Getting fed up of Motorcyclists pulling this stunt

[400bhp]

Means nothing-sorry.

 

[Buddfox]

But on the matter of motocycles and bicycles in traffic, the thing that irked and still irks me (despite my Zen-like love of all other people) is the habit of motorcycles filtering until they get to a pair of door mirrors or similar that won't let them go further.

For a cyclist, the mirrors offer a barn-door aperture, but the cyclist is stopped dead by the thwarted motorcycle.

Yes! This is really irritating. I don't begrudge the motorcyclists, of course, but you are sat there thinking, 'Please could you get out of my way'. Comes from it being quite rare that a cyclist can't make forward progress in any type of traffic I suppose.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Only one of us is directing a stream of exhaust gas in the other one's face though.

Not necessarily.

 

[PK99]

Only one of us is directing a stream of exhaust gas in the other one's face though.

That would be me after beer'n'curry the night before.

 

[Linford]

That's a good point, Adrian. High-level exhausts are slightly try-hard and a little too Troy Corser wannabe for urban commuting.

Nothing beats a pair of Lafranconi tailpipes, burbling away gently at ankle height. All this faddish high-level stuff poking out from under saddles is a little too 'look at me'.

But on the matter of motocycles and bicycles in traffic, the thing that irked and still irks me (despite my Zen-like love of all other people) is the habit of motorcycles filtering until they get to a pair of door mirrors or similar that won't let them go further.

For a cyclist, the mirrors offer a barn-door aperture, but the cyclist is stopped dead by the thwarted motorcycle.

Back in the 80s, Mile End to Russell Sqare was faster on an RLJ-ing bicycle than a speed-limit-breaking but red-light-obeying motorcycle.

On the bicycle, the biggest obstacle was motorcycles blocking my way between traffic lanes.

But back to the important issues... Adrian is right: High-level exhausts on anything but competition off-roaders are naff.

Thank you for reading.

The high level cans came from the Ducati styling fad with all of the manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon. Thankfully they have gone the other way now and are building the collector box ino the shape of the bellypans. I do recall being sat behind a Honda SP1 in the pit lane at Donington Park waiting to go out on the track, and it was nasty as it was running rich, so I do appreciate the sentement. It isn't as bad as a bus or HGV blowing fumes though, and only a real problem when directly behind and up the chuff so to speak

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Should ban cars as they do as well + plus cigarette smokers,disgusting.

I do tend to find that it isn't seriously important if im at the front of the Que or not,sometimes I prefer or not.

 

[Linford]

In normal use it makes no difference where the exhaust it, the bike polutes either way. For the purpose of this discussion it is very relevant though because it is having decided to share the ASL box that the biker most inflicts this particular unpleasantness.

The ASL's are never deep enough, and are certainy wide enough that you wouldn't have to sit directly behind a biker occupying one.

 

[Linford]

You don't commute by bike in London do you. It is far from uncommon to arrive at an ASL to find multiple motorbikes cluttering the place up, sometimes to the extent that there is no room for the cyclists for whom, let us remind ourselves, the ASL was designed in the first place.

No I don't, but I was commuting through this junction in the OP on my PTW when I worked just up the road, and feel there is nothing to be gained, and a lot at risk by jumping the queue as a cyclist - as the OP has demonstrated.

So what do you do when you come across a pedestrian crossing or are riding in a bus lane with junction lights on red with a motorbike waiting at them ?

ASL's should be accessable for 'ALL' vulnerable 2 wheelers, not ones you chose to not want to ride.

 

[Linford]

It is a completely different sort of vulnerability. ASLs are designed to give cyclists space and time in which to start from the lights. Motorcyclists do no need this in the same way. I can see that it is convenient for them but there is not the same need. A motorbike can sit in a stream of traffic perfectly well without car drivers seeing the imperative to get past.

So you want to rob them of their legal ability of filtering, but want to retain it yourself ?
Motorcycles are part of the solution for reducing congestion on the roads, and benefit people who are beyond a sensible cycle commuting distance. they are part of the solution to get people out of cars, so why are you being so obtuse about it ? -you are always banging the drum about there being too many cars in the traffic, but want to put obstacles in the way of anything which doesn't fit your world view.

