I have been cut off 3 times, road hours 5!

[Acadian1974]

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Recently got into riding, even recentlier got on the road. I got cut off on the highway but a dumb kid in his spray painted neon while he was looking at me and coming towards me.
Got cut off by a lady who was waiting to cut into another lane while blocking the traffic and as I rode around she changed her mind last minute.
Then a car driver just changed the lane, squeezed me next to the curb and didn't slow down I had to come to a stop to let him pass me.

I can't believe these drivers - I only started riding on the road since last week thursday. Then to hear that the rider who passed away in brampton last week died because a car cut him off.


As much as I love them , they scare me every time.

Be Safe Fellow GTAM.

Since you're new you should not be looking for proper riding tips on this forum, go to the source:

http://www.ridersplus.com/articles/...ng_Tips_from_the_Rider_Training_Institute.php

Topical excerpts:

1. What can you see?
When considering managing yourself in traffic always try to be mindful of the fact that you are your first line of defence. This means doing your best to choose a lane position that maximizes your line of sight. In other words, you should always try to “be” where you can “see” the most of what's happening around you. This will most likely end up being the correct blocking position for your lane, but can change depending on traffic, the size of vehicles around you or natural obstacles.

2. Everyone's got a blind spot
As motorcyclists we never perform blind lane changes… right? Unfortunately we can't say the same about every driver. The reasons for our own diligence should clue us in to why we should never spend too much time in their blind spots. It's all too easy to be caught off guard, especially cruising for long stretches on the highway, realizing too late that we've spent the entire time smack dab in that pick up trucks big-ole blind spot. Do what you can to avoid this scenario, even if it means changing lanes or backing off.

 

[Julz]

I'll be on the side of proper blocking position. I rarely get cut off, can't even remember the last time someone cut me off. If you find that you're getting cut off too many times...well maybe it's the way you ride? I position myself that when I'm beside or behind a car that I can see their face on the side mirror. If you can't see them in the side mirror then they can't see you either.

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

Best thing to do is go grab a coffee and relax, take a deep breath, then carry on.

^This, wise words....if you happen to get "cut off" several times in one ride, you will be tense, especially as a new rider. it makes a lot of sense to calm down, pull over for a time and take a breath, then continue. Or else, take a different route, perhaps the route you're on is more heavily trafficked (if that's even a word). I am also a new rider and I have mapped several roads from work to my home so if one is not ideal I change my route.

Again, as stated before, merging cars vs cars cutting you off. Scanning your surroundings is so important. You must always know where others are around you and what they are doing, stay away from others blind spots and keep an open space all around you if possible. I alternate between the left and right tire track depending on the condition I see.

Just stay relaxed and keep riding, the only way to get better at it.

 

[JFD]

I think this is the point in the cycling community that people need to stop the arguement of proper safe riding and it's merits vs other ways of riding.

EVERY opinion on the matter has been posted on the internet more times than grumpy cat.


Seriously, there's advising and trying to prove which ones is better.

Get off the superiority angle. One method will work for you. Figure it out.

 

[Kri$han]

1) Use proper blocking position
2) Stay out of people's blind spots
3) Don't take it personally
4) Since you are -generally- more agile than them, you can always return the favour (use discretion of course, don't cut off a car when braking is involved)

As you become accustomed to this behaviour, you can tell when someone is about to cut you off WELL before they actually do it.

I love riding.

 

[mahnoy]

Surprisingly I haven't been cut off this year (knock on wood). In fact I find cagers to be quite courteous towards me lately and they let me squeeze ahead of them. But yes in the past few years I've had a couple close calls. Once was with a truck but I was in his blind spot. Other times are women drivers who just don't give a f.

 

[koma]

It's your responsibility to anticipate the stupid things people do.

Now, you can't foresee everything, but since you've only been riding with traffic for a week, your riding strategies might need refinement. I haven't been on the road long either, for what it's worth.

 

[absolute]

Do you guys not ride/drive in Toronto? I get cut off probably 5x each way on my way to/from work. It's completely normal in the GTA. If a car can fit between some other cars (even barely) some driver will make it happen.

some places may call it getting cut-off, but here in the t.dot, thats switching lanes unfortunately lol.

