Filtering (Long)

I got this from one of the French motorcycles lists that I'm on. I
found it a very handy document. It's in French here (click the link
under 'Téléchargement(s):') -> (http://tinyurl.com/49nev)

I thought I'd translate it (to the best of my abilities, so there may
be a couple of grammatical errors and slight changes to translations)

NOTE: This applies to riding in Belgium on the RHS of the road. But the
rules can easily apply to those in the UK by swapping over viewpoints.
It's also handy for those that pop over to Europe...

Forward
-------

These last two years, the number of scooter riders and motorcyclists
has increased on the road. They consist of a group more and more
noticeable on the roads where people are not so used to this. In
effect, statistics show that in 70% of cases of accidents between
motorcyclists and car drivers, car drivers say that they didn't see the
motorcyclist or they saw the motorcyclist to late.

With a minimum of goodwill and empathy, everybody can take use the road
in complete safety. Dangerous situations sometimes happen because one
road user has badly evaluated others.

Using the recommendations in this leaflet, motorcyclists and car
drivers can learn more about each other. A better reciprocal
understanding and shared responsibility will make the roads much safer
for everybody.

A good number of accidents involving motorcyclists happen at crossing
points. A classical accident situation is where a car driver wants to
turn left and doesn't correctly judge the speed of the motorcyclist who
is coming from the opposite direction to him and cuts him up.


Recommendations to motorcyclists
********************************

Ride defensively and try to anticipate the actions of other road users.
Motorcyclists that apply these rules will be able to reduce the risk of
having an accident.

Filtering
---------

- When cars are at a standstill or are moving slowly in their lanes,
the rules of overtaking are not applicable. Motorcyclists can in this
case filter between the lanes, preferably in the space between the
far-left lane and the lane to its immediate right. Of course, safety is
the utmost concern. Make friendly gestures (hands or feet) to drivers
that that leave you enough space to filter.

- Adjust your speed whilst you filter moving traffic. Pay attention to
your speed and that of the traffic around you. Move back into a lane
when traffic starts to move normally again (around 50 kilometres an
hour). The saving in time is related to the fact that you can continue
ride and not so much related to the speed at which you ride (i.e.
you're less impacted by traffic jams). Use your indicators to indicate
when you move back into a lane.

- Don't forget the when there is a space in a lane; car drivers have a
tendency to change lanes suddenly. A good number of car drivers forget
to look in their mirrors and don't expect bikers to be filtering. The
main danger comes from those drivers who move from the left lane to the
right. This is one more reason to get into a lane as soon as traffic
starts to flow normally. Attention: As you undertake a move to go back
into a lane, you'll need to give way.

- Pay attention, especially during hot weather, to car doors that open,
in stationery lines of traffic.

- Be careful whilst riding with other bikers. Ride calmly, one behind
another, through the lanes of traffic.

Coming up to traffic
--------------------

- When you approach a lane of traffic, use your mirrors to see if cars
are coming up behind you. Slow progressively and try to gain the
attention of the vehicles that are following you by signalling your
presence using your hazard lights or brake lights.

- When you rejoin a lane, try to take your place between cars in the
lane of traffic. A car can take more of a possible ding than your bike,
in the event of an accident.

Where should you never ride?
----------------------------

- Never use the hard shoulder, and lanes closed for roadworks, striped
zones or the tarmac situated between the central reservation and the
white line denoting the left border of the motorway. Such an attitude
is antisocial and dangerous. Also in these areas, all sorts of debris
can cause punctures or falls.

Always anticipate
-----------------

- Take into account the blind-spot in the mirrors of cars and
especially lorries. Try not to ride too much in the same place, to the
side or behind another vehicle. By doing this, you'll stay more visible
to other road users. The correct place for a bike is two-thirds from
the white line. You also have a better view of the traffic and other
road users will also see you better. It is recommended that bikers in a
group ride staggered.

Recommendations to car drivers
******************************

- Taking into account the presence of motorcyclists in traffic, car
drivers can contribute actively in avoiding accidents. Here are some
recommendations.


