Road-craft 'skills'.

[The Stranger:Me]

I was riding in this morning, still a newbie and with my L plate clearly affixed to my pannier bag. And a cager was tailgating me down Gillies avenue

Yes, unfortunately an L plate seem to attract this kind of attention. Personally I'd get rid of it, however avoiding dickheads is no excuse when it comes to the law.

[Pascal]

Quite frankly, that's exactly what you should have done. Your argument that it didn't feel safe to doesn't make any sense. (What if your destination had dictated that that was where you were to pull over).

Probably, but looking at the road and the way one, slightly wider than average road gets turned into two lanes by cars it felt too dangerous to me. There's not even a motorcycle sized gap inbetween them. In retrospect, I should probably have pulled into a driveway or into a side street. Next time. Live and learn.

[slimjim]

Probably, but looking at the road and the way one, slightly wider than average road gets turned into two lanes by cars it felt too dangerous to me. There's not even a motorcycle sized gap inbetween them. In retrospect, I should probably have pulled into a driveway or into a side street. Next time. Live and learn.

...live and learn
spot on..

[Ixion]

First rule of motorcycling: if you don't feel safe, slow down or stop. In this case, nip onto the footpath , pause for a few minutes to calm down and then continue.

For tailgaters, try weaving around a little. It unnerves them. Otherwise, if for some reason I can't I just pull over, I ride slower and slower, opening up more of a gap in front until the impatient twunt decides to overtake 9usually dangerously, but that's his funeral)

[Katman]

Otherwise, if for some reason I can't I just pull over, I ride slower and slower, opening up more of a gap in front until the impatient twunt decides to overtake 9usually dangerously, but that's his funeral)

As long as it's only his.

However, the possibility that it could be the motorcyclists instead would suggest that pulling over and letting them safely pass is the only sensible option.

[Ixion]

You missed "if for some reason I can't I just pull over". Sometimes it's just not possible.

[Katman]

Sometimes it's just not possible.

I'm trying to imagine when that could be.

[Ixion]

Try the Auckland Harbour Bridge (or probably, any bridge). Or tunnels. I can think of a few roads where it would be pretty dicey too.

[vifferman]

I'm trying to imagine when that could be.

Maybe when the sides of the road are lined with parked cars?
In any case, this guy was tailgating you so closely as if to say, "Get the fook outta my way!", more'n likely because of the yellow plate. He was obviously determined to get past, so the trick would've been to let him go past, but if possible at a time/place of your choosing - i.e., pull over somewhere safe(ish) if possible.

[Katman]

Try the Auckland Harbour Bridge (or probably, any bridge). Or tunnels.

I'll give you those.

[Pascal]

I'll give you those.

Well, consider Gillies Avenue in the morning. It's a single lane road, but people treat it as a double lane. The road is just wide enough for two cars.

I'm in the right hand "lane", wanting to continue on past the motorway off-ramp. The left hand "lane" is a queue of virtually parked cars, all jostling to get to the off-ramp with people squeezing in and out from the side.

What options are there? Begin indicating to move into the motorway "lane", slow down and hope for a gap and then join that temporarily. That felt too dangerous to me with somebody that was already impatient and hogging my rear bumper.

Pulling over would have been ideal, but it was not a feasible option for me at that time.

[Katman]

Coming up to the lights he essentially pushed me off the road and raced off,

Rather than allowing yourself to be "pushed off the road" it would have been better to have made a clear and deliberate indication that you intended to move out of his way. That way you are controlling the situation.

[vifferman]

Rather than allowing yourself to be "pushed off the road" it would have been better to have made a clear and deliberate indication that you intended to move out of his way. That way you are controlling the situation.

I think that's basically what I said...
Sorry - I forgot this was your thread.

[Katman]

Sorry - I forgot this was your thread.

Hey, this sandpit's big enough for both of us.

[westie]

A big impressive wheelie would have sorted out your tail gater pascal.
Next time