Overtaking around town?

[mikesaa309]

Hi,

Kind long winded question so you can skip the boring bits to the last paragraph which is the actual question.

Just want to know views/opinions on overtaking cars around town. I went through several stages when I first rode a bike. At first I was a little nervous about going on the road i think partly because It still didn't feel like I was finally legal to ride (or drive) a motorized vehicle and just felt a bit surreal.

After getting used to it I had the dangerous stage of being overly confident and I admit I did pretty stupid things which nearly got me killed but the last time really was a massive close call and was down to my stupidity by overtaking round town mainly because of a sporty car in front, I admit I was trying to show off but ended up nearly killing myself.

i was very immature and stupid within the first month or so of riding a bike even now I still look back and think how stupid I was. But I had luck on my side (certainly wasn't experience or skill) and have had a chance to change the way I ride so I don't injure or kill myself though it may still happen. I've watched tons of videos and read articles on motorcycle safety and I vary rarely do stupid things. I do on occasion though do something and I think "that was stupid" but I take much more consideration of what could happen before I risk it and I have changed massively since my stupid days.

One of the biggest things I've stopped doing is overtaking round town. I'd always used to do it because of immaturity, trying to show off or just because i felt invincible if I'm being honest. I do still overtake now and again but only at certain times of the day like at night for example when there isn't hardly anything about and when I know it's 100% safe to do so and there has been times when I've been tempted but I think no because I may not benefit from it and I may end up making a mistake or something.

However I've seen motorcyclist overtaking round town. Like the other day I was riding down the an A road that leads into a small town and two bikes overtook me on the A road bit which ok fair enough I don't mind. Then through the town in a 30 zone they over took a car in front of them even though the car was at the speed limit. I admit I don't like sitting at the speed limits all the time and if I'm going over I make sure I'm 100% concentrating on the road and everything else so If I see a potential hazard I slow down even below the speed limit. Like for example if I see a car waiting to pull out of a junction I slow right down and I make sure that the driver has seen me before continuing (that's saved my life a few times) especially when there view of me is obstructed by park cars for example. Anyway although I don't particularly like sticking to the limits I'm aware of consequences and I'm also aware that other people may want to stick to limits and although I used to overtake people sticking to the limits when I used to be more stupid than I am now, I now just sit at the correct distance behind them and choose not to overtake. Most of the time it's safe to do so but something stops me from doing it I think It's the fact that I think what if I've missed a potential hazard and end up crashing. Vary rarely do I overtake round town now although I admit the only time I overtake a car is when they've done things to irritate me and even then I will only do it if they do so many things wrong that annoys me like slowing down unnecessarily without showing a brake light or sitting at a round about even though there is clearly nothing to our right and even on approach to the roundabout you can see if there are cars to the right. Just a few things that annoy me.

So sorry for the long winded question to what should be a sentence long. But what are your views on overtaking round town, is it acceptable to do so? I've seen a motorcycle instructor do it although he got seperated from the pupils who where two cars ahead and did it to get back behind them again. Also do you overtake round town?

[covent.gardens]

No. I ride behind cars as if I'm driving a car myself and only when they stop or slow right down do I filter or overtake.

Generally.

It has been known for me to get overtaken on a hot summer's day by some loon with no self preservation; and for me to decide to ride like a nutter as well, overtaking at every possible opportunity etc to keep up with him (for the lols). I can ride like a nutcase like the rest of them but I choose not to for the vast majority of the time.

It can go wrong very quickly if you start overtaking everything when in a busy town environment with a lot happening; easy for you to miss something, or for them to miss you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK0b_vDyKo4 - Every car you overtake can do that.

If you're reading the road carefully then most of the time you'll find good reasons why you shouldn't overtake, anyway. If they're going too slow are they waiting for a parking space or turn? etc.

Take it easy or die in flames, we all choose different.

