Riding on the opposite side

[BanannaMan]

A question here for those who have traveled Europe....


Having not yet ridden a bike in the opposite lane.....
(except possibily in some corners ;)) was wondering how much of a transition is it switching lanes.
Does it take some getting used too? Something you have to keep reminding yourself of?
Or is it a non-issue? Something you just instantly adjust too and not really thing about that much.

My mate said it was hard doesn't seem like it would be to me????
;)
Who better than to ask than our own .org riders who have experiance riding on both sides of the road, often in the same day!

[MattCollins]

It won't take long to get used to it, but it does take a little longer for it to become second nature. There is a lot of stuff that we do without thinking about it and the whole lot has been turned on its head.
You'll be okay.

[garynortheast]

You'll get used to it pretty quickly. Just be careful when making left turns at junctions - it's all to easy to forget and end up driving on the left hand side again. :confused:

[Red Herring]

The actual riding on the open road is fairly easy, the problems tend to arise when you pull out of a side road or out of a petrol station etc. You just need to be sure you look the right way and turn onto the correct side of the road. It's a lot easier when there is other traffic about to remind you. A mate of mine pulled out of the hotel early one morning and did almost a mile on a main road before meeting something coming the other way.......

If riding in France there are also some "priority" rules you need to be aware of....

[keith_d]

As others have said, the riding is fine. It's the stuff you do without thinking that stuffs you up. Here's a few of my screw-ups...

* I've been busy thinking about other stuff (maps, hotels etc) and pulled out on the wrong side of the road on several occasions.
* Looked the wrong way on roundabouts lots of times.
* In car parks where there's no road markings it's easy to end up playing chicken

[dizzyblonde]

~~Piece of cake :-)

I actually prefer going round roundabouts 'the wrong way'.
Think about it, your throttle hand is on the outside, and much more comfortable.


When riding in France...well what can I say, watch out for ladies in bashed Renaults that think hiding in narrow side street gives them priority in Rochefort.......cause they is coming out anyway :-)

[the_lone_wolf]

Barely even noticed it when we went to Germany

Off the Chunnel they direct you very well and we did mostly morotway miles, but even in town it was pretty obvious. Strangest feeling was leaning the wrong way on roundabouts, but you don't have them in the colonies do you?

[dyzio]

The actual riding on the open road is fairly easy, the problems tend to arise when you pull out of a side road or out of a petrol station etc.

Yup, narrow streets, car parks, exits - are the worst ones. You'll automatically drift towards "your side of the road".

[timwilky]

fist time riding in France, I thought piece of cake. no problem staying on the right

Until I came to the first roundabout and turned left instead of right.

Fortunately most silly priority to the right has gone, but I got caught by a car whizzing out in front of me in Nice. Scared to poo out of me and I had to take a 30 min break just to compose myself and get my head back together.

[andreis]

Or you could just ask someone who's been doing it all his life to drive your bike for you.. Wonder where you might find such a person :-dd

[gruntygiggles]

Can't speak for riding as only just started, but as no-one else has mentioned it yet, I will in relation to driving.

In all the times I've gone to the States I have not had one problem driving on the other side, however...I did once get back to Heathrow in the early hours, get a shuttle to my car at an external car park and with no traffic about at 3am....promptly pulled out and went down the wrng side of the road for a few hundred yards until I realised.

So...remember not to just relax when you get home as sometimes our mind goes from its most recent memory if ya know what I mean :-)

[Philbo]

It's easy if there is trafic on the road to remind you where you can and can't go. More difficult on the quiet roads, where you need to stay focussed. I always make up a wee song to remind me, "Driving on the right side of the road! OOHHH YEHHHH! Don't cross a lane when I'm turning right, OOOO BABBY!!"

Should have have been a song writter...

[Sid Squid]

It's really not difficult. I know that's easy for me to say as I've ridden in Europe a lot, but even the very first time it took very little time to become familiar with it.

You thinking of a trip to see us Bananman? :cool:

[Biker Biggles]

Its much easier on a left hand drive bike of course.

[Tim in Belgium]

BanannaMan, most of Europe drive on the right like you lot, it's only the UK/Ireland in the main that drive on the left.

