Rant: Motorcycle/Scooter Riders in city

[05MkIIFutura]

Ahh the good ol' motorcyclist - otherwise known as "temporary citizen"

There are that many bad drivers in the city that, while yes motorcycles driving like a bat out of hell cutting between lanes and making everyone brake is dangerous, I am more worried about cleaning up Mr Absent Minded who decides to turn left from a right hand lane.

Cars hurt more when you hit them - at least the motorcyclist wont do it again.

[SlikedTurb]

i don't claim to be a mathematician or anything but somehow 3 vehicles don't go into 2 lanes.
Enough Said.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Grum

Since when do the cops follow the rules??? How often do you see them driving whilst on a mobile???

To overtake on a single lane road you use the opposite lane when it is safe to do so and the road markings permit it.

A single lane road is the one that has no line up the middle and is just over one car width wide.

Emergency service vehicle drivers are allowed to operate mobile phones. It is specifically stated in the act.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by SlikedTurb

i don't claim to be a mathematician or anything but somehow 3 vehicles don't go into 2 lanes.
Enough Said.

Wow mate, I don't know what experience you have had with bikes, but you sure are putting forward some really lame observations......

[flappist]

It amuses me that the same people who attack Harold Scruby for his rabid blind agenda against car drivers are now doing exactly what he is doing except the target is motorcyclists.

No logic or reasioning, just predjudicial hatred and dogmatic zealotry.

Bottom line. I live in QLD. It is legal here. When it is not legal I will not do it .
I do not care if it is not legal in New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales or any other totalitarianist anti-bloody-everything wowser enclave.

[irlewy86]

What nobody has ever mystery laned it in a car before?

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

What nobody has ever mystery laned it in a car before?

Of course they have,even if they wont admit it.

[Falcon Coupe]

Those who can do, those who can't whine about it on a forum.

[SiKoRa_eL_97]

agreed
Driving along Dandenong road stupid scooter/ gayped pulls up nxt to me at the lights pushes in was 2 guys (I PRESUME no long hair ) look at me im like no way get infront of me so i booted it and beat them

[ardei]

I can't believe some of the views these people have on motorcyclists : !

I wonder if some of you realise that there is a fragile human on that motorcycle in front of you that could easily be thrown off even if you touch them slightly? :togo: Whenever I drive behind a motorcycle, I leave double the room than I would in a car. Why? Because when I'm driving behind a car, I think "If I don't brake in time and hit them, then it's just a fender bender..no-one's hurt." If I dont brake in time and touch the rear tyre of a bike with my front bumper, then that motorcyclist will lose control and most likely be done-for and it's my fault. The motorcyclist is more at risk and so he/she rides in such a manner to reduce risk (yes by lane splitting and getting ahead of traffic), and as a courtesy I give them space. It's people that don't adjust to the conditions and treat every vehicle on the road the same that make life difficult.

[OT]Don't tell me you drive the same around trucks as you do as any car? Tailgating one without realising that a rock can be picked up and tossed at your windscreen by their two wheels at the back, or staying along side them, not giving them any room in case they need to swerve to avoid something in their lane. People always complain "oh bloody motorcyclists/trucks/bicyclists/commodores/etc" without realising that that vehicle is being driven by a ordinary human being like yourself, not some separate species of human with super abilities that they can only drive/ride that particular vehicle. That person could just as easily be you, put yourself in their shoes.[/OT]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

*I* have to survive and avoid being hit by 2 tonne of steel/aluminium/plastic driven by *you*. Perhaps you can understand how motorcyclists are all about *me* in traffic... Its not about getting anywhere faster you idiot.

Quoted for truth.
SlikedTurb has no idea....:

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by ardei

I can't believe some of the views these people have on motorcyclists : !

I wonder if some of you realise that there is a fragile human on that motorcycle in front of you that could easily be thrown off even if you touch them slightly? :togo: Whenever I drive behind a motorcycle, I leave double the room than I would in a car. Why? Because when I'm driving behind a car, I think "If I don't brake in time and hit them, then it's just a fender bender..no-one's hurt." If I dont brake in time and touch the rear tyre of a bike with my front bumper, then that motorcyclist will lose control and most likely be done-for and it's my fault. The motorcyclist is more at risk and so he/she rides in such a manner to reduce risk (yes by lane splitting and getting ahead of traffic), and as a courtesy I give them space. It's people that don't adjust to the conditions and treat every vehicle on the road the same that make life difficult.