[-LG-]

I'll overtake if its safe to do so, doesn't matter where it is.
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[Rogerborg]

'Kin hell, Tef Jnr.

Single carriageway, built-up area?

I'm usually holding up traffic in 30 limits (which isn't to say that I'm doing an indicated 30 either), so no, not unless it's:

1) A serious dawdler, or
2) It looks like a good laugh.

[barrkel]

In London - anything going slower than me, including police (especially the police), will get overtaken at the first opportunity.

In towns / villages, cars doing the speed limit in a 30 zone are safer to overtake than cars going slower. Cars doing 30 aren't going to turn into a house, lane or parking spot; if a car is going slower, especially in a village with clear roads and no pedestrians, it's danger signs. But I don't overtake as much in villages because they're far more likely to have speed guns and mobile cameras, and in towns I limit my overtakes to filtering past queues, traffic lights etc.

[mikesaa309]

I've learnt the hard way how easily overtaking round town can go wrong. The worst for me was I was riding down a road which is fairly wide and has hatched markings with broken white lines. There was 3 cars in front and directly in front of me was a sporty car with a loud exhaust and even now I have the temptation to do something to try and annoy them like filter when they have to sit in slow traffic but back then I would overtake and this time it was stupid to do.

I looked ahead and saw no on coming traffic and initiated the overtake. However I failed to realize a massive hazard. A car was waiting to turn right onto the road I was on so straight away it was stupid to overtake near a junction. Now theoretically there wasn't much danger IF the car at the front of the 3 cars I was overtaking wasn't indicating left into the road this car was waiting to pull out of. As there was no traffic coming the other way the car pulled out of the road luckily I wasn't near enough to the junction for it to hit me directly and I managed to brake and flick the bike back on to the correct side of the road. The car was near enough on the other side of the road by this point. But I kid you not my life flashed before my eyes at that point I just though "i'm gonna die". My heart was pounding the when I managed to survive what could have been a serious collision not to mention my reason for overtaking in the first place of trying to show off which I now realize there's no point in doing because no one cares but I was stupid as hell back then, but trying to show off now made me look a complete t*@t although I didn't just look like one I was one. For a while I tried to convince myself that it was the cars fault for pulling out without looking properly in fairness being slightly taller than cars it seems possible but there's only myself to blame for that one you're not going to be looking for a t*@t on a bike to be overtaking.

But that was the eye opener for me that put it into perspective that it can easily go wrong on a bike or any vehicle for that matter and I think It's mistakes and stupidity like that (just not as bad as that) have made me the safe rider I am now and have so far managed to survive 48,000 miles in 2 years on a little 125cc bike. Not saying I'll never have a serious crash but so far so good but I think It might be different if I hadn't done those stupid things that have made me realize I'm not invincible and it can go horribly wrong in a matter of seconds.

[mic]

yes. not always, depends on circumstances (road conditions, oncoming traffic and mood etc)
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zzr600

[-Matt-]

[barrkel]

[-Matt-]

[mikesaa309]

[G]

When I used to commute through, I'd say about maybe 60-75% of the time I was moving I was overtaking.
If I wasn't going to overtake, I'd have taken the car.

Generally wouldn't if they were doing the speed limit, but in rush hour that didn't really happen much.

As with all other riding, the trick is good observation.
In a year and a half of that I twice had a car trap my left foot under their front right wheel. Also once impacted a car's wing mirror with my hand as it pulled across me (wasn't intentional, I was just trying to avoid it and my hand/the wing mirror were the two bits sticking furthest out of our two vehicles.)

I certainly saw a lot of situations that COULD have been accidents if I hadn't anticipated them and already placed myself somewhere else.

[-Matt-]

[stinkwheel]

I tend to stick to the speed limit intown.

I make exceptions for passing someone through a 30/40 limit who I've been stuck behind for some time in the NSL area. So like on a particularly twisty road with lots of oncoming traffic, on a road with safety Nazi solid whites or if I'm on a slow bike that can only do marginally faster than the vehicle I'm stuck behind.