You just want your cake, and eat it at the end of the day and sod everyone else....

 

[Linford]

[QUOTE 2174962, member: 45"]There are regulations related to pedal cycles. One of them is that when ridden at night pedal reflectors must be fitted. Not shoe reflectors, pedal reflectors. Linfy's technical argument might excite him but it's a waste of time.[/quote]

I was arguing a principle that 2 pedal mechanism components mechanically attached to a bicycle can be regarded as one and the same (even if one resembles a shoe)- You can detatch a reflector from a pedal with a screwdriver at the end of the day sho why differentiate. They are both at the end of the crank arms spinning on a bearing.

 

[400bhp]

[QUOTE 2174962, member: 45"]There are regulations related to pedal cycles. One of them is that when ridden at night pedal reflectors must be fitted. Not shoe reflectors, pedal reflectors. Linfy's technical argument might excite him but it's a waste of time.[/quote]

See other replies.

 

[captain nemo1701]

ASL's should be accessable for 'ALL' vulnerable 2 wheelers, not ones you chose to not want to ride.

I thought you might ride motorbikes. An ASL is designed for slower traffic such as bicycles who can't accelerate away at speed. Motorbikes can, and have often more accelerative power than cars. Therefore, Adrian is right, they don't really need to use the ASL. In fact, too mnay of them can hog it -seen this in London lots of times. By the time you account for fairing, panniers etc,a motorbike can have the footprint of a small car. Nope, they seem to use the ASL for pure convenience.

Incidentally, as for my knickers in a twist, I'll remember your comments if I'm ever blindsided by an undertaking motorbike as we go through the junction. I think the police have an opinion on undertaking. How many times have you seen this on a motorway?:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBvKZ9xfEH4

Someone else has a similar problem with motorbikes:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi0HW8_m6qo


Final word on all this is that whilst as I am using a cycle facilty quite legally, Mr motorbike is impatiently cutting people up by insisting on using the left turn lane as a short cut.

 

[Linford]

ASL's should be accessable for 'ALL' vulnerable 2 wheelers, not ones you chose to not want to ride.

I thought you might ride motorbikes. An ASL is designed for slower traffic such as bicycles who can't accelerate away at speed. Motorbikes can, and have often more accelerative power than cars. Therefore, Adrian is right, they don't really need to use the ASL. In fact, too mnay of them can hog it -seen this in London lots of times. By the time you account for fairing, panniers etc,a motorbike can have the footprint of a small car. Nope, they seem to use the ASL for pure convenience.

Incidentally, as for my knickers in a twist, I'll remember your comments if I'm ever blindsided by an undertaking motorbike as we go through the junction. I think the police have an opinion on undertaking. How many times have you seen this on a motorway?:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBvKZ9xfEH4

Someone else has a similar problem with motorbikes:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi0HW8_m6qo


Final word on all this is that whilst as I am using a cycle facilty quite legally, Mr motorbike is impatiently cutting people up by insisting on using the left turn lane as a short cut.

So my avatar is a bit of a giveaway then

You forgot to mention the bit where you forced the oncoming black car into the gutter when you overtook the red van to get into the ASL. As far as I see it, the motorbike use the correct filter lane to enter the ASL

On a bicycle, you are always going to be slow moving and vulnerable. It doesn't matter where you are in it, you will soon be overtaken.

You came on to have a rant anyway and it was entertaining. Thanks for that

 

[Linford]

[QUOTE 2175017, member: 45"]And my response is that you go ahead and try to argue that, but the regulations are clear.[/quote]

I thought they were a bit ambiguous, as the pedals are not complete and fully functional without a shoe attached. I say that like the ASL's, the law is a Donkey and needs a good spanking

 

[400bhp]

[QUOTE 2175017, member: 45"]And my response is that you go ahead and try to argue that, but the regulations are clear.[/quote]

Nope