How 'bout a little courtesy, fellow biker?

[apteryx_haasti]

Hi there -

I have a little rant for the biker who was in front of me on the Wgtn motorway heading into the Hutt this evening...

If you are lane splitting, and a bike comes up behind you and is clearly able to go faster than you, then PLEASE pull into a space and let the faster rider past. It's really hard to follow you without getting too close, and concentrating on what you're up to makes it hard for me to pay attention to other things - like the cars and what THEY'RE up to.

OK, I am not a super fast lane splitter myself, which is why I keep an eye on my mirror for anyone coming up behind me and I get out of their way. This usually results in a friendly wave.

Perhaps you didn't see me there, although I doubt it, but I thought you might have figured it out when I pulled in to let a faster bike through (thanks for the wave, yellow bike!), who then had to pass you by using an "interesting" manouver when you didn't/wouldn't get out of their way.

AM I being a bitch - or is a request for a bit of biker courtesy OK in this situation?

End rant - deep breath and a nice cold beer...

A_H

[Colapop]

So you were trying to pass a slower bike while lane splitting? Just trying to get a clear picture of what was happening.

Hope you're not pissed I passed you on Sunday...

[Waylander]

Ever think that maybe they are too busy concentrating on the cars ahead?

Can I ask you something, when riding with newbies do you pass them really closely and at high speed? or do you take your time and be carefull to make sure they are comfortable with what you are doing?

[Fub@r]

For me if I see a faster bike coming up I always move over and let them pass. Always get a wave to say thanks

[sunhuntin]

exactly why im glad i dont have to lane spilt, lol.

also why i dislike riding in groups. few group rides back, got overtaken by some guy with a really wide jap v-twin. dunno what it was. but he was sitting to my left front. every time the group slowed down, id nearly run into him cos he wouldnt move over. i was basically riding as close to the center line as i felt safe to, and he was mid-lane. i was trying to ride so those behind me could see my moves clearly, but he made that impossible...didnt use his brakes, only engine braking, so i didnt realise he was slowing till i nearly ran into him.

[redbaron36]

That seems reasonalbe to me. i do the same. he with the fastest wheels wins the race to the office ... year off you go then.

[apteryx_haasti]

Ever think that maybe they are too busy concentrating on the cars ahead?

Can I ask you something, when riding with newbies do you pass them really closely and at high speed? or do you take your time and be carefull to make sure they are comfortable with what you are doing?

Hi there - I am a newbie myself, which is why I didn't try and get past, but hung back hoping they would realise I was there and would move over. I wouldn't pass someone without making sure they knew what I was doing AND I don't think my bike reaches anything resembling "high speed"!

I am pretty sure they knew I was there, because I saw them look at me in their mirror.

(PS - Col - nope, not pissed about being passed on Sunday - like I said, I try and keep an eye out and let faster traffic past (car or bike!))

[apteryx_haasti]

So you were trying to pass a slower bike while lane splitting? Just trying to get a clear picture of what was happening.

Hope you're not pissed I passed you on Sunday...

To clarify - I came up behind another bike who was also lane splitting. If I was the front bike and a faster bike came up behind me (which happens quite frequently, ha ha!) I would move into a gap in a lane as soon as I could, to let the other bike past. Then I would come back out and continue on my way.

Clear as mud?

[imdying]

exactly why im glad i dont have to lane spilt, lol.

also why i dislike riding in groups. few group rides back, got overtaken by some guy with a really wide jap v-twin. dunno what it was. but he was sitting to my left front. every time the group slowed down, id nearly run into him cos he wouldnt move over. i was basically riding as close to the center line as i felt safe to, and he was mid-lane. i was trying to ride so those behind me could see my moves clearly, but he made that impossible...didnt use his brakes, only engine braking, so i didnt realise he was slowing till i nearly ran into him.

Don't follow so close then.

OP, don't be so impatient if you must split, it'll bugger your concentration which'll only end up with you kissing the tarmac.

[DingDong]

No excuses... no one has said it so I will, lane splitting is the most dangerous motorcycle act and unless your crawling past cars that aint moving your an idiot... whats the rush!?... I hate (HATE!) fools splitting moving traffic at speed, I've seen guys doing 70k+ through traffic doing 20K... its not fun!, you aint cool!... you just give bikers a bad name, and you will crash, too many variables.

NO your not right to complain about this rider...

[apteryx_haasti]

No excuses... no one has said it so I will, lane splitting is the most dangerous motorcycle act and unless your crawling past cars that aint moving your an idiot... whats the rush!?... I hate (HATE!) fools splitting moving traffic at speed, I've seen guys doing 70k+ through traffic doing 20K... its not fun!, you aint cool!... you just give bikers a bad name, and you will crash, too many variables.

NO your not right to complain about this rider...

We were crawling past cars that weren't moving - but point taken. (1) Lane splitting should be done with care at all times and (2) I am not as good at it as I think! [and (3) take a chill pill.]

Will remember this if a similar situation occurs.

CHeers.

[DingDong]

Good on ya... next time your up north the TGA Kbers will show you what a bin looks like

[Waylander]

No excuses... no one has said it so I will, lane splitting is the most dangerous motorcycle act and unless your crawling past cars that aint moving your an idiot... whats the rush!?... I hate (HATE!) fools splitting moving traffic at speed, I've seen guys doing 70k+ through traffic doing 20K... its not fun!, you aint cool!... you just give bikers a bad name, and you will crash, too many variables.

NO your not right to complain about this rider...

Dammit man, I only go fast as in the
Marina entrance cause everyone stops through there for no fucking reason and I want to get past as many of the idiots as I can.
The rest of the time I'm filtering I'm only going maybe 8kmh faster than the rest of traffic.

And when I come up on a bike filltering slower than me. I wait behind them. I know I would rather be watching what the cars ahead of me are doing than worrying about another bike comming up behind me.

And oddly enough I have yet to crash in traffic.

[skelstar]

Hang on I dont get something...

Col PASSED someone on Sunday?

[riffer]

Phew. For a minute there I thought it was someone complaining about me cutting them up in the Welly traffic.

I've had to pass a few slow splitters lately... each to their own. Most people get out of the way. If I crash its my fault. I'll accept that.

It can get a little irritating when you feel that the guy in front hasn't noticed you. I've talked to a few guys about it after being held up and the majority have seen me, they just didn't feel that it was safe to pull over and let me through.