First SMIDSY as a car driver

[UrbanRacer]

I had a close call this morning with a filtering bike on the motorway, M8 heading into Glasgow is always very busy with traffic moving at 10mph if your lucky.
In lane 3 with my junction coming up it was time to start making my way across to lane 1, dealing with the usual c*nt drivers refusing to let me change lanes I had to bide my time until eventually someone flashed me into lane 2, bare in mind that my indicator was on the whole time and I was checking my passenger side mirror as much as I could.
Just as got into lane 2 I heard the rumble and a bike passed me giving it the shaking head

Surely when your filtering and you see a car indicating to change lanes you give way to the car? I know I do.

It certainly gives me a fresh perspective of how hard it is to see a bike filtering and also how quickly a bike can appear behind you.
I will be adjusting my attitude to filtering when the better weather comes round and its my turn to do the filtering.

[james1988]

If I were filtering and saw somebody with their signals on I'd slot in or at least wait for them to move. It's a real bugbear of mine that people seem to think that as we're on two wheels we must be right and other road users are always at fault.

James

[Jefr0]

See this alot on my way in near Blackwall tunnel.

For a car driver it's going to be hard to get across and hard to see people.

If I see someone indicating whilst on the bike I will stop at the rear of their car and let them go or if they can't move across I'll make sure the car driver has seen me before I go past him.

You didn't do anything wrong, just another idiot thinking no car can change lanes. There was a another biker infront of me yesterday, the car was already changing lane quite far in front of us, when we approached the car, the biker beeped and starting nodding his head at the car driver?! Even though he hadn't caused him any reason to do this, it was just because he was in the way for a few seconds whilst he changed lane!
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Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

[daemonoid]

Completely agree you did nothing wrong. A lot of bikers seem to be unable to see it from both points of view.

For example a car in traffic probably has a view of at best 20m behind before everything is obscured (5-6 car lengths). If a filtering bike is travelling at 10mph (4.5m/s) relative to the car that's only 4s before the bike is along side, 2s at 20mph greater than the car. Even if the driver is paying full attention a signal, mirror check forward check and begin manoeuvre can easily lead to a conflict of road space.

When I'm filtering I think about the above and the fact that half the drivers are zombies anyway and won't meet the standard above. Always wait for indicators and always remember that even if it is the car driver's fault... the driver's gonna get away with a minor financial inconvenience and your gonna go to hospital.
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@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[Nick__C]

If I'm filtering between two lanes and a car begins to indicate more than a car or two ahead I'd slot in and wait really.

Some drivers seem to wait and some don't so may as well play it safe and lose 5 or 10 seconds and make it easier for everyone rather than piss of the cager / get knocked off..
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'02 GS 500.

[Killer Rat]

As you seem to say the weather was bad (hence using the car)maybe his visor was slightly misted? You say it was a traffic jam, maybe he couldn't see you indicating if cars were packed tightly?

Not defending the guy, but there could be 100 reasons why he didnt see you.
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cbf125 09', cbt passed 4/6/2010 - 28k miles - 1 major breakdown (stator)

[nickGT]

I've had a few close calls with bike's as well. It tends to piss me off for some reason. A guy clipped my mirror when filtering towards me on a 2 way road. He stopped and had a moan at me and we had a bit of an arguement about it.
If you are filtering on the opposite side of the road it's your job to make sure you have enough room. You can't expect car drivers to mount the curb just so you can get through.

[UrbanRacer]

[JP7]

From the biker's perspective, if he was filtering then he should have his wits about him 100%. If he approached a vehicle which was clearly indicating its intention to change lane, why continue on, to discover that the car is in fact trying to move over, then get annoyed?

It is drummed into our heads that we should ride defensively, this is a prime example of when not doing it can become an issue.

[Rogerborg]

When I did BikeSafe, the Strathclyde copper presenting it was asked a lot of questions specifically about filtering on the M8; he eventually said words to the effect that while it's perfectly legal to do so that it's a question of when our luck will run out rather than if.

