As a biker and a cyclist, I am of the view that bikers should not split lanes and not ride to the front of the line at intersections. It is not only potentially dangerous to all involved, but extremely annoying. Same as with some cyclists who drive three abreast and expect other road users to patiently wait until they decide to merge into a single file.
How many times have I not, as a car driver, had a biker barely scrape by my car in order to jump the line. How many times have I not almost collided with a biker whilst the latter does lane splitting in order to gain an advantage whilst the rest of us must follow the rules. Not only do I get a death stare from some bikers if I dare not move my car immediately when his lordship splits lanes, but some take a swipe at your mirrors.
Apart from having to constantly check for taxis passing on either side at any illegal opportunity, and apart from having to check your windows at intersections for hawkers, and adding to that cyclists who swoop by, now one gets attitude from bikers. What sets us apart from other road users? Why should we be allowed to jump the line? Must other road users now be like chameleons and have eyes that pivot 360 degrees every single second?
All of the above is dangerous and annoying, and I believe that most of us on this group who probably prefer gravel in any event, should lead by example on those occasions when we use tar. Even if lane splitting is legal, please try not to be an idiot in doing so.
On a side note, [tongue in cheek] whilst complaining, I want to ask my fellow BMW GSA riders to either use the bikes as they are intended to, or buy a road bike: put on knobblies, take on the Karoo and other gravel roads and remove your slicks. It is embarrassing to see the amount of Beemers on tar, with all the gear [except proper knobblies] but no idea. I am always taking abuse from fellow adventure riders who points this out. Its getting to the point where I am considering a T7 or Africa Twin.
How many times have I not, as a car driver, had a biker barely scrape by my car in order to jump the line. How many times have I not almost collided with a biker whilst the latter does lane splitting in order to gain an advantage whilst the rest of us must follow the rules. Not only do I get a death stare from some bikers if I dare not move my car immediately when his lordship splits lanes, but some take a swipe at your mirrors.
Apart from having to constantly check for taxis passing on either side at any illegal opportunity, and apart from having to check your windows at intersections for hawkers, and adding to that cyclists who swoop by, now one gets attitude from bikers. What sets us apart from other road users? Why should we be allowed to jump the line? Must other road users now be like chameleons and have eyes that pivot 360 degrees every single second?
All of the above is dangerous and annoying, and I believe that most of us on this group who probably prefer gravel in any event, should lead by example on those occasions when we use tar. Even if lane splitting is legal, please try not to be an idiot in doing so.
On a side note, [tongue in cheek] whilst complaining, I want to ask my fellow BMW GSA riders to either use the bikes as they are intended to, or buy a road bike: put on knobblies, take on the Karoo and other gravel roads and remove your slicks. It is embarrassing to see the amount of Beemers on tar, with all the gear [except proper knobblies] but no idea. I am always taking abuse from fellow adventure riders who points this out. Its getting to the point where I am considering a T7 or Africa Twin.