[OT]Don't tell me you drive the same around trucks as you do as any car? Tailgating one without realising that a rock can be picked up and tossed at your windscreen by their two wheels at the back, or staying along side them, not giving them any room in case they need to swerve to avoid something in their lane. People always complain "oh bloody motorcyclists/trucks/bicyclists/commodores/etc" without realising that that vehicle is being driven by a ordinary human being like yourself, not some separate species of human with super abilities that they can only drive/ride that particular vehicle. That person could just as easily be you, put yourself in their shoes.[/OT]


Quoted for truth.
SlikedTurb has no idea....:

That's one of the most intelligent things I have read all day.

I only hope to be riding my bike in front of/around someone like you.

And in regards to SlikedTurb, I concur.

[Outbackjack]

This is awsome. Un-expected ending.

http://www.break.com/index/awesome_p...ike_chase.html

[broken_suave]

To be honest, I have nothing wrong with motorcyclists on the road as a whole. I've never been bothered by anything they've done around me, bar one incident.

I was on the gateway motorway in Brisbane, southbound just before the gateway bridge and little bit past the motor auction holding yard, or around that area at least. Traffic was at a stand still as many people could attest to at 5:30 in the evening. There was a rider treating the broken line between the two lanes as his own lane (ie: not even bothering to weave between cars wherever there were gaps). Normally this wouldnt bother me, but he was doing at least 60 kays probably more, absolutely hooning down his psuedo lane. I saw him in my drivers side mirror ages back, looked back up, looked down to see where he was, and he had whoosed past me.

This is the only incident I could recall, and I was pretty much only pz'd off with him cause he could have hurt himself badly, or worse. I couldnt care that he was getting wherever he was going quicker, but I though it was just stupid putting himself at risk for it.

Is this an over reaction? or would other riders feel the same way?

I would have to agree with the smaller capacity scooters, but I see no point in getting annoyed over it, nothing is going to change. Besides, I've always found that the larger capacity scooters are largely the same in attitudes to their bigger motorcycle brothers, both in handling/performance characteristics and driver attitude/skill.

[kaldek]

Originally Posted by puts99

But to Flappist and the rest, how do you feel about lane-spliting in slow moving traffic? Nothing ****es me off more on the roads. Nothing.

Hmmm, it's odd to find that there is literally nothing that ****es you off more. There's very little that drivers do that ****es me off - I basically expect the worst from everyone. In your case, I'd hope that someone deliberately cutting you off and slamming on their brakes in front of you would upset you more (because it's obviously more dangerous!).

Originally Posted by puts99

I use the motorways a lot, in peak hour traffic - very low speeds on the motorway. Every 2 minutes a biker will lane split whilst the two cars in the legitmate lanes are doing around 20km/h. This is very, very dangerous. A car is allowed to be anywhere in a lane, what if one car is to the far right of his lane and another in to the far left of their lane (they're doing nothing wrong, this is common) and a lane splitter is approaching them 20km/h faster?

Well that question I can definitely answer. It is not "very, very dangerous", there is time available to stop. Is it ZERO risk? No, of course not! However is my risk doing this the same as my risk of sitting in traffic and not being in control of my road position (critical on a bike)? Hard to say, but I can say all of my close calls have not been from lane splitting - they've been from riding like a car drives. Since I'm not a car, acting like a car seems to convince people it's a good idea to almost ram me up the bum, change lanes into me, or my personal favourite - do a U-turn right in front of me.

Anyway, ultimately I don't mind that you're really upset by bikes lanesplitting. Just promise me you'll never actively try to make a guy crash because you're upset about it, and accept that maybe your perspective might not be accurate.

[Squalo]

Agree with Kaldek, lanesplitting when traffic is moving slowly (say up to 20km/h) is not particularly dangerous if the rider is worth his salt. Riders reaction times far exceed the typical car driver; they have to because the riders life and limbs depend on him maintaining 110% concentration.

You get a sixth sense for drivers who are either about to make a dumb move, or who are going to respond aggressively (carbon-fibre armoured gloves are useful for the latter )

I actually feel better able to 'save' myself when on the bike - I can move away from danger almost by thought guidance. Whereas in the cars I actually feel vunerable when a driver does something idiotic, as I just can't get away from them.

Again, only those who ride or have ridden can understand this perspective. If you've only ever driven cars you cannot begin to understand how it is from the saddle.

[Royal Blue]

Originally Posted by flappist

A single lane road is the one that has no line up the middle and is just over one car width wide.

Emergency service vehicle drivers are allowed to operate mobile phones. It is specifically stated in the act.

unless the vehicle is pulled over, it is pretty damn dangerous to over take on a single lane road (im presuming your talking about a 1 way road?). if it is a 2way road, then your not breaking any laws as your not crossing any un-broken white line.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Royal Blue

unless the vehicle is pulled over, it is pretty damn dangerous to over take on a single lane road (im presuming your talking about a 1 way road?). if it is a 2way road, then your not breaking any laws as your not crossing any un-broken white line.

