View Full Version : Must be the new 'thing' to do...
Riding to work this morning, filtering past some cars stood at the traffic lights, when suddenly a woman decides to open her door!!! :shock: I think myself a bit lucky that I was just coming to a stop as this was just near the front of the queue.
Heard this happened to another guy on here not long ago, and I wondered just how thick passengers in cars can be???? :? The only time I'd attempt to get out of the passenger door was if it was at the road side, not in the middle of the road!!
It's got me quite wound up, as if I'd have actually hit the car door then who's to say the blame wouldn't have landed square on my shoulders?
Perhaps they should fit "idiot locks" to the front doors like they fit child locks to the back doors?
Look, we know car drivers and their passengers open their doors whilst stationary. Now that we know this there really shouldn't be a problem should there?
I have to say that I'm constantly amazed at the incredulity of a lot of bike riders (and I'm not having a go here) at the plain obvious.
When you know the score simply ride accordingly.
.
fizzwheel
25-11-05, 09:27 AM
When I used to ride my push bike everywhere it used to happen me all the time, people just dont look in the mirrors before they open the car door.
When I did my driving lessons my isntructor taught me to look in the mirror before I opened the car door for this very reason.
I've never had it happen to me on the SV, It must be pretty scary, I am always aware that it might happen though
Sorry to hear you had a scare Jase least your OK and so it your bike, I bet it frightened the car driver to and that hopefully they've learnt a lesson and dont do it again
Since I didn't fall off, I presume I was riding accordingly.
As for opening car doors, to some extent I expect it, but there's some times when it comes totally out of the blue as was this case, when there was 2 lanes of queueing cars. If I'd not had my wits about me I'd have been off and that's just not on in my opinion.
Isn't there some rule in the highway code to say you shouldn't open your car door when in a queue of traffic? And if there isn't, surely it's just common sense not to do it? I know that whenever I'm either driving a car or sitting as a passenger I don't open the door when sat in a queue of traffic like that.
This is one the reasons I have a loud exhaust!
This is one the reasons I have a loud exhaust!
I have an ART can on mine, so can't see exactly how they didn't hear me!!! :D
sharriso74
25-11-05, 09:50 AM
Shame you can't get idiot detectors the same as you can can get speed trap detectors. Saying that though riding through London it'll be going off all the time
Jelster
25-11-05, 10:10 AM
It would come under "due care & attention" as the driver should not let a passenger vacate the vehicle when it is not safe to do so.
But, taking what Greg says with a pinch of salt, one should expect the unexpected when riding in town. Take some paranoia pills,this will help you remember that they are all out to get you!!
.
Peter Henry
28-11-05, 07:26 AM
When out on a great hoon last Sunday which was a complete mix of tight twisties through to fast sweepers, myself and a guy on a ZX6 had an interesting experience. On a particuarly fast section whch was flat roads through a valley basin we came gunning out of a fast left hander only to see 150 metres ahead that a car had stopped and the driver had got out quite casually leaving the door fully open!
He had left just enough road for us to squeeze through,but on hearing us he panicked and sprinted back to his car and closed the door. He was all arm waving and apologetic! I had to feel sorry for him as this was a pretty isolated area and he obviously had thought prime time and spot to get out for a leak! :wink:
Last Action Pimp
28-11-05, 07:57 AM
Look, we know car drivers and their passengers open their doors whilst stationary. Now that we know this there really shouldn't be a problem should there?
I have to say that I'm constantly amazed at the incredulity of a lot of bike riders (and I'm not having a go here) at the plain obvious.
When you know the score simply ride accordingly.
.
CAR PASSANGERS SHOULD LOOK BEHIND THEM!! THATS WHAT I DO WHEN I AM IN A CAR BEFORE I OPEN MY DOOR!!!!!!!!
Look, we know car drivers and their passengers open their doors whilst stationary. Now that we know this there really shouldn't be a problem should there?
I have to say that I'm constantly amazed at the incredulity of a lot of bike riders (and I'm not having a go here) at the plain obvious.
When you know the score simply ride accordingly.
.
MMmm..bit harsh. I always expect every car driver to be out to get me, but unless you spot them taking off there seat belts to get out, you dont have much chance on spotting them doing this.
svpilot
28-11-05, 10:10 AM
Aha, the old "should have seen it coming" argument. This happened to me recently and I have had to put up with some pretty self righteous comments from certain forum members about it being my fault etc etc.
The only way to avoid this type of crash is not to filter between stationary traffic. Because you can kid youself as much as you like, if someone decides to swing a door open immediately in front of you, there is little you can do to avoid it.
