girardin]

This is the main reason I use high beam in traffic. The number of cagers that start to move, then veer back to the left when they see the lights is very comforting. When I use low beam, quite a few just keep on with the lane change.

[duckman]

"I was stuck in a cage last night. Travelling down the norwestern crawlway at about 40km/h I decided to change lanes -Indicator on --a look in the mirror -all clear and I started to move over. A bike suddenly apeared in the gap between the cars 3 back from me."

You didn't mention a head check ... Did you change lanes without looking behind you??
I thought this was simple road code stuff ... Relying on your mirrors alone sounds a bit dodge.

[FROSTY:Me]

point being--road was curving traffic was moving at the same speed--all 3 lanes -It was impossible to see furthur back--and quite frankly from a cagers point of view--why would I need to??
Im not saying the point of view is right -Im saying its something you need to be aware of-otherwise you could be the rightest dead man in town.
-to answer ya question--I saw the guy therefore yea I looked