Leave enough space
------------------

- When you're in your lane and you see in your mirror, a motorcyclist
that wants to overtake you, you can make his manoeuvre safer by giving
him more space. In general, driving in the middle of your lane is
sufficient but sometimes it is useful to move a little in your lane.
Also the motorcyclist will know that you have seen him.

- Leave enough space for motorcyclists: By letting them filter, this
means that your lane is shorter. Quite often they will give you a
friendly signal by hand or by foot after you have given them space. The
foot sign is sometimes seen as being aggressive. Motorcyclists need to
keep their right hand on the handlebars because this is the one that
they use for acceleration and for braking and so this is why
motorcyclists use their feet to thank car drivers in the right hand
lane without causing any danger. Don't drive too close to
motorcyclists, neither behind nor to the side.

Be careful when changing lanes
------------------------------

- When you need to change lanes, indicate well in advance of the
manoeuvre with the aid of your indicators and verify that you're not
going to be overtaken by a motorcyclist. Remember your blind spot.
Don't rely solely on your mirrors but always cast a glance over your
shoulder before undertaking a manoeuvre.

Do not open doors
-----------------

- During hot weather, a car stuck in a traffic jam can rapidly become
an oven. To let fresh air circulate, open windows and not your doors.
Make sure that all passengers don't open their doors too.

The Motorcyclists place
-----------------------

Motorcyclists normally position themselves two thirds from the white
line because the Highway Code lets them. They also have a better view
of the traffic and are seen better by car drivers. It should also be
noted that motorcyclists will change their position in their lane, due
to varying road surface conditions so dangers can be avoided. By the
same token to take a corner safely, the motorcyclist may need to change
his position in the lane.

Motorcyclists in a group are sometimes escorted by group captains. It
is forbidden so break up these groups. They are also allowed to use all
the lanes available to them.

Constant attention
------------------

Attention, studies have shown that experienced drivers tend not to
notice motorcyclists. Never take your driving experience as an
automatic sign of confidence. An average driver gives very little of
his attention to his driving. Try to do better.

A motorbike is not a car. Take this into account.
-------------------------------------------------

Due to their small silhouettes, motorcyclists are less noticeable and
can suddenly appear next to you. The great manoeuvrability of
motorbikes guarantees easy passage where cars need to stay in lane. Due
to their quick acceleration and light weights, motorbikes start much
more quickly (this doesn't automatically mean that motorcyclists will
break the speed limit). Take this into account that when you try to
guess the speed of a motorbike and its distance. Don't forget, that it
is more dangerous for motorcyclists to avoid accidents when stopping
suddenly, or to take avoiding measures.

 

Very good read. Thanks. I hope you don't mind if I forward this
on to some other people e.g. www.ukgser.com - people who consistently
demonstrate that you can filter even with a fat arsed boxer engined
BMW.

Mikey

 

But what if the alcohol from the night before has worn off?

Does this apply in the uk? i mean, do you have to treat a swarm of bikes
as a single entity?

 

Mikey bored us all completely to death with wittery prose along the
lines of:

I was wondering about a x-post to uk.rec.transport.

 

They did when I went out on the Mhoddy Dhoo rideout.

--
Gavsta.
GSXR600K1
Z750 Race Bike
R6 Race bike (shared)

e: gwilby [at] stoof [dot] co [dot] uk
msn: gavsta2k [at] hotmail [dot] com
Web: http://www.stoof.co.uk

Currently Playing - "Eminen - Encore"

2794 tracks, 7.8 days, 11.23 GB.
20 gig 3rd Gen iPod.

 

Yes yes yes. It would be interesting to see what other road
users think of filtering bikers.

Mikey

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Mikey

Who cares what they think. Just get on with it.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

I can't, as none of my upstream servers have uk.rec.cars or
uk.rec.transport.

Anyone else care to oblige?

 

Dr Ivan D. Reid bored us all completely to death with wittery prose
along the lines of:

Hmm, tried that and it didn't work. Maybe I boo-boed. I'll try again. Hang on, is it uk.transport or uk.rec.transport?

 

Cab bored us all completely to death with wittery prose along the lines
of:

Let's try the right NG. Sorry UKRM