SMIDSY advice for drivers

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MartDude · #1 Post by **MartDude** » Sat May 12, 2012 6:57 pm

A well-written & non-confrontational (IMHO) evaluation of the problem. This needs disseminating more widely

http://www.seeingbikersinlondon.com/seeing-bikers

#2 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat May 12, 2012 7:58 pm

yup!

Posted to ARS-FB

BikerGran · #3 Post by **BikerGran** » Sat May 12, 2012 9:18 pm

Very true!

There are two things that aren't mentioned on that site - motorcycles have less reflective surfaces than cars which is part of what makes them hard to see.

And the bit about drivers who are also motorcyclists - it's not just those who are also motorcyclists but those who KNOW people who ride - instead of just seeing (or not seeing) a bike, they see a person riding a bike!

blinkey501 · #4 Post by **blinkey501** » Sun May 13, 2012 4:44 pm

BikerGran wrote:Very true!

There are two things that aren't mentioned on that site - motorcycles have less reflective surfaces than cars which is part of what makes them hard to see.

And the bit about drivers who are also motorcyclists - it's not just those who are also motorcyclists but those who KNOW people who ride - instead of just seeing (or not seeing) a bike, they see a person riding a bike!

I drive a transit van for work, and with so many blind spots you have to check everywhere.
On a motorway i check over my right shoulder just to see whats there, Or what we call a life saver. If not i move out in peril.
My van is limited to 70MPH but that is slow in comparison to what i do see steaming up the outside lane.
You look and there is nothing there and five seconds later you have Mr Audi driver sat to your right
When you ride a bike it is better to treat everyone on the road like a moron, because eventually YOU will meet him

BikerGran · #5 Post by **BikerGran** » Sun May 13, 2012 11:38 pm

blinkey501 wrote:peril.
When you ride a bike it is better to treat everyone on the road like a moron, because eventually YOU will meet him

My old dad taught me that about driving (anything) more years ago than I care to remember!

Samray · #6 Post by **Samray** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:05 am

I used to imagine meeting myself coming the other way.

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:27 am

Samray wrote:I used to imagine meeting myself coming the other way.

....... by spending a long time in front of his mirror ...........

vanity, vanity, all is vanity ..................

MartDude · #8 Post by **MartDude** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:44 am

Samray wrote:I used to imagine meeting myself coming the other way.

Pervert

Samray · #9 Post by **Samray** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:56 am

fatboy · #10 Post by **fatboy** » Mon May 14, 2012 5:23 pm

Its a pity that something like this is not mailed to people with thier ' tax' reminders
When I had my first road legal bike at 17, an older bike riding guy at work said Just assume everybody wants to kill you, you wont go far wrong!

HisNibbs · #11 Post by **HisNibbs** » Mon May 14, 2012 11:02 pm

Samray wrote:I used to imagine meeting myself coming the other way.

A good starting point I think. If you tend to go a little quicker than people are expecting who can use being surprised as an excuse?

Every other road user is likely to have misjudged my arrival speed. I know that so I try to allow for it. Add to that about half are texting or talking on the phone with attention generaly else where, so why would I expect them to have seen me or to make allowances for me?

My personal pet hate is the advanced motorist idea that if the visibility allows you can cross the central white lines to take a smoother line through a series of bends. If you a take Samray's quote then think exactly how much visibility are you going to need before that's a wise move. Most people don't seem to be able to multipy by two and then add some........I know that I've had some pretty close 200mph closing speed nightmares with that one, so thanks to a bit of luck i'm still here enjoying riding my bike.

The advice to "assume everybody wants to kill you, you won't go far wrong!" is sound. I'd just remove the assume it doesn't add anything.

Willopotomas · #12 Post by **Willopotomas** » Tue May 15, 2012 6:08 pm

Sounds like a lot of us have been given the same advice from experienced riders when we were younger. One that sticks in my mind is something my dad told me; "That flashing orange light on the side just tells me that the bulb works, nothing else".. It's true too..