[Biker Biggles]

Cyprus and Malta too.In fact anywhere that is remotely civilised drives on the left and the barbarians go on the wrong side.

[Stu]

It's the easiest thing in the world. But it just takes one silly moment to forget and get it wrong and then you just better hope you get a little reminder before you get a rude awakening! :shock:

[Lozzo]

A question here for those who have traveled Europe....


Having not yet ridden a bike in the opposite lane.....
(except possibily in some corners ;)) was wondering how much of a transition is it switching lanes.
Does it take some getting used too? Something you have to keep reminding yourself of?
Or is it a non-issue? Something you just instantly adjust too and not really thing about that much.

My mate said it was hard doesn't seem like it would be to me????
;)
Who better than to ask than our own .org riders who have experiance riding on both sides of the road, often in the same day!

Most of Europe drives on the same side of the road as the USA, so American riders shouldn't have any problems converting at all. There are a handful of countries, as well as the UK/Ireland of course, that drive/ride on the left, mainly ex-British colonies such as Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar. Mainland Europe is all driven/ridden on the same side as USA.

Personally, I don't have a problem switching between the two, but I do tend to drive/ride on the continent a little more frequently than most.

[BanannaMan]

Thanks to everyone for the replies and advice.

I plan on avoiding cities for the most part (I do that here too).
The less congested traffic the better.





If riding in France there are also some "priority" rules you need to be aware of....

No thank you.... Not going there.
Planning to ride in Wales, Scotland and England.



Strangest feeling was leaning the wrong way on roundabouts, but you don't have them in the colonies do you?


No problem with roundabouts.
There are now 2 (LOL) in Virginia , (the state I live in), one of which I go through reguarly on the bike.



anywhere that is remotely civilised drives on the left and the barbarians go on the wrong side.


Hehe... Say what you will, there is only one "right side" of the road.
You either ride on that side or you don't. :p
;)




You thinking of a trip to see us Bananman? :cool:



Yes!!! :D
Hoping to make an .org rideout (sometime this summer) as well as doing some riding on my own while there.
Got the OK from Mrs. BanannaMan. Checked on some prices and except for the flight, it's really not that expensive. Bike hire is way cheaper in the UK, as are most hotels/places to stay in the areas I plan to visit.
(again avoiding the big cities)

Thinking it might be best to arrive a few days before the rideout and get used to the hire bike, roads, etc.

[Lozzo]

No thank you.... Not going there.
Planning to ride in Wales, Scotland and England.


Take it from me, the roads on the continent are far better and less congested than the ones in UK. Also, Wales has restrictive policing (famously so, even though the Mad Mullah of North Wales Police has retired), Scotland has foul weather (it is always raining when I go there) and England has ignorant drivers and poor roads that are chock full of traffic all day long.

You really are better off riding in France, Germnany and Italy etc.

[gruntygiggles]

Bah humbug Lozzo.....lol.

Bananaman, you have PM x

[jimmy4237]

Its easy after the first half mile. You adapt to it very quickly. I've to sometimes drive a left hooker artic in the UK for some clients. That takes some adapting to, as you can't see nothing very well when changing lanes on the motorway.. Only when taking the left hooker back to it's native france does it become safer.... and easier to drive.. only then you've got the homicidal locals to worry about....

Bikes are easy to adapt to riding on the right. Just remember what you're doing pulling out of junctions and fuel stations. When the locals start driving towards you with their horns blaring and headlight flashing it makes you think rapidly...and move back over..to the correct side.

[dizzyblonde]

Yes!!! :D
Hoping to make an .org rideout (sometime this summer) as well as doing some riding on my own while there.
Got the OK from Mrs. BanannaMan. Checked on some prices and except for the flight, it's really not that expensive. Bike hire is way cheaper in the UK, as are most hotels/places to stay in the areas I plan to visit.
(again avoiding the big cities)

Thinking it might be best to arrive a few days before the rideout and get used to the hire bike, roads, etc.