You looked, you couldn't see the bike, there's not much more that you can do. Bikes are hard to see, I've missed a few even though I rubberneck like a loon trying to spot them now.

I honestly think that audible alerts are the way to go, like a "BEEP! BEEP!" or "THIS VEHICLE IS FILTERING".
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Kris]

Flip side:

Why, when car drivers use a road daily that is often congested - and one that large numbers of filtering bikes use - are they suddenly 'suprised' to see bikes filtering when they change lanes.

For example, nearly every night since they've been doing those bloody gas works on the A2 I've had endless cars effectively blocking filtering bikes just sitting there across the middle trying to change lanes - indicator merrily flashing away - whilst the traffic is bumper to bumper as far as the eye can see and no viable gap to slot into.

Boils my piss I tell thee.
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[totalllama82]

I filter the M8 pretty much every day, although I have the car today.
Which direction do you come in from? I live out near Airdrie and know by eye most of the bikes that filter at rush hour.

What kinda bike was it?

If i see a car indicating ill hang back along side the flashing car and give a nod or a flash to let them across. Its the ones that start going across and indicate at exactly the same time giving no warning that annoy me, that and the drifters...

I generally find the M8 a pretty easy place to filter without much incident, the lanes are quite wide from the East and most of the lane 3 punters hang away out to the central reserve line.
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Gone: Haotian HT125-8 / Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat / Kawasaki ZX9R C2
Current: Kawasaki ZZR 1400 A7F

[Jefr0]

[daemonoid]

[goto10]

I generally wait for cars who put their indicator on - just 2 situations get on my boobs for lane changing when filtering -

1) The car drivers who put their indicator on after they've already started to execute the move across lanes (Manoeuvre, Signal, Mirror)

2) The car drivers who are in traffic moving at 1~2 mph and indicate over and then swerve to sit over the white line, despite my bike clearly approaching - it's either a bizarre blocking bid to thwart my progress or the fact they've not even bothered to check the mirror.

Although today on the A13 I was riding along merrily, planned to change lanes and did a lifesaver only to see a motorbike right next to me, made me jump out of my skin because I _really_ wasn't expecting to see anything! Proves that obs pay dividends!
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'12 NC700S & '12 CB600F Hornet [Stolen by some dickless twat] Suzuki GT500 shed

[Skudd]

[calyx]

A cager is indicating "before" turning. What more do I want

I'll tell you what, you are the best cager ever.
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Boris - London

[UrbanRacer]

[Walloper]

See me... Ah wid ah hud yer mirror aff pal....

I see loads of guys filtering too fast. I filter all the time but I creep past traffic that looks to be in a good spot to change lanes.
I stop filtering at junctions and go with the flow.

Obviously the guy never seen you or couldn't see your indicator from where he was.
Or mibby he/she is jist a wee diddy.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Vincent]

[mickfulton]

Sorry about the thread hi-jack. And I'm not being patronising at all btw cos I don't know shit about shit its just that this post just reminded me.

I've noticed 'watch your mirrors for bikers' on the government brainwashing-'comply with the red x'-type illuminated signs on the M8 last week. Thought that was a nice gesture but if your too busy eating toast and putting on make-up to notice the signs then they are pointless.


OP, I can only echo everyone else, you done nothing wrong. Just because someone rides a bike doesn't automatically make them correct. Unless you Rogerborg.
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Current half-cars :2004 SV650, VX535 1991
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[totalllama82]

[Walloper]

[Clanger]

I have an absolutely horrendous blind spot in my car, and I have three junctions on my route to work, which, no matter how I position my car - I just cannot see because of the pillar down the middle of the car (passenger side), I must look a bit mad as I rock back and forth in my car trying to see beyond that pillar...

But often leap out in the hopes that nothing is hiding in that spot... not good... I wish the manufacturers of cars would consider the thickness / positioning of that particular pillar when they design cars.
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