Aha, the old "should have seen it coming" argument. This happened to me recently and I have had to put up with some pretty self righteous comments from certain forum members about it being my fault etc etc.
The only way to avoid this type of crash is not to filter between stationary traffic. Because you can kid youself as much as you like, if someone decides to swing a door open immediately in front of you, there is little you can do to avoid it.
=D>
Suppose these things happen and now I know to be a little more alert. Came as a bit of a shock as I'd never seen it before, but I'm glad I was taking it easy while I was filtering otherwise I wouldn't have been as lucky!
It's been chalked down as experience, and after reading your post svpilot, I consider myself rather lucky not to have hit the car door.
It wound me up a little at the time, but I hope that myself and svpilot's posts flag this up to other forum members to take it easy when filtering. I've seen a lot of other bikers take huge risks and filter way too quickly, and now we see what can happen when you do this.
Ride safe and ride long. :D
Steve W
28-11-05, 11:22 AM
This thread is yet another example of how unreasonable bikers are: expecting passengers in cars to look before they open their doors... Are they driving? Is there such an offence as 'passengering without due care and attention? No, of course, there isn't.
Don't forget the golden rule: Every accident is someone else's fault unless it involves a biker in which case it is their fault (generally for not having eyes in the back of their head*).
* Or the equivalent i.e. realising that the van in front was going to pull out without indicating/that the BMW at the crossroads was going to jump the lights/that the Mondeo behind you wasn't going to stop on time**
** Delete as applicable
but I'm glad I was taking it easy while I was filtering otherwise I wouldn't have been as lucky!
Ah, but if you'd have been going quicker then you'd have been past before the numpty opened thier door! :twisted: :D
This thread is yet another example of how unreasonable bikers are: expecting passengers in cars to look before they open their doors... Are they driving? Is there such an offence as 'passengering without due care and attention? No, of course, there isn't.
How is this unreasonable? Whether I've driving or a passenger, I always check before opening a car door, its just common sense. Apart from anything else, you don't really want to rip the door off the car, let alone hit someone.
This thread is yet another example of how unreasonable bikers are: expecting passengers in cars to look before they open their doors... Are they driving? Is there such an offence as 'passengering without due care and attention? No, of course, there isn't.
How is this unreasonable? Whether I've driving or a passenger, I always check before opening a car door, its just common sense. Apart from anything else, you don't really want to rip the door off the car, let alone hit someone.
I think Steve W was being sarcastic, although I wasn't sure either.
Ceri JC
28-11-05, 04:56 PM
The only way to avoid this type of crash is not to filter between stationary traffic. Because you can kid youself as much as you like, if someone decides to swing a door open immediately in front of you, there is little you can do to avoid it.
Agreed. If someone does it 40ft away and you're going an appropriate speed, you may well be able to move out of the way, stop in time, nip into a gap, etc. If someone does it inches from the front of your bike, you could hit it at <5mph.
All you can ever do is ensure that you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear. If someone else moves into that area, it's something outside your control (although of course you should still do your damndest to avoid an accident).
Steve W
28-11-05, 05:04 PM
Whoops! Sorry if you took me seriously :wink: As I tried to indicate with my golden rule there seems to be a belief generally that if a biker is inolved in an accident then it must be their fault and even one or two who post on here (presumably from bikers?? You know who you are!) where it would seem that in each and every accident involving a biker(s)he is to blame.
As someone who used to ride pillion with me and be a passenger with me driving a car... 'Gosh (or words to that effect) you're a much better bike rider than you are car driver.' Sure, there are barmy bikers but most of us have a healthy sense of self preservation which IMHO makes the average standard of biker considerably better than the average standard of car driver.
14 years ago my driving instructor told me never to get out of a car on a dual carriageway or motorway unless pulled over in a parking layby or hardshoulder (in the event of a breakdown). He never said why, I never asked. It just seemed sensible.
I have no idea why people find it acceptable. I've argued this one with a relative before.
It's downright stupid.
if people just used the other hand to get out of the car as is tought by the instructors then they would be forced to look around before they got out of the car.
raymond smith
28-11-05, 06:30 PM
the driver of the vehicle is responsible for the actions of his passengers.
this is fact cos my mate is a solicitor who only handles cycle and m/cycle claims and has successfully claimed against several whose passengers have opened doors on both
Whoops! Sorry if you took me seriously :wink: As I tried to indicate with my golden rule there seems to be a belief generally that if a biker is inolved in an accident then it must be their fault and even one or two who post on here (presumably from bikers?? You know who you are!) where it would seem that in each and every accident involving a biker(s)he is to blame.