You do know we have our annual rideout in Wales....6 to 8th August ;-)
You'll meet more of us all at once there:thumleft:

see annual rideout section

[carternd]

Cyprus and Malta too.In fact anywhere that is remotely civilised drives on the left and the barbarians go on the wrong side.

How do you explain the Madlands then?

Take it from me, the roads on the continent are far better and less congested than the ones in UK. Also, Wales has restrictive policing (famously so, even though the Mad Mullah of North Wales Police has retired), Scotland has foul weather (it is always raining when I go there) and England has ignorant drivers and poor roads that are chock full of traffic all day long.

You really are better off riding in France, Germnany and Italy etc.

And yet he lives in the U.K.

On the plus side, here there is less carp between the good bits of the country.

[Lozzo]

How do you explain the Madlands then?

And yet he lives in the U.K.



I prefer to live in the UK over any other country in the world at the moment, mainly due to the fact that no other country in the world comes close as a decent place to live with a fair justice system and equality for all. I hate driving here though, I much prefer to ride and drive on the continent.

When I retire I'm off to Malta because they treat their older people with respect, unlike the UK.

[gruntygiggles]

When I retire I'm off to Malta because they treat their older people with respect, unlike the UK.

+1 to that......this country is a disgrace for that! Care homes can still be run by anyone and there's little to no governance on them. I culd go out tomorrow, buy a care home, charge extortionate rates, make a fortune and employ carpy staff and neglect my residents.......and no-one culd stop me. It stinks so I think you've made a wise choice there Lozzo!

[carternd]

I prefer to live in the UK over any other country in the world at the moment, mainly due to the fact that no other country in the world comes close as a decent place to live with a fair justice system and equality for all. I hate driving here though, I much prefer to ride and drive on the continent.

When I retire I'm off to Malta because they treat their older people with respect, unlike the UK.

Fair point! Problem with this country is there are too many old people, and since we have already extracted their worth, we feel no need (shamefully) to allow them to fade out in dignity. We see them as a burden, rather than as a source of wisdom and common sense.

[lukemillar]

It's only the UK/Ireland in the main that drive on the left.

And Australia and New Zealand!

[BanannaMan]

Take it from me, the roads on the continent are far better and less congested than the ones in UK. Also, Wales has restrictive policing (famously so, even though the Mad Mullah of North Wales Police has retired), Scotland has foul weather (it is always raining when I go there) and England has ignorant drivers and poor roads that are chock full of traffic all day long.

You really are better off riding in France, Germnany and Italy etc.


Thanks for the honest advice Lozzo.
But not looking for the best roads on the continent this trip.

Looking to ride in the UK, visit a few places special to me, meet some .org members and see first hand some of the beautiful scenery I've been seeing in pics of for the past couple of years.





You do know we have our annual rideout in Wales....6 to 8th August ;-)
You'll meet more of us all at once there:thumleft:

see annual rideout section






Suddenly this not only seems possible... but quite likely as well. :shock: :D







Bananaman, you have PM x


Thank you GG! :smt058

[Tim in Belgium]

And Australia and New Zealand!

Those well known European countries ;)

Plus lots of the ex-colonies in Africa....

What side of the road do they drive in the Middle East, India and Far East? Japan I know is also RHD.

[gruntygiggles]

Those well known European countries ;)

Plus lots of the ex-colonies in Africa....

What side of the road do they drive in the Middle East, India and Far East? Japan I know is also RHD.

:smt046

Also...just a thought Squirrel_Hunter shared with me this morning...do they have a side of the road to drive/ride on in India? When you see it on TV, it loks like a total free for all...lol

[gruntygiggles]

Bananaman, you are very welcome and I'm looking forward to it already! :-)

[lukemillar]

Those well known European countries ;)

Shhhh you! Let me bang my antipodean drum in peace :wink:

[G]

There is a video on youtube of someone pulling away on a blade in the alps, only they have a temporary memory lapse and ride straight on into an oncoming car.

Easily done.

