Lane splitting - following distance

[bogan]

i'd also add that i would never have guessed from brake-light-tapping that the rider wants me to back off, especially in a filtering situation

the theory is that if a vehicle is following too close, and brake lights come on they would slow down so as not o run into the back of them. Or do you ignore brake lights and just judge speeds instead? I always though it was a well known way to communicate to people you want them to back off.

[scooute]

i'd also add that i would never have guessed from brake-light-tapping that the rider wants me to back off, especially in a filtering situation

Completely understandable?? The OP stated that it took him some time to find a gap in traffic to slide into, (a cager could have suddenly decided they wanted to be in the next lane, leaving a mash of 2 bikes and one car) thus my thinking of an attempt to make sure the other rider knew he was there, perhaps he could have indicated his intention to merge so the following rider could have passed too then? yes? I guess its all good to say until your in the situation yourself and we all deal/feel about it diff?
Ride safe all

[p.dath]

How far back did you see him/her catching you ? If you saw them a long way off, you should have been well prepared to move out of the way before it came to a panic situation.

I didn't see them till they were quite close, and then they closed rapidly. I suspect they may have just entered the motorway from an on-ramp.

On reflection, I should have tapped my brake lights. They were just so close at the time I was worried that any action I took may have lead to an accident (I was worried about even slowing down!). I'm confident that if I had to slow down (not even talking about an emergency brake) they would have hit me.

Regardless, all I wanted to do was raise awareness. I just wanted people to consider the "what if" next time they might be behind someone.

[scooute]

Regardless, all I wanted to do was raise awareness. I just wanted people to consider the "what if" next time they might be behind someone.

Good point, I try my best to ride to what if, good message to want to share!

[surfchick]

I'd better not say anything about this! lol:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-000-art-award!

[YellowDog]

No one in their right mind will follow an erratic rider closely.

BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND OR THEY WOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC

[surfchick]

BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND OR THEY WOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC

I must admit- I'll sometimes go by in the middle lanes if I catch someone - I prefer to have a full view ahead so I can see each car's driver instead... unless its a ducati... then I'll follow for sheer audio pleasure... lol

[Mihajlo]

I gotta confess too, i sometimes follow too closely on my way to the city, not because i want to go fast but so i can learn off them and look cool going in a small convoy >.>

[CookMySock]

... unless its a ducati... then I'll follow for sheer audio pleasure... lol

The best aural pleasure I have received by far, was riding my 650 vtwin (loud pipes on it) following a V8 car also with loud pipes. Fuck I could have followed him for hours.. The resonating with the booma-booma-booma going forwards and backwards between us was like nothing I ever heard before. Brought a tear to mah eye it did.

Steve

[jeffs]

I didn't see them till they were quite close, and then they closed rapidly. I suspect they may have just entered the motorway from an on-ramp.

Regardless, all I wanted to do was raise awareness. I just wanted people to consider the "what if" next time they might be behind someone.

Raising peoples awareness is always good , but as a full time commuter I see bikes blocking other bikes in rush hour every single day.
The reality is bikers are just as bad as cars for not wanting people to over take them. So how do you tell one of them, from someone who just did not see you ?

There is only one form of self defense, and I am not trying to sound horrible, I know you are a good guy
" Don't be there".

This may not be your case, but to others..

If you look in your mirror and your see a bike, and when you look in your mirror again, and the bike looks bigger, then this should tell you something..
You should be preparing to get out of the way, because someone is catching you, and that person may not be a cautious KB rider.

BUT THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR RIGHT MIND OR THEY WOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING SO CLOSELY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC

Unfortunately, Yellow dog has it right..

I will pass bikes on the motorway, bikes that have not been lane splitting, or going much slower than me. The moment I pass, they think its a race and they wake up and start following at my speed.
Why ?????

Answer: Testosterone.

[jeffs]

I'd better not say anything about this! lol:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-000-art-award!

Stretching the point a bit but..
This raises a good point, neither of these bikes would have seen another bike catching up. Both would just have lovely views of their elbows. Another good reason why
some bikes do not move over.

[CookMySock]

I always though it was a well known way to communicate to people you want them to back off.

Yes it is, and that is the problem.

People who are following you really closely are not doing it inadvertently. They do not want or need your reminder that they should not do so. Usually their emotional state is in such a position, that they will respond negatively or even angrily if you try and remind them, or ask them to do anything.

Don't do it! Either find another way, or get out of their way, or do nothing.

It's very dangerous getting into "discussions" with people on the road, whose ego or emotional state is getting out of order. Often they will suddenly turn on you or do something really dangerous.


Steve

[Latte]

I will pass bikes on the motorway, bikes that have not been lane splitting, or going much slower than me. The moment I pass, they think its a race and they wake up and start following at my speed.
Why ?????

Answer: Testosterone.

Or "The Sacrificial Lamb" - i.e following another rider usually means the car drivers have been woken from their slumber behind the wheel, so should be more alert as you follow a little bit behind. Also if a policeman is looking for a splitter to nab, he'll catch the lamb out front I almost always fall in behind another splitter after I've let them through.

[jeffs]

Or "The Sacrificial Lamb" - i.e following another rider usually means the car drivers have been woken from their slumber behind the wheel, so should be more alert as you follow a little bit behind. Also if a policeman is looking for a splitter to nab, he'll catch the lamb out front I almost always fall in behind another splitter after I've let them through.

Ok fair comment not every case is Testosterone driven, but one flaw on the police idea. You are trying to apply your logic, not a policeman's.

The tailing cop to take either bike, its about ticket numbers. If you are not riding like a prat ( and of course we don't ) , they will take the easiest catch regardless if you are the first or second bike.

And unfortunately " But I was following another bike" is not a defense in law

[jeffs]

Yes it is, and that is the problem.

People who are following you really closely are not doing it inadvertently. They do not want or need your reminder that they should not do so. Usually their emotional state is in such a position, that they will respond negatively or even angrily if you try and remind them, or ask them to do anything.

Don't do it! Either find another way, or get out of their way, or do nothing.

It's very dangerous getting into "discussions" with people on the road, whose ego or emotional state is getting out of order. Often they will suddenly turn on you or do something really dangerous.


Steve

I do not exaggerate but that is 1,000,000% correct. On a bike more so. So listen and take note of DB's comments ( in this case ) if you want to survive as a commuter.