Under those circumstances, I will pop past someone in a 30/40 limit and I presume that's what you mean by overtaking around town.

If I am in a highly congested built up area, I just pass whatever is in front of me as soon as I can (usually) legally do so and generally look after myself.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[mikesaa309]

[-Matt-]

[mic]

I wore my 2 piece leathers on my old 125.... didn't complain when I had a slow speed off.

125 with L plates is more to worry about if image is your concern
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zzr600

[WD Forte]

Its one of those questions that doesnt have a pat yes/no answer
It depends, is the best reply.

If a vehicle is significantly slower and its safe
(and arguably legal occifer) , then why not pass?
If in doubt, hang about

There does seem to be certain thing happen in some riders heads when overtaken by other bikes.
I remember catching up to a sporty looking thing in pretty heavy traffic and only overtook because he'd got his positiioning all wrong
n his haste.
The guy seemed to take it personally and started riding much more aggressively.

No eye contact, no nods, just rev the tits off it then jam on the anchors from light to light.
All the while I'm keeping pace while doing the Times crossword
( in a manner of speaking)

Maybe he felt insulted I passed him on a 32 year old peice of shit
that had no right to be still on the road and only someone on a newer bigger sportier thing had that right.?

Perhaps it was the dead kitten nailed to the screen under the bloody crossed cleavers..................
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bikers smell of wee

[Benno]

Since moving out of Reading I don't do it as often, because I live in rural Devon. In Plymouth there are usually two lanes, one of which I can use to overtake.

In Reading, though, I used to overtake in-town all the time. Had some pretty stupid close calls. I'm not sure if I've grown out of it (being unable to resist the temptation) because I haven't ridden in a normal town/city since - yet. London doesn't count because it's London and its always gridlocked.

I have a little mantra/process I use whenever I am considering doing something when on the bike. I simply ask myself "Does this count as something stupid?" I assess the situation, noting all the risks and possible dangers. If the answer comes back as "yes" then I don't do it. I keep this thought process as objective as possible - I've knowingly violated it, and mentally scolded myself for doing so.

The problem is obviously that it is so easy to overtake when on a motorbike. It's impossible to note or to know all the risks of a particular action, especially an overtake.
My answer would be that like most things, it depends on the individual scenario. Long, clear road with a car doing the speed limit and no cameras or cop cars? I'd go for the overtake if I was frustrated with tootling along at 30 that day. Bends in the road or oncoming traffic? No. It depends on your individual risk assessment and thought process in each individual scenario.

Best piece of advice I believe is don't just watch for traffic or cameras/police - look at the road. Craters, potholes, jagged lines, paint, oil, water, these are all things that could lead you into disaster.
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I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[dave666]

overtake everyone and everything

[andyscooter]

i do if its a stupid old person doing 22mph in a 30 limit
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Ichy]

I don't sit behind anyone unless I have to. It's called 'making progress'.
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https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Copycat73]

rarely overtake in town if ever, too many myopic car drivers, bit of filtering sometimes along the A1 between the Angle & Metrocenter.
I don`t commute though which makes all the difference.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Derek1943]

Hi

Tip for any new rider. Never overtake if there is somewhere for the vehicle you are overtaking to turn.

For example a petrol station or a lay-by on your right.

The problem is that you may be in the drivers blind spot or when and if he or she checked their mirror you were not there. I know they should check again before turning but its your life not theirs.

Derek

[unluckyluke]

I ride a motorcycle to get places quicker than I can in a car. I like to make good progress and if that means a cheeky overtake in a 30 so be it. I'd rather overtake in a safe manner buzzing up to 40 quickly to get past some dangerous dawdler than try and overtake them on a twisty nsl road where they're sitting at 45/50 and braking every time a car comes the opposite way. I know it's 30 for a reason but you've a better chance of swerving and missing a child/kitten on a bike than in a cage.