[dizzyblonde]

Suddenly this not only seems possible... but quite likely as well. :shock: :D



We thought at AR08 that Redbuoy came from far far away in the South of France, but your visit would win a prize of furthest distance travelled with ease:D


Someone better make sure everyone does a sun dance the week before then:rolleyes:

[gruntygiggles]

We thought at AR08 that Redbuoy came from far far away in the South of France, but your visit would win a prize of furthest distance travelled with ease:D


Someone better make sure everyone does a sun dance the week before then:rolleyes:


Ah Lou....you may have just guaranteed rain....lol

[embee]

I believe in Cyprus they drive "in the shade". :shock:

They might have fixed a few potholes by the time you get here, the roads are shocking at the mo'

Welcome to the land of the speed camera too, maybe a visit to Derbyshire will break you in gently, this is the latest list

A61 Derby Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A511 Swadlincote, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A511 Bretby, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A619 Brimington, Derbyshire Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A619 Brimington to Staveley, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera 30
A619 Staveley to Barlborough, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera 40
A619 Barlborough to Whitwell, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera 50
A444 Stanton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A444 Overseal, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6019 Alfreton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6019 South Normanton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera 30
A6007 Heanor, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6007 Shipley, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
B6056/B6052 Eckington, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6096 Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A624 Hayfield, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A5111 Harvey Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A5111 Osmaston Park, Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A514 Osmaston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A514 Chellaston Road, Derby Derbyshire, Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A53 Station Road & Bridge Street, Buxton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A632 Calow, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A619 Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A632 Arkwright to Long Duckmanton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A57 Glossop to Dinting Vale, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A609 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A609 Gallows Inn, Ilkeston, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A632 Langwith, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6005 Derby Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6005 Nottingham Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6540 Sawley, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6540 Long Eaton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A610 Codnor Gate, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A6 Fairfield Common, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6 Rock Corner, Bakewell, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A6 Darley Dale, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - NOW 30MPH
A61 Stretton, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 50
A6096 Spondon, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A5250 Burton Road, Derby - Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A6005, Spondon, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
Nottingham Road/A6005, Chaddesden, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A608 Derby Road, Heanor, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6002 Sandiacre, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
B6407 Shirebrook, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30
A608 Breadsall Hilltop, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 40
A6 Matlock Bath to Matlock, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - NOW 30MPH
A5111 Raynesway, Derby, Derbyshire - Fixed Speed Camera - 30MPH DURING ROADWORKS
A615 Tansley to Wessington, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - N/S
A616 Clowne, Derbyshire, Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A616 Creswell, Derbyshire, Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A617 Bramley Vale, Derbyshire, Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A617 Glapwell to Pleasley, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - N/S
A516 Uttoxeter Rd, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A516 Uttoxeter Rd, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A514 Swadlincote, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A514 Swadlincote to Hartshorne, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A514 Ticknall, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A608 Heanor to Langley Mill, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A609 Stanley Common, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A6005 Draycott to Breaston, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6007 Codnor to Heanor, Derbyshire Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B6179 Ripley to Marehay, Derbyshire Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B6179 Denby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
B6179 Lower Kilburn to Little Eaton, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
B6179 Little Eaton, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
London Road, Shardlow, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 London Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera 30
A6 Alvaston, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A6 Allestree, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Allestree to Duffield, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Milford to Belper, Derbyshire Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A6 Belper, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Homesford Cottage to Cromford, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Cromford, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A6 Rowsley to Bakewell, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Bakewell, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Ashford in the Water, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Taddington to Buxton, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Buxton to Dove Holes, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A6 Dove Holes, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Furness Vale, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A6 Furness Vale to Newtown, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A623 Calver, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A623 Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A623 Stoney Middleton to Peak Forest, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - N/S
A623 Peak to Barmoor Clough, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - N/S
A624 Glossop, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A624 Chunal to Little Hayfield, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A624 Hayfield to Chinley, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A628 Tintwistle to Boundary, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - N/S
B600 Somercotes, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6175 North Wingfield, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6175 Holmewood, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A632 Matlock, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A632 Hady to Calow, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A632 Bolsover, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A52 Shirley Hollow, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A52 East of Brailsford, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A601 Abbey Street, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A52 Ashbourne Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A5250 Burton Road, Littleover, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B5020 Station Road, Mickleover, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Darley Dale, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - NOW 30MPH
A6 Northwood, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A608 Smalley, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A619 Eastmoor, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 60
A610 Sawmills, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
Stenson Road, Derby, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A52 Mackworth, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
A57 Snake Road, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 60
A515 Alsop en le Dale, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 60
A515 Sudbury, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 50
A609 Kilburn to Horsley Woodhouse, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
Old Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
A6 Matlock Bath, Derbyshire Mobile Speed Camera - 30
Stenson Road, Stenson Fields - Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 40
Hearthcote Road, Swadlincote - Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
Boythorpe Road, Chesterfield - Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B6062 Chinley, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B6052 Whittington, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
Long Lane, Charlesworth, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30
B6051 Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Mobile Speed Camera - 30

