New 20 ounce tumblers available now! Forum donation credit with purchase. https://www.wildguzzi.com/Products/products.htm#Tumbler
The U.S situation will change slowly when urban congestion gets so bad that "other" solutions will need enactment. Putting a young American in a car with unfettered use does not help the problem. Tiered licensing and price of vehicles/insurance will also have a big influence on how Americans view motorcyclists. It will change with time.
Since line cutting has become a topic in this thread -I consider going to the front at traffic lights bad form, maybe unless the line was several lights long.But here, in ferry lines it's expected that bikes go to the front. Do you have the same practice in the US?
Yep , our generation has a hard time accepting this fact , but the age of cars is probably winding down . Dusty
I guess you'd be wrong on all counts then, Wayne.
An interesting phenomenon is that many urban millenials and post-millenials are showing very little interest in owning a car, or even having a driver's license. There is a certain amount of nervousness in the boardrooms of auto manufacturers concerning sales to the new generation of uninterested customers.
Here in France drivers will almost put themselves into a ditch to LET you pass them. If you are behind a car on a normal road or a motorway they will even make room in their own lane to let you pass - even if you don't want to, or are travelling at the same speed and haven't shown any intent / interest in passing. UK is same as US - they'd rather put you IN the ditch than let you past. These are the two extremes that I have experienced, with most countries in Europe somewhere in between.I don't know if there is some presumption of guilt if a car driver collides with a m/c over here - but they are VERY bike aware. All you do is 'kick a leg' to show your appreciation.
Sooner or later they are going to move to the burbs and need a car. http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/21/11956516/millennial-first-time-home-trends-suburbs
I found the same thing riding and driving in France a couple of years ago. The road manners on the French roads, are generally brilliant. Not only to bikes but to other road users. Keeping to the 'slow' lane, making room for merging vehicles, letting other vehicles pass. I was pleasantly surprised.Even on the congested ring road around Paris, the lanes of cars left wide gaps between to allow bikes to pass thru with relative ease.Here in Australia, most states have recently legalised "Filtering" - generally, moving between lanes (moving in the same direction)of stopped or slow-moving traffic. Max speed 30kmph (~18mph). It's working pretty well, and car drivers getting used to it will take time, as expected.Pretty sensible legislation really, and specifically to make Lane Splitting ( faster than 30 kmph) illegal...
Even bikers w/fat saddlebags can't split lanes due to their MCs width.
Eh? Fat saddlebags don't protrude more than handlebars. Go ahead and split lanes, it's just a mental thing.
Here in Australia, most states have recently legalised "Filtering" - generally, moving between lanes (moving in the same direction)of stopped or slow-moving traffic. Max speed 30kmph (~18mph). It's working pretty well, and car drivers getting used to it will take time, as expected.Pretty sensible legislation really, and specifically to make Lane Splitting ( faster than 30 kmph) illegal...
Yup, Powered Two Wheels.
New one on me , so is a bicycle an UTW ? Dusty
Don't be silly. A bicycle is also a PTW - Pedalled Two Wheels.
I have to disagree with what someone posted earlier.....'UK is same as US - they'd rather put you IN the ditch than let you past'.
Yes I saw that as well but couldn't be bothered to rise to the bait. No problem for Powered Two Wheelers filtering. Stupidly fast lane splitting on motorways does P people off though.I've even been given space to filter in stationary traffic while towing my trailer. Overall 98cm wide.