looking out for motorbikes

[moanthebairns]

I always try to but yesterday failed with this.

I was going through a 30 mph lots of small roundabouts. I see a cyclist and traffic ahead. Wait till its safe to over take, do so. But because traffic is moving so slowly the cyclist catches up. I keep checking inside mirror for him before taking off.
Everything was going great approached a car that was in the middle of the road wanting to turn right, to keep flow of traffic going I went to overtake him on the inside checked the passengers mirror, cyclist read the situation well, knew id be thinking of moving in good observation by both I thought! No drama.

However I came to a roundabout with traffic lights just of the first exit. Proceeded through the roundabout as all was clear and slowed as the lights had turned to red. The car is creeping at this stage, I thought ill pull to the right a tad to let the cyclist pull next to me at the lights save room. Checked the right side mirror nothing then the rear nothing moved out slightly very slowly just a foot maybe.

All of a sudden a motor bike flew past me. I never seen this bike atall till it was level with me. There was never any danger of me clipping him as there was ample room but what should I do in future in this situation, as next time it could result in a crash.

p.s.
After it I thought I should have checked my blind spot but at the time I never bothered to cause I was only moving at most a foot.

[randlemarcus]

From the bikes perspective, the most important thing is to be predictable. Sudden moves without indication are vexing, as they draw attention from where you are going to where you are now, and cause sudden re-assessments of the situation. You had possibly telegraphed your move, with wheel movements, or glances in the mirror, so the bike may or may not have been prepared. If he was looking at the whole situation, he'd have seen the bicycle moving up the inside and anticipated you doing a bit of a shuffle to be polite.

On the whole, keep checking those mirrors, but dont get paranoid about it, as a bike (powered or no) can very quickly get to you in traffic.

[leon_t]

I'm not against motorcyclists (my brother has riden 5 years) and I'm quite happy for motorcyclists and normal cyclists to 'filter' where it is safe and reasonable to do so, but the responsibility is with a rider to ensure that he does not put himself in harms way. You cannot constantly watch your mirrors, so it sounds to me that your actions were perfectly acceptable.

I used to cycle to work through a city centre and would often move through traffic that was stopped or at slow speed, but I realised that as I was vulnerable, I had to take the initiative in making myself visible, and also ensure I was ready and able to react if a driver did not see me and moved.

If its possible to use your indicators without giving a misleading signal, it may be worth it at times because it will help other road users, but for minor movements there appears to be little more you could do.

Keep aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine!

[Fidgits]

try driving in Italy... you will be fully aware of scooters and bikes at all times....

[randlemarcus]

Fidgits said:

try driving in Italy... you will be fully aware of scooters and bikes at all times....

They do seem to be able to get a good slipstream from your wingmirrors, dont they?

[Smiler.]

Two words:

Life Saver

A quick look over your shoulder the way you want to move. Saved me countless times walking, cycling, motorcycling, car.

[CraigW]

i was just talking to someone about this, earlier this week i was riding along embankment when with no warning, signal or even a look, a lovely frenchman did a u turn right in front of me. I had to excuse him though because he was on the phone at the time. he now has a nice dent in the door of his stty peugeot to remind him of our lovely albeit brief meeting.

[crisisjez]

The only real way to `Think Bike` is to have riden one for a while.
Craig, glad you`re ok. Would have hated to think I`ve wasted all that money on the new engine and bigger blower for the next vmax

[CraigW]

hahaha, loving the concern jez

[saxmund]

Craig, was he on your side of the road or the opposite? (ie were you following him or did he cut across your path from the other lane?)

[CraigW]

I was filtering at (luckily) about 8-10mph, he was stationary in non moving traffic on my left.

[vonhosen]

Shoulder checks aren't just for bikers.

[moanthebairns]

vonhosen said:

Shoulder checks aren't just for bikers.

realise this but no car could have fitted in this space. I think the fact he came straight of a roundabout could be why i never seen him.
Had I clipped his maroon zx-7 whose fault would it have been? guessing mines!!

[BOF]

vonhosen said:

Shoulder checks aren't just for bikers.

Von,

My 'wummin' this morning did the 'Bob and Tom' at every stop...boy on bike and tit on motorbike...

AND - a life saver at every joining and most of the resulting slip roads...progress after seven drives?

BOF

[henrycrun]

When approaching RAs and junctions, I always try and scan the entire length of tarmac visible.
Its too easy just to look in the direction that you 'expect' hazards will approach from (which means one day you might pull into someones path)

[moanthebairns]

henrycrun said:

When approaching RAs and junctions, I always try and scan the entire length of tarmac visible.
Its too easy just to look in the direction that you 'expect' hazards will approach from (which means one day you might pull into someones path)

I always try that but with this roundabout in question it looks like doobies garden centre in the middle of it

[SVS]

moanthebairns said:

Had I clipped his maroon zx-7 whose fault would it have been? guessing mines!!

Last year's new Highway Code changed to reflect this very situation: see rules 159 and 160, along with a picture of your situation on page 53!

159: Before moving off you should:
- use all mirrors to check the road is clear
- look round to check the blindspots

160: Once moving you should:
- be aware of other road users, especially cyclists and motorcyclist who may be filtering throught the traffic. These are more difficult to see than larger vehicles.

Cheers

Edited by SVS on Thursday 10th July 19:40

[garethj]

leon_t said:

You cannot constantly watch your mirrors

That's right, even if you check them really often, there's a chance you'll miss something

leon_t said:

I had to take the initiative in making myself visible

I wouldn't get too worried about making yourself visible, much better to assume you haven't been seen and ride accordingly IMHO

leon_t said:

also ensure I was ready and able to react if a driver did not see me and moved.

Keep aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine!

Agree with all that

[kazste]

first of al let me say most bikers are fine and (fairly) sensible, if i see you i'll do my best to let you make progress. however there is far too much emphasis on the fact that the car driver should know to look out for bikers doing unsafe things and not enough emphasis on bikers not doing unsafe things.
i have had two instances where in eyes of law i have been at fault or would of been if there had been an accident.
first one i was turning right accross oncoming traffic on rural road with no room to move over saw a gap went for it next thing i hear screech of breaks as a motorcyclist had decided to overtake me on the right even though i was stationary and had indicator on (i checked soon after it was working)
second one not completely innocent as should of checked but coming up to a roundabout biker had been behind me for about a mile plenty of places to overtake if he wanted too as on dual carriageway with couple of roundabouts before, so straightlined the roundabout and got abuse as had cut up the biker.
i do admit i should of checked for the biker but why on earth after sitting behind me for so long on a straight and round other roundabouts would anyone expect him to overtake there?

[Big Fat F'r]

kazste said:

...coming up to a roundabout biker had been behind me for about a mile plenty of places to overtake if he wanted too as on dual carriageway with couple of roundabouts before, so straightlined the roundabout and got abuse as had cut up the biker.
i do admit i should of checked for the biker but why on earth after sitting behind me for so long on a straight and round other roundabouts would anyone expect him to overtake there?

The fact that you cant know for certain what anyone WILL do, is why you should always consider what they MIGHT do (upper case to emphasise, not to shout!). Thats why your driving plan includes what can reasonably be expected to happen.

It also shows why any discussion or training with straightlining is about 10% technique and car control, and about 90% the effect it may have on other drivers.

I bet you do it different next time.

BFF