...and then there's the covert mobile camera vans

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh268/Hi-vis/tax1_597.jpg

[yorkie_chris]

Can't get points on a US license over here though can you?

[Ed]

Speeding fines? Try the eighth amendment

'Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted';)

[Red Herring]

...and then there's the covert mobile camera vans

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh268/Hi-vis/tax1_597.jpg

Sorry to disappoint but that's not a speed camera van.........

[thulfi]

Sorry to disappoint but that's not a speed camera van.........

yeh. Some are not that subtle to be honest.

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/p1130875.jpg

Mind you I wouldn't suspect this one from afar.

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/dscd0395.jpg
Looks more like a maintenance sort of van.

Better to deter than punish anyway, so the more obvious the better I suppose ;-).

[BanannaMan]

Someone better make sure everyone does a sun dance the week before then:rolleyes:

Ah Lou....you may have just guaranteed rain....lol



I'll just have bring some good weather with me then! ;)





Welcome to the land of the speed camera too, maybe a visit to Derbyshire will break you in gently, this is the latest list



What the....
Big brother is alive and well in Derbyshire eh?


Can't get points on a US license over here though can you?


Don't think so..... but if you plan on making another trip....
Don't think they'll be letting me hire a bike with a handfull of offences.

[petevtwin650]

Just caught up with the gist of this thread.

So I guess you must be thinking of flying Old glory over here and hiring a Harley, BM:p

Guess it's early days yet, but you could to post in the relevant area sections where you propose to visit and get first hand advice and maybe some riding companions/tour guides (if you fancy).

The only problem with coming the time you've suggested is that it's the annual school holidays here, so the roads are even busier with accommodation harder to find and possibly more expensive.

[G]

Sorry to disappoint but that's not a speed camera van.........

That is a camera can... they have since since added a fadded blue van to the fleet with plaster/paint added to the rear for a more authentic look. They also have a green one.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/pics/news/17951/van-L.jpg

That list of cameras makes it sound much worse than it is, it's a big county and those road are mainly the boring ones.

[Red Herring]

I didn't say it wasn't a camera van, it just not one used for speed detection. It's actually an ANPR Spectrum van.

[G]

I didn't say it wasn't a camera van, it just not one used for speed detection. It's actually an ANPR Spectrum van.


Ah I see :D

[Stu]

So it's just an ANPR van? :scratch:
What would look different about it if it was a speed camera van?

[Red Herring]

So it's just an ANPR van? :scratch:
What would look different about it if it was a speed camera van?

Not a lot...!:D

Sorry, I'm not being very helpful am I. It's just that with speed detection there is very rarely any need, or advantage, to being sneaky. Most drivers who are speeding are zapped before they realize what the van is, mainly because they are so busy looking in their mirrors at the driver that just went the other way flashing at them....

With ANPR you sometimes don't want drivers to get a head start on you depending on what you have waiting around the next bend.

[carternd]

Not a lot...!:D

Sorry, I'm not being very helpful am I. It's just that with speed detection there is very rarely any need, or advantage, to being sneaky. Most drivers who are speeding are zapped before they realize what the van is, mainly because they are so busy looking in their mirrors at the driver that just went the other way flashing at them....

With ANPR you sometimes don't want drivers to get a head start on you depending on what you have waiting around the next bend.
^^^^
Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etderLTB6ws

:smt025

[Red Herring]

^^^^
Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etderLTB6ws

:smt025

?
I must be having a serious moment...the link has gone right over my head.
Are you sure you posted the right one....:)

[yorkie_chris]

What you have waiting around the bend? big JCB and the mafia?

