Wrong side of the road..

alec_h · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Karma :

will be riding in france for the first time next weekend. bit concerned about the riding on the wrong side of the road bit!

any advice?!
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Lawnie · Nearly there... Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Karma :

I'm sure you'll figure it out whenever you're headings towards something head on!

If you're that worried, why don't you stick a notice on your clocks/behind fairing?

alec_h · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Karma :

lol, just roundabouts thats are the problem to be honest. im with a good bunch of guys though so whatever i do it'll be a good laugh i 'spose
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Other nations, the French, looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play wiff waff! - Boris Johnson

Lawnie · Nearly there... Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Karma :

Don't you have to give priority to those coming onto the roundabouts in France? It seems such a stupid way of doing it IMO...

paulyzf600 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Karma :

You will be thanking the british for road signs as soon as you hit a round a bout as it's so easy to get lost. It's easy to do just remmeber that your head checks are bthe other way around!
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

When I've ridden abroad, I've tied a flappy bit of ribbon to the right hand mirror. Catches your attention every so often and you think "What's that doing there? Oh yeah. Ride on the right.".

It's the traffic lights that confused me in France, flashing orange arrows and such.

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Jonwig · Derestricted Danger Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Karma :

Putting something on your bike to remind you is definately a good idea! I hired a bike in Greece and drove 100 metres on the wrong side of the road on 2 seperate occasions before oncoming traffic in the distance reminded me to drive on the right!
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Steve H · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Karma :

Mo's Link

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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I found turning off in empty T junctions etc were the bits where I got the most confused.

alec_h · Scooby Slapper Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Karma :

Just to let you know, I got on fine apart from the time I almost got hit off by a tram Rolling Eyes

Whos idea was it to have a tram going through the middle of a roundabout anyways
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Other nations, the French, looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner. We looked at a dining table and saw an opportunity to play wiff waff! - Boris Johnson

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

carsounds_dan · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Karma :

Zimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Karma :

Just repeat, often:

look left, drive right

look left, drive right

look left, drive right

look left, drive right

look left, drive right

and so on . . .

fuzz · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

fuzz · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Karma :

Thanks for clearing that up. I got the info from RiDE (I think) when they did a touring special a month or two back. Giving us false information......Bar Stewards......

Only the French though, using two systems depending on location Rolling Eyes

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krebsy · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

I was right behind an accident in France (en-route to Belgium on the dual carriageway that follows the coast) where a French woman in a van pulled out onto the road from an entry slip road then right out into the left hand lane forcing the brit in front of me to slam on and dive off onto the grassy (and luckily wide and hazard free) central reservation.

The Brit almost stacked it into the back of her and almost span the car as soon as it hit the grass.

That's "Priorite a droit" for you... Sad

watch out for people doing that.

If you are overtaking slower traffic then the continental "rule of thumb" is stick on your left indicator and leave it on as you pass the slower traffic until you eventually pull back in.

K.
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Responsible Biker · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Karma :

I rode overseas for the first time last year, and was worried about it too. But you get used to it really quickly, especially as all vehicles are on the right - you just have to follow the car infront. Until he reaches his house, of course...
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Anyway. When I went to France the procedure on every roundabout I saw was the same viz

"If you see a gap into which your vehicle might fit, lean on the horn and go for it."

Scary numbers of bashed, dented and dinged cars in France.

krebsy · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Karma :

Paris is Mental.

All the cars are knocked or dented in some way or another and no-one cares. I sat in a Taxi during rush hour as all the cars bounced off each other with the drivers leaning on the horn (for no real reason) every now and again. Peds are big there and I saw very few big bikes. Peds were nipping the wrong way up the roads, the pavements, through pedestrian walkways and through non-existant gaps. Most of them are overloaded or have kids bungeed onto the back or sides. Think London at rush hour and then scale up the mayhem level a few notches.

No wonder the French came up with Parcour. I'd use it as the chosen mode of getting about in Paris.. Smile

K.
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