@OP leave ample room, always leave yourself an escape route , by being aware of surrounding traffic conditions. Dont take close lane changes personally, espeically if it's from a taxi, cuz we all know they dont give 2 sheets about anyone, except if you puke in their cab haha.

 

[Acadian1974]

I think this is the point in the cycling community that people need to stop the arguement of proper safe riding and it's merits vs other ways of riding.

EVERY opinion on the matter has been posted on the internet more times than grumpy cat.


Seriously, there's advising and trying to prove which ones is better.

Get off the superiority angle. One method will work for you. Figure it out.

 

[NealT]

As everyone has mentioned blocking position is not exact I move around based on the mirror positions of cars near to me. If I can see their face in their mirrors then they can see me, sometimes I wiggle the bike to get my headlights to reflect off of their mirrors as a bit of a heads up. As said previously do not ride in a car's blind spot. Keep your 2 second gap to the vehicle in front (2 secs is not 1 - 1.5 car lengths at any reasonable street speed and no a bike's braking distance is not shorter than a car).

Keep your eyes open for vehicles in front that pass you then tailgate the car in front of them way too close as they may be about to switch lanes (with or without signalling), also fingers on signal stalks and/multiple mirror checks is also an indicator of a possible move of some kind so back off. Always be ready to use your horn if necessary, and do not panic.

A bike is quite narrow and you can give yourself time by realizing that a car can intrude into half your lane and you still have room, that time from their lane into yours is the time you have to get something done. A miss is a miss even if it's by an inch. As I said always keep 2 secs gap as it gives a good amount of time to assess and make a reasonable choice of your options.

 

[dmeech]

Dont forget; "Loud pipes save lives". So get out a Sawzall and lop off your muffler.

But really, riding right of centre can tempt people to squeeze past like you're a bicycle.

 

[Emefef]

I think this is the point in the cycling community that people need to stop the arguement of proper safe riding and it's merits vs other ways of riding.
EVERY opinion on the matter has been posted on the internet more times than grumpy cat.
Seriously, there's advising and trying to prove which ones is better.
Get off the superiority angle. One method will work for you. Figure it out.

Most of that makes sense - except the end. If someone reaches out to the community for feedback, they need to hear the differing advice and the rationale behind them. Conversation, ridicule and hilarity ensue as we learn how some people make their choices. That resulting disagreement or discussion is what helps put things into context.
This was a new rider experiencing conflicts with traffic while trying to learn what works. I don't think telling them to "figure it out" is any more helpful.

 

[Paul1000RR]

As everyone has mentioned blocking position is not exact I move around based on the mirror positions of cars near to me. If I can see their face in their mirrors then they can see me, sometimes I wiggle the bike to get my headlights to reflect off of their mirrors as a bit of a heads up. As said previously do not ride in a car's blind spot. Keep your 2 second gap to the vehicle in front (2 secs is not 1 - 1.5 car lengths at any reasonable street speed and no a bike's braking distance is not shorter than a car).

Keep your eyes open for vehicles in front that pass you then tailgate the car in front of them way too close as they may be about to switch lanes (with or without signalling), also fingers on signal stalks and/multiple mirror checks is also an indicator of a possible move of some kind so back off. Always be ready to use your horn if necessary, and do not panic.

A bike is quite narrow and you can give yourself time by realizing that a car can intrude into half your lane and you still have room, that time from their lane into yours is the time you have to get something done. A miss is a miss even if it's by an inch. As I said always keep 2 secs gap as it gives a good amount of time to assess and make a reasonable choice of your options.

You're assuming that people actually use their mirrors...

Here's the average driver's steps to a lane change in the gta:

1. Decide to change lane
2. Start changing lane
3. Look beside to see whats in that lane
4. 50% of the time if something is beside swerve back, almost over correcting and crashing, the other 50% continue the lane change anyways, the other guy will move
*Signals are optional and rare, most drivers dont use them since it gives away your intended move and if you do turn it on the champ behind you will speed up and not let you in. This is the rule :lmao:

And guess what my blocking lane advocates, when the car realizes you're beside them they would have already hit you or come close to it...