[Ed]

Bizarre....

[Stu]

Great video though :D

[Red Herring]

What you have waiting around the bend? big JCB and the mafia?

See, told you I was being to serious....it's all that posting on the other thread that's done it!

In answer to the question, no, normally a bunch of probationers who can't chase anything for toffee.....

[carternd]

See, told you I was being to serious....it's all that posting on the other thread that's done it!

In answer to the question, no, normally a bunch of probationers who can't chase anything for toffee.....

First thing that came into my head when I read "waiting around the bend!"

Can see why it seems bizzardo though!

[BanannaMan]

So I guess you must be thinking of flying Old glory over here and hiring a Harley, BM:p



Why of course.
Everyone knows Harleys are the fastest most dependable bikes on earth.:rolleyes:



Call me a septic....that's funny.
A yank...mildly insulting, but for reasons most of you likely don't know.
But a harley rider???

:eye:
Ouch!!!

[carternd]

Why of course.
Everyone knows Harleys are the fastest most dependable bikes on earth.:rolleyes:



Call me a septic....that's funny.
A yank...mildly insulting, but for reasons most of you likely don't know.
But a harley rider???

:eye:
Ouch!!!

What, are you Canadian?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7UKllR0Edo

[garynortheast]

A yank...mildly insulting, but for reasons most of you likely don't know.
:eye:
Ouch!!!

Calling a Canadian a Yank is like telling a Welshman that Wales is a county in England. :shock::shock:

[G]

Calling a Canadian a Yank is like telling a Welshman that Wales is a county in England. :shock::shock:

It is though isn't it? :)

[garynortheast]

](*,) :smt093 :smt067

[timwilky]

As BannanaMan had Appalachia has his location, there is a possibility that he might be from one of the states that flew the southern cross. Then calling him a yank would be a tad insulting. A bit like some damm fool calling me a Tyke

[garynortheast]

Ooops!

[carternd]

](*,) :smt093 :smt067

A reasoned response for a Welshman!

:-dd

[garynortheast]

I'm just an honourary Welshman, a recent incomer. I only moved here 25 years ago!

[BanannaMan]

What, are you Canadian?!


No!
(they are the ones to blame!)


As BannanaMan had Appalachia has his location, there is a possibility that he might be from one of the states that flew the southern cross. Then calling him a yank would be a tad insulting. A bit like some damm fool calling me a Tyke



That would be correct!
(well done Tim)
Should you visit any southern state in America, it would be wise NOT to refer to the locals as Yanks!
Doing so in the wrong crowd could turn into a huge risk to your personal safety.

[yorkie_chris]

Seppos is fine though? lol

[Spiderman]

i'd live in Spain about 2yrs by this point but one fine sunndy day, driving along the same road i always took to work i commented to my g/f "look at the stupid taxi driver driving on the wrong side of the road. You'd think he of all people would know what side of the bloody road to be on. Idiot"

And as i said this and the taxi got ever closer i went from this
:lol:

to this
:roll:

to this
:idea:

to this
:shock:

before yanking the car back onto the correct side of the road and looking like this

:oops:

[Luckypants]

I'm just an honourary Welshman, a recent incomer. I only moved here 25 years ago!

Yeah, go home! Coming here stealing our sheep (oops I mean women), doing up our houses and spending money with your big city johnny ways! :rolleyes: Boo! Hiss! :D

[garynortheast]

doing up our houses and spending money with your big city johnny ways! :rolleyes: Boo! Hiss! :D

Ha! I wish! What money? LOL.

[BanannaMan]

Seppos is fine though? lol


Unless it's coming from some bloke from the north..:p


Call me anything you want and I'll likely have a good laugh.
But be warned....There is an old saying here.
"Don't dish it out if you can't take it." ;)

[BanannaMan]

So I guess you must be thinking of flying Old glory over here and hiring a Harley, BM:p





I have secured a hire bike for the AR this past week! :smt041
May have found the perfect bike for the trip!

http://www.allenschevron.com/Harley-w-Flag.jpg

http://cenvachristiansportbike.homestead.com/justkidding.gif


Don' be silly... that's not it!!!