You do actually live in QLD and have a drivers licence don't you?

[Royal Blue]

qld yes, lic. no, get it back in feb 08

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by Royal Blue

qld yes, lic. no, get it back in feb 08

Did you ever drive on road outside of the Gold Coast then?

[Royal Blue]

all the time.. what does having a current licence, my location, and where i drive have to do with this argument?

[SuperMono]

Originally Posted by flappist

Get along with everyone else it will be better in the long run.

Oh and as you do not ride I will explain it to you. The reason why WE push to the front is so we lessen the chance of getting run over and killed by doof doof texting ipoding mutant bogan idiot p-plate dropkicks in modded riced up falcon/commy/jap thing/korean thing who spend most of their time looking EVERYWHERE except the road ahead because they are expert drivers.......

Flappy for Prime Minister, Vote 1.

I have to agree, to a point, but add that as a rider I also have to say that I see a large number of riders with a seeming death wish doing stupid things.
If you want to ride, start here.
1. Everybody else does want to kill you.
2. Just because they are looking at you doesn't mean you are safe, they are just taking aim.
3. The throttle turns both ways.
4. Slowingly moving past cars that are STOPPED is relatively safe, going within 10 metres of a moving one is death.
5. All Speed Triples and XR12 Buells have to wheelstand from the lights, it is in the owners manual.
Buy a scooter for the city.

[Squalo]

I'm loving Number 5

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by SuperMono

5. All Speed Triples and XR12 Buells have to wheelstand from the lights, it is in the owners manual..

No fear of damaging a bike that comes "pre-crashed" from the factory.

[flappist]

I once test rode a Buell Ulysses. On the road it was a nasty twitchy angry monster. On dirt is was the most unnerving unstable feeling skatey frightening unbalanced behemoth I have ever ridden. And those are its GOOD points.

For those who have not had the pleasure. Imagine a circa 1980 125 motocross bike with almost vertical forks and install an engine out of a Harley. Then loosen the triple clamps and swingarm bolt.

On the other hand Speed Triples are nifty........

[loony888]

As i ride road bikes, and have for over 20 years now, i feel qualified and in fact compelled to inflict my opinion here.
To all of you who carry on about it the legalities of certain behavour on the road, pull your bloody head in!!! dead set, everybody, and i mean EVERYBODY, breaks the road rules, whether intentional or not.
As for lane splitting, the law here in qld is clear, it is illegal to pass a vehicle on the left unless said vehicle is signaling right or you are in a marked lane. I lane split, and i do it for a number of reasons that have already been explained by others, it's worth noting too that the original poster has hit two bikes that were in his/her blind spot!!! If that isn't a good enough example of why we (as riders) try and stay well clear of cars what is?? I mean, just because you have a blind spot does not mean that you don't have to turn your head and look, mirrors are often not enough to see everything and you are still responsible for where you place your vehicle when changing lanes. I personally do not sit in the rear qtr of any vehicle but bike riders, just the same as ALL road users vary in experience and skill, just as you give a wide berth to P platers and learners for your safety and the safety of your car, bike riders do the same with all vehicles.
It sounds like a bit of envy as bikes can make short work of congestion and you, in your car can't, i can assure you that when it's 40 deg and we're sweating in our gear or it's throwing down with rain the benefits are cold comfort.

[Casablanca]

i agree with flappist and loony888 purely because ive ridden a bike and driven behind them and i respect the fact that they are in the most danger, as was said in another post regarding respecting bike riders i also keep my distance and always allow them to overtake as i think its always safer for them to be in front regardless of my cars speed it helps.

[Casablanca]

i may only be a noob to this forum but i belive that riders should most of the time have right of way unless they are morons they will always try and be as safe as possible especially to other motorists

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by flappist

I once test rode a Buell Ulysses. On the road it was a nasty twitchy angry monster. On dirt is was the most unnerving unstable feeling skatey frightening unbalanced behemoth I have ever ridden. And those are its GOOD points...

Try the Buell Super TT, that is beautifully planted and has one of the best front ends in the business no matter how nasty the road gets.

[Circle_Wurkin]

The least you can do for a road rider is when at a set of dual lane traffic lights if ur in the left lane pull as far over to the left and if your in the right lane pull as far over to the right so we can go up the guts and not congest traffic. I ride the ol two wheeler and i am sick to death of people blatantly not looking in the mirrors they are there for a reason, and please please please all you fully sick guys/girls who thinks your fully sick V8 will beat a bike give it up u get a 10 second turn key package when you buy a jap 1000cc so theres really no point, one last thing if you think your king of the road in your car hop on a bike its amazing how much more stupidity by drivers you see when your riding