LOL :lol:
I wasn't sure but considering some of the posts on this forum I thought you were serious! :oops: :oops: Thank god you aren't!
Steve W
28-11-05, 09:39 PM
[
I wasn't sure but considering some of the posts on this forum I thought you were serious! :oops: :oops: Thank god you aren't!
Yes - some of my colleagues at work aren't always sure when I'm serious and as for my teenage children well... :)
seedy100
28-11-05, 10:57 PM
Jase;
Have you considered how you might have inconvenienced that poor woman!
Please keep in mind the simple fact that she wanted to get out of the car, you obviously failed to take that possibility into account when you got out of bed this morning.
Naughty! :twisted:
At least you didn't come to any grief in this instance.
This topic has obviously been discussed at length in a previous thread. I think we all have to accept that filtering does put you at a higher risk regardless of what speed you are doing and whether if it's legal or illegal. The simple truth is a car driver may do something stupid (like open a car door without looking) or simply move lanes without noticing there is a motorcycle behind. Lets be honest, motorcycles can be hard to spot at times if they are riding in the drivers blind spot.
What worries me the most though is the attitude that motorcycles MUST filter otherwise whats the point in having a motorcycle. I've read some recent threads in NZ about this, asking why motorcycles sit in traffic rather than filter, implying they aren't proper bikers and can't ride propoperly.
This attitude angers me a little as there are a lot of newbie bikers out there thinking they MUST filter regardless of whether they are happy or confident enough to do it.
Ceri JC
29-11-05, 03:16 PM
This attitude angers me a little as there are a lot of newbie bikers out there thinking they MUST filter regardless of whether they are happy or confident enough to do it.
If you're not confident, or conditions are appaling (ice, rubbish visibility due to fog, etc), then sure, it's not safe to filter.
However, on the UK's congested motorways and fairly strictly enforced speed limits, if you don't filter, you won't save much time over doing the same journey by car. I regularly commute about 80 miles each way, 60 of which are on the motorway. In the car, it takes about 30 minutes longer, because you have to sit in traffic jams. If I had to sit in jams on the bike, I'd definately only be a fair weather rider and would probably only ride for pleasure.
Aside from acceleration (and how often do we get to use that to its full potential, aside from the odd traffic light grand prix), filtering is one of the biggest advantages of a bike over a car in purely practical terms. If you don't/can't filter, a big reason why a lot of people use bikes for commuting (myself included) goes out the window.
Halonic
29-11-05, 03:47 PM
I have a perfect solution to this, the oldest of the eternal arguments.
We all require large shotguns.
Justice will be swift, proportional and appropriate
And no longer will there be any doubt of blame, the dead tell no tales after all
Aside from acceleration (and how often do we get to use that to its full potential, aside from the odd traffic light grand prix), filtering is one of the biggest advantages of a bike over a car in purely practical terms. If you don't/can't filter, a big reason why a lot of people use bikes for commuting (myself included) goes out the window.
I agree with what you are saying but I've seen far too many (non-confident) riders filtering when perhaps they shouldn't be due to their skill level.
Aside from acceleration (and how often do we get to use that to its full potential, aside from the odd traffic light grand prix), filtering is one of the biggest advantages of a bike over a car in purely practical terms. If you don't/can't filter, a big reason why a lot of people use bikes for commuting (myself included) goes out the window.
I agree with what you are saying but I've seen far too many (non-confident) riders filtering when perhaps they shouldn't be due to their skill level.
Difficult to build the skill level without actually doing any filtering. Gotta start somewhere.
Aside from acceleration (and how often do we get to use that to its full potential, aside from the odd traffic light grand prix), filtering is one of the biggest advantages of a bike over a car in purely practical terms. If you don't/can't filter, a big reason why a lot of people use bikes for commuting (myself included) goes out the window.
I agree with what you are saying but I've seen far too many (non-confident) riders filtering when perhaps they shouldn't be due to their skill level.
Difficult to build the skill level without actually doing any filtering. Gotta start somewhere.
Aye. :D
Think this just needs to go out as a warning to filtering novices to be careful.
So long as you take it steady, you'll have near misses as everyone does, but you should stay rubber side down if you take it steady.
Plus, every once in a while I think a close call does you good as a warning that you are in fact no indestructable and perhaps trying to do a half hour journey in 20 mins at rush hour isnt' the best idea. :lol:
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