Mad cagers

[Balky001]

I'm surprised just how good car drivers are on the whole (probably don't appreciate it as much as I did when I first passed my test). OK, they may stick in the outside lane, but most IME signal or pull extreme right letting you know you can undertake. As long as you aren't so righteous about every technical error a car makes I think you can generally filter safely, if you are then you spend most journies shouting frustrated or cursing. Who cares how you get passed as long as you do and do it safely, your never going to educate 20 million people about your views.

Where you get some idiot oblivious so other road users, you need to regnise this by their driving and hang back a few seconds, opportunities for a safe overtake will arise. As for arrogant little Hitler's who try and stop you overtaking, don't rise to it, if you can't find an oportunity to do them safely then don't. Safely doesn't (neccessarily) mean legally though! I can't remember being delayed for more than 30 seconds by any single driver apart from when going through single carriage roadworks or when the driver is sitting in a police car

Originally Posted by Steve W

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed it seems worse with drivers of certain makes of car with BMW drivers the worse? Slightly ironic cos the car I drive is a BMW although old and beaten up and generally the newer and smarter the BMW the worse it is.

There's something in that, I think. I speak as part-owner of a ten year old Audi A4, a wonderful machine.

There are several factors at play, I think. There's some interesting sociology on cars and driving, and it may well be that because they have paid a lot of money for their car (or their company has shown them how important it thinks they are by giving it to them), they see themselves and their journey as more important than everyone else's. This applies to all individual transport but the effect may be exagerrated by a new Bmer or Merc (or Audi indeed). This view of themselves is expressed in less considerate behaviour to all other road users, old Audis, bikes etc etc.

I think this knowledge is useful to us as bikers. Being selective about which vehicles we seek consideration from may keep us safer. My observations are that women over 30 seem generally a little less likely to react in a hostile way to me as a biker, and that men of any age in higher status saloons are more of a risk. High performance cars like TVRs and Porsches are either extremely competitive or embarassingly helpful at making space etc. Maybe a lot of sports car drivers are ex or occasional bikers?

Originally Posted by OldBoy

And I thought this was a UK only thing with German car drivers

Thought I had better mention that I did'nt mean German car drivers
And that not all drivers of German cars are bad.
It's just the odd one that always seems to be driving one.

[Balky001]

Originally Posted by OldBoy

Thought I had better mention that I did'nt mean German car drivers
And that not all drivers of German cars are bad.
It's just the odd one that always seems to be driving one.

Really? I find Rover drivers (especially old shape 214's) are prone to white lining and incorrect lane positioning - to be fair most are over 65

Unfortunately most of my time on the bike is a 45 mile commute from Hoofddorp to Rotterdam, then another 45 in the evening. As you say many people do get out of the way - but the ones that don't can make me see red I have to admit.

I know you can't always say thankyou (and I don't if I'm a bit busy at the time), but you rarely get a thankyou in Holland. Maybe it's a culture difference (I'm a Brit abroad).

I get a few people having a go at the bike in a high powered car (although not the SV yet, more the GPZ I had before) and all I do is laugh... The Porche 911 that had a go on three consecutive traffic lights found out that 600euros can beat 100000+euros, hehe. Not that I do that kind of thing often. Not at all.

Stu

found out that 600euros can beat 100000+euros, hehe

One of the best things about biking.