 

[RockerGuy]

Recently got into riding, even recentlier got on the road. I got cut off on the highway but a dumb kid in his spray painted neon while he was looking at me and coming towards me.
Got cut off by a lady who was waiting to cut into another lane while blocking the traffic and as I rode around she changed her mind last minute.
Then a car driver just changed the lane, squeezed me next to the curb and didn't slow down I had to come to a stop to let him pass me.

I can't believe these drivers - I only started riding on the road since last week thursday. Then to hear that the rider who passed away in brampton last week died because a car cut him off.


As much as I love them , they scare me every time.

Be Safe Fellow GTAM.

For someone who has been riding for 9yrs you hear deaths all the time. It just makes you respect the machine even more. As they say ride defensively & have your head on your shoulders. Just because somebody is doing it, dont feel pressured to do it.

Almost every year riders fall of the gardiner. But there are many out there who cannot control the power of the bike.

The positive aspect is, you hear people who ride for 30yrs. That's alot of fun to be had

Sent from my tablet using my paws

 

[Emefef]

And guess what my blocking lane advocates, when the car realizes you're beside them they would have already hit you or come close to it...

...If you're in their blind spot, in which case you are NOT in the blocking position, you're just in a lane position. To be an effective blocking position, you have to be visible. That's why the blocking position is dynamic - not simply planting yourself in a lane position. That's why I think, with all the different approaches, many of us are saying the same thing - put yourself where you're obvious to others. There are general guidelines, but you have to understand your goal to understand why the guidelines are even there.

 

[Acadian1974]

And guess what my blocking lane advocates, when the car realizes you're beside them they would have already hit you or come close to it...

 

[NealT]

You're assuming that people actually use their mirrors...

Here's the average driver's steps to a lane change in the gta:

1. Decide to change lane
2. Start changing lane
3. Look beside to see whats in that lane
4. 50% of the time if something is beside swerve back, almost over correcting and crashing, the other 50% continue the lane change anyways, the other guy will move
*Signals are optional and rare, most drivers dont use them since it gives away your intended move and if you do turn it on the champ behind you will speed up and not let you in. This is the rule :lmao:

And guess what my blocking lane advocates, when the car realizes you're beside them they would have already hit you or come close to it...

I live in Brampton, the home of "I don't need mirrors i'm special", I mention the mirrors tactic as many drivers do use their mirrors but if they can't see you because they have no real clue how to position side view mirrors then I will do what I can to at least present myself to them in their mirrors. It has worked many times for me as I have made drivers halt a lane change because they have seen me (often my position is almost on the white lines becasue their mirrors are so badly adjusted.) After that then yeah, it's up to me to then use what other methods I can to mediate the remaining risk of them moving into me in my lane.

 

[spray____]

I've only been riding for a few months, mostly downtown, and I've had a problem with this too. I find the worst is in this scenario:

Without riding in the centre of the lane, it's hard to keep cars from passing on the left when there is even the slightest gap in oncoming traffic. It's happened to me a few times, the worst of which was at a yellow light.

Pulling up to the intersection, light changed from green to yellow. I had lots of time to stop, so I did. Apparently the guy behind me was in a rush so he passed me on the left, without leaving my lane, and crossed the intersection as the light went red and I was pulling up to the stop line.

Needless to say people that are in that much of a rush usually don't end up getting very far even when driving like a total *******. 30 seconds later the light went green, I easily caught up to him 50 metres down the road and told him how much of an ******* he was for risking my life just to get 3 car lengths ahead of where he was. He just sat in the drivers seat, looking straight ahead and mumbling to himself, too afraid to make eye contact.

Felt like beating the **** out of his car - smashing tail lights and breaking mirrors off.

 

[Two50noob]

Do you have loud pipes that will help.

 

[Paul1000RR]

Facepalm all you want, i too used to follow the "blocking position" all you guys put your faith in. However after almost being killed on several occasions i decided maybe i should ride in a way that leaves me a way out and the most space between me and the person who doesn't look to change lanes at 120km/h.
And until you've been pushed onto a shoulder at 120km/h you'll probably keep being a firm believer of the "blocking position"

People don't look in mirrors, and most of them are aligned in a fashion that you'd have to be sticking your head out their back window to be seen. :lmao:

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