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- Newsgroups: uk.transport
- Path: sparky!uunet!pipex!mfmail!jfid
- From: jfid@mfltd.co.uk (James Fidell (x5320))
- Subject: Re: Motorbikes on Congested Motorways
- Message-ID: <1993Jan26.123050.3081@mfltd.co.uk>
- Sender: jfid@mfltd.co.uk (James Fidell (x5320))
- Organization: Micro Focus Ltd., Newbury, UK
- References: <1jjabnINNi2t@bnsgd245.bnr.co.uk>
- Distribution: uk
- Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 12:30:50 GMT
- Lines: 60
-
-
- In article <1jjabnINNi2t@bnsgd245.bnr.co.uk>, ianking@nnsgs52 (Ian King)
- writes:
- >
- > Q. Suppose the traffic is stop/start and all three lanes are full. It is early
- > morning (7am ish), in the dark, on the M1 southbound, say around Junct 9
- > (to give an idea of traffic density). What is happening is that cars/vans/
- > lorries are changing lanes when the traffic does start to move and this
- > happens every morning. The motorway is lit here.
- >
- > Now along comes a motorbike(s) between the outside lane and the middle lane
- > travelling faster (say 10-15mph) than the rest of the traffic. This happens
- > most mornings.
- >
- > Now I dont ride motorbikes and if I could I wouldn't dare go on the M1
- > on one.
-
- You haven't lived (IMHO :-)
-
- >
- > What I'd like to know is, why it seems that motorbike riders are not aware
- > of the perils of this practise when traffic is changing lanes ie cutting
- > across
- > the riders path. There are rarely long signals from the drivers doing this.
- > They just see a gap, stick the indicator out & go. Its bad enough for the
- > other drivers but for a rider its almost suicide because the drivers cant
- > make out their single headlight from the mass of lights behind.
-
- I think most motorcyclists are more than aware of the dangers they face --
- after all, in many car accidents, the driver can walk away. If you ride
- a motorbike then you have to accept the situation that it's going to hurt
- if you come off. It does put things into perspective.
-
- I do split lanes occasionally -- mostly when the traffic is relatively slow
- (say less than 40mph), and I feel quite safe doing it. I usually ride a few
- yards from the back of the vehicle, though not behind it. When
- I am comfortable the the driver is not going to make any sudden change
- of direction, then all that's required is a quick twist of the throttle. In
- the right gear, the acceleration is such that I can pass a car in two or
- three seconds which I feel is sufficient for me to pass safely before anything
- untoward can happen. It helps to watch the driver before passing, too --
- you can usually get a fairly good idea of what is going on from their head
- movements.
-
- > I've seen
- > this quite a few times. I always treat motorbikes as though they were small
- > cars & give them enough room (which proved fortuitous sometime last year).
-
- Thank you for your consideration. I wish more car drivers would act the
- same way.
-
- > Is it illegal to ride between the lanes?.
-
- I have to say that I don't actually know. But I don't do it if there are
- policemen watching...
- --
- "Yield to temptation -- |
- it may not pass your way again" | jfid@mfltd.co.uk
- |
- - Lazarus Long | James Fidell
-