Debris riding behind trucks and trailers

[klingon]

HOV = High Occupancy Vehicle

aka a bus

HOV lane = bus lane

sometimes also extended to include private cars with more than just the driver

Auckland City has "bus lanes" which are actually shared bus, bike and motorbike lanes.

In some parts of North Shore City there are "HOV" lanes which are for vehicles with more than one occupant - ie buses and cars with passengers. Motorbikes are also allowed to use these lanes.

Obviously if the aim is to reduce congestion and/or emissions, motorbikes should be encouraged by allowing us to use HOV lanes. When I'm riding my bike it is 100% occupied - as a 6R licence holder I can't carry passengers.

[ManDownUnder]

yes - they're shocking. A manoevre worth practicing is to drop back a bit (out of the flotsum) and when the opportunity presents itself smoothly ride into the other lane overtaking the truck and pulling back in.

If you do it right you'll stay out of the dross the whole time.

[surfchick]

did i mention what it was like following behind MDU and his enormous top-box? OMMMMMGGGGG

[duckonin]

Wife an I were towing a tralier behind tandem bike down south last november, south of Blenhiem going down a steep grade at 68k's almost at the bottom when a ute loaded with irrigation pipes went speeding through a compulsory stop, turned right heading toward us and lost the load it was not tied on, yep nearly bought that time, not a good idea to follow behind trucks vehicles of any config towing anything, over the last thirty years I have had a caravan and a horse float lift off the tow ball, both held on by the saftey chain but what if........I keep well away from both trucks and towing vehicles..

riding our bike the amount of steel cleats, bolts,well almost anything for that matter that leaves the back of vehicles is amazing the road is absolutley littered with debris...

Take care following anyone better to safley get in front of the buggars and stay there if poss....The police will not like your excuse if they catch you speeding trying to do this, but It is your life we are only trying to stay alive.

[Conquiztador]

Was trying to find info or statistics re bike accidents caused by falling debri from trucks, trailers and so on. But have not had any luck.

Found this that gives some info re why majority of bike accidents happen. And it is not the bikers fault!! (But we already knew that)

http://www.withyking.co.uk/services/..._of_diesel.cfm

Also found this one that has some more % of what acidents normally are caused by. Nothing specific re falling debri. But there is the "other" that has 2% next to it. So one would assume that the loose brick coming off the truck, the trailer wheel hitting you etc is covered here.

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/rbotoole/..._motorcycling/

[ynot slow]

Had more than our fair share of shit and crap from trucks,in Feb had stone chip in windscreen in car,new replacement,thenin our celica had stone flick up from truck new windscreen on Friday fitted,then same car and overloaded truck dropping debri along the road,couple of decent stones fall off the trailer and we're travelling towards the truck,they bounce all around and we think shit that was close as they miss the windscreen, only to have one hit the rear hatch screen,unbeleaveable,insurance lady pissed herself when told,mind you the cops were going to do the trucking co for insecure loads,apparently several had screens cracked at the time and all said it was the trucks fault. What was a worry was me thinking what if I was riding.