To Rusty, I say that we have not been asking to be treated the same as cars but accepted as part of the traffic mix and included in the transport planning process. This includes taking advantage of our positive attributes including our ability to filter, reduced take-up of space especially for parking, better manoeuvrability and addressing our less positive attributes such as our vulnerability. The cycle lobby, on the other hand expects special treatment and any other class of road user is an infidel.
Julie has a valid point about everyone making errors and yes, if it doesn't cause an accident, it's best to let it go. However, a random error of judgement or inadvertently baulking someone until reminded of their presence is somewhat different from deliberately hogging the overtaking lane and bloody mindedly ignoring following vehicles which want to make progress.
even the ones doing it on purpose dont bother me too much if i know where they are, just think they are real saddos who have nothing more satisfying in their lives than getting out and causing havoc for honest people going about their days business. we should feel sorry for them
Every time I go for a ride out and particularly when riding out with Marie..why is it that other frigging stupid bikers like to try and knock me and Marie off our bikes...there was a complete on a KTM on the A38 the other week..Marie and I was overtaking a few lorries and there was no room to pull back in when from absolutely nowhere came this twat on the KTM..he undercut me and nearly knocked me off Ruby and then did the same to Marie...WHY??? We was doing a 70-80mph...on an overtaking maneouvre..surely that was fast enough...??
Today on our ride out..there was an idiot on a Harley Davidson too..WHY???
It is not car drivers I have hassle from but other fellow bikers!! blooming !!!!!!!!!!!!
geoff....its your opinion that flashing someone is the right thing to do, but its aggressive, what happens if that car slams his brakes on because you paniced him and you end up in a and e ???? sorry, be patient, the start of this discussion started with you being a little late, and it seems you were flashing as you were running late, i would never move over if someone was flashing me, all i would do is wait till a juncton and confront that person for being impatient.
Can't believe so many people are voicing that seeing a single headlight flash annoys them.
A single headlight flash to me indicates a warning of some description... I don't get annoyed, I figure out what the warning's about.
It's rare that I get a flash in the rear view mirror anyway, as I'm not a lane-hogger. Driving in the SE, I find that driving in the inside lane's best anyway - 3 choices of escape route in case required
I do find it somewhat odd when someone flashes me and there's a line of cars on the next lane in & I simply can't change lanes, but it doesn't wind me up... I try to let them past as soon as possible though, as if they're that poor at observation of road conditions, I'd rather they were in front where I can keep a good eye on them and get a HUGE gap between them and me
all i would do is wait till a juncton and confront that person for being impatient.
How is potentially escalating it into a "road rage" situation a better way to handle it?
It's recognised in the Highway Code that a flash of the headlights is a warning to your fellow motorist. Nowhere does it say flashing your headlights once is aggressive.
I get someone in the oncoming traffic flashing & I instantly check my speed... 9 times out of 10 it's warning of a speed trap up ahead... definitely not an aggressive use of headlights
Personally I'm not a flasher (honest) I have no objection in principle but I do think there is a special spot in hell reserved for the idiots who drive six inches off your bumper flashing constantly when there is a solid stream of traffic to the left and nowhere to move over. My other pet hate are the ones who drop back a little then nail the throttle to charge at you. If I'm in the outside lane I'm there because I'm overtaking and will move over when it is safe to do so.
wanna's..............if ther would be a bike close to me flashing there lights how aggressive is that, i am laeving the thread now, as i have said my bit, i would never flash someone, how would you feel if it was a new driver....and it causes a accident...maybe a casualty or worse !!!!!!!!! i never do road rage so please dont jump on that band wagon.....
people who flash you from behind are cocks, people who flash you oncoming are ususally letting you know about a speed camera or tryign to let you know youve not got your lights on or have left an indicator on or something.
Fortunately im usually going quick enough not to have anyone behind me flashing, but those who do are usually driving BMW's :)
Seb, you seem to be getting bogged down in generalisations. Someone who flashes you from behind when there's a line of traffic preventing them from moving over is a cock but if you're hogging overtaking lanes and there is nothing on the inside then you're the cock. Similarly, someone coming the other way flashing to warn of a speed trap or other hazard is OK but what about the self-righteous idiot who takes exception to you filtering even when there's plenty of room and starts flashing their lights?
If you're being baulked, want to make progress and there's nothing on the nearside, then there's nothing wrong with making your presence known either, initially, with a single flash or with the indicator signalling right continuously. If the individual doesn't move over, then ramp up the flashing but keep back in case he slams on the brakes. Surely that's better than making an illegal inside overtaking manoeuvre. And as Bikerchick has said, if someone's already doing an overtake hang back and give them room to complete it. One should drive courteously but not be prepared to suffer fools gladly.
This is getting really funny. Keep it up guys.
I'm going to make a point this morning of flashing every single motorist as I approach to see what happens lol!!! (Not really.)
Seriously, anyone reading this forum a little bit of advice. Be very, very careful about "confronting" someone about their driving.
For starters confronting someone could be considered an aggressive, threatening action (or road rage as Lou quite rightly points out). It may not to you, but if the driver is a young female, nervous or similar, they could consider it so and all they have to do is report your number plate to the police and you'll have a couple of coppers knocking on your door.
Believe me, I know!! (Ok, that was perhaps justified. I did after all, kind of accidentally, trash her wing mirror!)
Secondly, I often see bikers confronting motorists and indeed I've done it myself. However, whenever I've done it I make a point of a: being as polite as possible and b: remaining out of arms reach. And if that motorist was to start getting out of his/her car, I'd be off, karate man or not! Remember, all they've got to do is give you a decent shove and then you're the one laid in the road, under your bike whilst they carry on their way, laughing!!
My advice, don't ever do it.
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