There are a few slight differences.

My hire bike is:
Not a Harley Davidson
Not a cruiser
Not a v-twin :shock:
Not Black
Does not have a giant flag attached.

And I'm not the bald git in the pic. :p

:clown:

[jacksuzukisv650]

haha i wwnt to france last year and i was chatin away to a english guy in a garge about the bike as we al do and i completly forgot i was in france and i went on the wrong side of the road i didnt realise until the car coming towards me was flashing its lights at me lol ..

[-Ralph-]

Don't think they'll be letting me hire a bike with a handfull of offences.

To be honest they probably wouldn't know! My wife has a French license and when she got caught for speeding the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency here (DVLA) set up a "temporary account" which they then added points to, if she accumulated 12 points on this temporary account she'd be banned from driving in the UK. But from the registration they could trace her to her UK residential address, and send he the appropriate letters requiring her to name who was driving. If you speed past a speed camera on a rented bike, that letter would go to the rental company, who would reply to it with your American address. From that point it probably would not go any further. Even if it did and the DVLA set up a temporary account, rental companies do not check anything with the DVLA when you rent a vehicle, unless there is something wrong with your license paperwork and they need to confirm it, in which case they can phone up the DVLA, but it's not standard procedure. If you did have a temporary account the police could check if they stopped you, but again if all your license and rental paperwork is in order, they probably wouldn't check anything.

Call me a septic....!

Why, you gone all green and smelly? ;)

[tommo891]

You'll get used to it pretty quickly. Just be careful when making left turns at junctions - it's all to easy to forget and end up driving on the left hand side again. :confused:


I will so second that ((aaahhh big car))

[-Ralph-]

Oh, on the OP of driving on the opposite side, having a French wife I do it quite a lot and it is absolutely no bother, my brain just switches the other way round, BUT that does have the consequence in my case that my right and left switch as well. So my wife can be giving me directions and say "go right" and I'll go left, because my brain is associating the action of crossing the opposite carriageway, or going 270 degrees round a roundabout, with going right.

I also find that the only time I have to think about what side of the road I should be on, is at Dover when I come back to what I should be very used to, especially on approach to roundabouts

I'd love to hear that somebody else suffers from the same two issues when driving abroad, but unfortunately I think it may just be me :smt009

[BanannaMan]

To be honest they probably wouldn't know! My wife has a French license and when she got caught for speeding the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency here (DVLA) set up a "temporary account" which they then added points to, if she accumulated 12 points on this temporary account she'd be banned from driving in the UK. But from the registration they could trace her to her UK residential address, and send he the appropriate letters requiring her to name who was driving. If you speed past a speed camera on a rented bike, that letter would go to the rental company, who would reply to it with your American address. From that point it probably would not go any further. Even if it did and the DVLA set up a temporary account, rental companies do not check anything with the DVLA when you rent a vehicle, unless there is something wrong with your license paperwork and they need to confirm it, in which case they can phone up the DVLA, but it's not standard procedure. If you did have a temporary account the police could check if they stopped you, but again if all your license and rental paperwork is in order, they probably wouldn't check anything.






Hire contract states:
Any hirer incurring any penalty or fine issued by any authority, will be liable to pay for the penalty and all costs associated with settling such. Hirers will also be liable for any penalty points incurred while a bike is in their possession.


Don't know if they can back up their claim on the points (especially in the US) but when you sign the contract you agree to pay all fines, which they place on the credit card used to hire the bike.

[timwilky]

Hire contract states:
Any hirer incurring any penalty or fine issued by any authority, will be liable to pay for the penalty and all costs associated with settling such. Hirers will also be liable for any penalty points incurred while a bike is in their possession.


Don't know if they can back up their claim on the points (especially in the US) but when you sign the contract you agree to pay all fines, which they place on the credit card used to hire the bike.

