Lane splitting - following distance

[nodrog:Me]

That's what I would call "approval" - confirmation by some authority that what you were already doing was in fact acceptable, even though it worried you - an important sign to bikers that the same is acceptable in most circumstances, provided we do it safely.

Good stuff!

Steve

all that proves is he can do whatever the fuck he wants, whos going to pull him over?

[MarkH]

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

This reminds me of the story of a driver keeping with the flow of traffic which was over the speed limit, he got pulled over and ticketed and he asked the cop "why did you pull me over, what about all the other cars speeding?". The cop answered his question with a question "did you ever catch all the fish in a river?".

The lesson here is that just because you aren't the only one breaking the law it doesn't mean that you wont get caught for it.

[Blinkwing]

I usually travel from Esmonde Rd to Shelly Beach Rd, last week there was around 6-7 bikers in front of me all following each other while lane splitting (didn't check behind me, don't wanna be distracted while lane splitting ..).

It was kinda cool seeing that many bikers all at once.

[jeffs]

This reminds me of the story of a driver keeping with the flow of traffic which was over the speed limit, he got pulled over and ticketed and he asked the cop "why did you pull me over, what about all the other cars speeding?". The cop answered his question with a question "did you ever catch all the fish in a river?".

The lesson here is that just because you aren't the only one breaking the law it doesn't mean that you wont get caught for it.

I never complain about the concept of a fare cop. If I got pulled for speeding, and I was speeding, far cop.

Lotto is not the only game of "pay your money and take your chance"

[jeffs]

God I'm sounding like my Mum

[jeffs]

I usually travel from Esmonde Rd to Shelly Beach Rd, last week there was around 6-7 bikers in front of me all following each other while lane splitting (didn't check behind me, don't wanna be distracted while lane splitting ..).

It was kinda cool seeing that many bikers all at once.

That is the whole point of this thread. You should have been looking behind you as well. If you could not because you think it was to dangerous to take your eyes off the what is going on in front out you ( or too pretty in your case ). Then you will hate my next comment.. You are riding beyond the conditions or your skill.

[Blinkwing]

That is the whole point of this thread. You should have been looking behind you as well. If you could not because you think it was to dangerous to take your eyes off the what is going on in front out you ( or too pretty in your case ). Then you will hate my next comment.. You are riding beyond the conditions or your skill.

Yeah, I admit I was probably riding beyond my skills. I gave looking behind me a try today, kicking myself in the arse for not doing it earlier ...

[madbikeboy]

Get into the habit of scanning the whole time - I do a pattern of looking forward, checking mirrors, using my magic special sideways vision, and doing a head check. It keeps you awake and alert. If you're sitting in traffic, there is danger behind - you present very little visual size to anyone travelling behind or beside you - getting rear ended by a car will spoil your day - how do you know what's approaching without checking your mirrors??

[PrincessBandit]

Get into the habit of scanning the whole time - I do a pattern of looking forward, checking mirrors, using my magic special sideways vision, and doing a head check. It keeps you awake and alert. If you're sitting in traffic, there is danger behind - you present very little visual size to anyone travelling behind or beside you - getting rear ended by a car will spoil your day - how do you know what's approaching without checking your mirrors??

Absolutely. When I start to get fatigued on the bike the first thing I notice to go is my mirror checking. I try to stay in a pattern of frequently rotating through them, but when I'm tired the first sign can be "ooops, haven't checked my mirrors for a while". When lanesplitting I tend not to look behind quite so much, but never neglect it completely.

[Mihajlo]

I tend to keep my vision on the cars beside me and what's happening ahead, every now and then i'll look at my mirrors while lane splitting, but i'd rather be aware of a prick closing off the lane ahead of me because he's butthurt about me going past him than if another bike is behind me pissed off that he can't go faster. (note: i lane split at about 50km)

[Swoop]

the concept of a fare cop.

That would be a policeman who charges you a fee for doing something?

[MarkH]

That would be a policeman who charges you a fee for doing something?

That kind are the most common, I think. I have had more interactions with fare cops than with fair cops.

[madbikeboy]

Do you recall when you first started riding - how much attention it took to change gears, manage the clutch, and keep the throttle smooth. After a day/week/month/lifetime, you start to forget about that because it's automatic, intuitive... Well, once you get a little more practice or experience, you'll find that you will be able to share your attention more effectively. That's about the most polite way I've ever said you've got something to learn and aim for... Danger comes from behind...

[Katman]

That's about the most polite way I've ever said you've got something to learn and aim for... Danger comes from behind...

Perhaps Danger should relax and find another way around a slower rider.

Instead of expecting the slower (and possibly less experienced) rider to merge back into the traffic (might be courteous of them - but sometimes self-preservation needs to over-rule courtesy) why don't you, as the more experienced rider, merge back into the traffic and split down a different lane?

The rider coming up from behind on a slower rider has far greater time to decide what they need to do to get past than the slower rider has to make their decision when suddenly pressured to get out of the way.

[PrincessBandit]

Perhaps Danger should relax and find another way around a slower rider.

Instead of expecting the slower (and possibly less experienced) rider to merge back into the traffic (might be courteous of them - but self-preservation should over-rule courtesy) why don't you, as the more experienced rider merge back into the traffic and split down a different lane?

The rider coming up from behind on a slower rider has far greater time to decide what they need to do to get past than the slower rider has to make their decision when suddenly pressured to get out of the way.

They don't because their mission is far too important to spend time trying to find an alternative route around another rider. When it comes to filtering i really can't see how people can complain about slower splitters; I mean it's not as if they're hogging a whole available lane. Expert lane splitters sometimes come across as if they think everyone should be doing as fast as they are. I rarely split much above 40kph simply because of safety and having to judge so many more parameters more finely; I've never really understood those who do it at speeds exceeding 50 or 60 (I guess they do it simply because they can).