This couldn't be the case here. The obligation is upon the hire company to identify to the courts the driver should you commit an offence for which you were not stopped by the police. The hire company would not be hit with the fine and pass it on to your card. Only the courts can collect fines. A police officer may issue you with a fixed penalty ticket. But that is paid to the court.

[Stu]

This couldn't be the case here. The obligation is upon the hire company to identify to the courts the driver should you commit an offence for which you were not stopped by the police. The hire company would not be hit with the fine and pass it on to your card. Only the courts can collect fines. A police officer may issue you with a fixed penalty ticket. But that is paid to the court.
That's not true.
All penalties raised by Local authorities etc. are charged against the vehicle & it is the owner that is responsible so that includes parking and traffic sign contraventions

[BanannaMan]

Hoping NOT to find out about the fines! [-o<

In traffic or riding with a group I have no problem behaving, but alone on a lightly traveled road, I tend to have difficulty keeping the bike anywhere near a speed limit. :oops:

[-Ralph-]

This couldn't be the case here. The obligation is upon the hire company to identify to the courts the driver should you commit an offence for which you were not stopped by the police. The hire company would not be hit with the fine and pass it on to your card. Only the courts can collect fines. A police officer may issue you with a fixed penalty ticket. But that is paid to the court.

That's not true.
All penalties raised by Local authorities etc. are charged against the vehicle & it is the owner that is responsible so that includes parking and traffic sign contraventions

I believe the US equivalent is a non-moving violation, so Banannaman, these may end up being charged to your credit card.

I know you wouldn't speed past a speed camera just to "test" the system, but if you do get flashed by a camera, I wouldn't worry about it you're very unlikely ever to hear about it, and it won't stop you from hiring a vehicle here in future.

There are grandmothers here who have never had a speed ticket in their lives, and drive 2000 miles a year, who now have points on their license due to a speed camera. Often located in a place where they weren't expecting it, on a road where the speed limit is inappropriately low for the scenario and conditions, and hence a normal driver naturally reverts to driving above the speed limit during a lapse in concentration.

We have rural dual carriageways that have been 70mph since speed limits were introduced in the 70's, which have now been reduced to 40mph for no other reason than to get drivers speed down a mile before they enter an urban area, it doesn't feel natural for drivers to do 40 as they are still on a dual carriageway with fields on either side. We also have a lot of our rural roads that have been perfectly safe since the 70's at 60 mph speed limits, being reduced to 50 or even 40, for no good reason whatsoever, in fact there is evidence that it is increasing accidents as it's not natural and habitual for drivers here, and is causing impatience, frustration and causing normally law abiding motorists to hold a disregard for the speed limit.

It's very easy to get caught for speeding by a camera in the UK, being caught by a patrol car less likely as there are less and less police on the road as the government relies more and more heavily on cameras. Offences that cannot be detected by a camera sunch as drunk, unlicensed, uninsured drivers, etc, have been on the increase year upon year.

[Stu]

I believe the US equivalent is a non-moving violation, .
Councils enforce moving violations too, such as No right turns, No entry signs etc. by cameras - in London anyway, maybe elsewhere, but unlikely around the AR site :)

[-Ralph-]

Councils enforce moving violations too, such as No right turns, No entry signs etc. by cameras - in London anyway, maybe elsewhere, but unlikely around the AR site :)

True, but the rental company would not be liable for any fines, only to name the driver, these kind of offences would be reported to the police and a NIP issued, so an American tourist wouldn't have to worry about them.

[Stu]

True, but the rental company would not be liable for any fines, only to name the driver, these kind of offences would be reported to the police and a NIP issued, so an American tourist wouldn't have to worry about them.
That's not how they are dealt with in London. The council have the power to fine the owner of the car. No points are issued and the Police are not involved. So the rental co. would charge the credit card, but I'm sure this is off topic as only relates to London AFAIK.

[BanannaMan]

Councils enforce moving violations too, such as No right turns, No entry signs etc. by cameras - in London anyway, maybe elsewhere, but unlikely around the AR site :)



Arriving in Manchester. Will be riding in the North West, the West Midlands, and the South West (Wiltshire) prior to the AR so I'm sure there will be lots of opportunities to pass a speed camera.