Are car drivers becoming too courteous?

kuksul08

kuksul08

Suh Dude
I've encountered a strange thing lately.

Scenario 1: Lane splitting.
Many cars will see the motorcycle coming and pull to the side. Okay, that's nice. Some will pull over abruptly. It's a little sketchy but okay. Then some will pull into the shoulder, kicking up rocks and dirt. Some drivers will even pull way to to the side or into the shoulder when traffic is flowing at 70mph. Being too courteous? Maybe people just hate being followed by a bike and want us to pass?

Scenario 2: Mountain roads.
Drivers will hit their brakes and wave a motorcyclist past who comes up behind them. They often do this in a blind corner when it's not safe to pass, and hitting the brakes suddenly is a bit of a surprise. I know they are trying to be nice, but it's actually more unsafe.


I've encountered each of these probably 20+ times, so I know it's not just a one-off occurrence. I want to be thankful to the drivers for being attentive but also how do we let them know to just drive normally and we will make our way around?
 
Blankpage

Blankpage

alien
kuksul08 said:
I've encountered a strange thing lately.

Scenario 1: Lane splitting.
Many cars will see the motorcycle coming and pull to the side. Okay, that's nice. Some will pull over abruptly. It's a little sketchy but okay. Then some will pull into the shoulder, kicking up rocks and dirt. Some drivers will even pull way to to the side or into the shoulder when traffic is flowing at 70mph. Being too courteous? Maybe people just hate being followed by a bike and want us to pass?
Click to expand...

They've probably seen videos of dirtbags smashing mirror if drivers don't roll out the red carpet fast enough for them to squeeze by.
 
Pushrod

Pushrod

Well-known member
Think "Barn Dance" where you have multiple partners in an ongoing swirl. Sometimes you dance with the clumsy one, other times the lithe one. It's all on you and your ability.

I loved riding Europe where the flow was fast and tight.
 
justanotherg20

justanotherg20

Well-known member
kuksul08 said:
Scenario 1: Lane splitting.
Many cars will see the motorcycle coming and pull to the side. Okay, that's nice. Some will pull over abruptly. It's a little sketchy but okay. Then some will pull into the shoulder, kicking up rocks and dirt. Some drivers will even pull way to to the side or into the shoulder when traffic is flowing at 70mph. Being too courteous? Maybe people just hate being followed by a bike and want us to pass?
Click to expand...

Can't speak for the second scenario since I don't ride mountains/blind curves often, but I usually try to slide behind the middle of the car and wave at them/gesture for them to move back into the lane. Anything I can think of to acknowledge 'yes, I see and appreciate that you are making room for me to pass but I will be not be doing that at this time, thanks anyway.'
 
moto-rama

moto-rama

Well-known member
kuksul08 said:
I've encountered a strange thing lately.
.......

Scenario 2: Mountain roads.
Drivers will hit their brakes and wave a motorcyclist past who comes up behind them. They often do this in a blind corner when it's not safe to pass, and hitting the brakes suddenly is a bit of a surprise. I know they are trying to be nice, but it's actually more unsafe.
....
Click to expand...

If they choose to allow me to pass, I'm doing it!

It's the ones who Will Not Allow a pass that I personally have a problem with. I've taken to just pulling over and giving them a 5 minute head start so I don't have to engage them. I would rather pass, of course, but if that's going to be turn into a form of vehicular combat, I don't play.
 
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295566

295566

Numbers McGee
The amount of people that are "overly courteous" is vastly, VASTLY outnumbered by the idiots browsing BookFace or thinking Autopilot is 100% autonomous.
 
CDONA

CDONA

Home of Vortex tuning
#2 but with bicycles added, wanted me to pass on a blind turn, I slowed and followed until I could see.
#1 happens too, but in far flung locations,away from cities, not always Ca.
Semi's, usually the ones on the shoulder kicking up stuff.
 
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M

Matty D

Well-known member
295566 said:
The amount of people that are "overly courteous" is vastly, VASTLY outnumbered by the idiots browsing BookFace or thinking Autopilot is 100% autonomous.
Click to expand...

This. And I'll take overly courteous over distracted every day.

I do the Bay Bridge commute as well. Sure there are some people who move over further than needed. I tend to give them a quick wave of thanks. There are many more who are completely distracted and unaware of what's happening around them. I try to get them in the rearview ASAP.
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
kuksul08 said:
I've encountered a strange thing lately.

Scenario 2: Mountain roads.
Drivers will hit their brakes and wave a motorcyclist past who comes up behind them. They often do this in a blind corner when it's not safe to pass, and hitting the brakes suddenly is a bit of a surprise. I know they are trying to be nice, but it's actually more unsafe.
Click to expand...

This is screwed up. Puts you in a dangerous situation for sure.

It cost me my first moto violation since '74 two years ago.
Dude was at a dead stop waving... Am I suppose to count on you seeing ahead?? I am going to get rear ended if I stay here... so.. mad dash.

Sheriff saw it and gave me a ticket for going over the DY. The ticket also noted my speed...33 in a 35 zone.

In hindsight I suppose you could just go to his right side and stop behind him as far as possible offline, but in the moment I did not think of that, nor is it a great solution.

When pulled over I explained I did not want to get killed and the LEO said it does not matter you passed over the DY. :nchantr

He also said "Do you know the speed limit on this road?" (HWY 84 between La Honda and Alice's).

I said it is 40 MPH and he said "No it is 35, I had you at speeds up to 38 MPH"

I said "They changed it again huh?...I am a hooligan aren't I" :laughing

Sheriff: "I am not going to write you up for that, but I am going to give you a citation for crossing the DY"

After signing the ticket I told him "I am going to beat this in court... see you there Officer".

I did beat it BTW... so still no moto moving violations on my record since the one I got in '74. (the only one).
 
295566

295566

Numbers McGee
budman said:
This is screwed up. Puts you in a dangerous situation for sure.

It cost me my first moto violation since '74 two years ago.
Dude was at a dead stop waving... Am I suppose to count on you seeing ahead?? I am going to get rear ended if I stay here... so.. mad dash.

Sheriff saw it and gave me a ticket for going over the DY. The ticket also noted my speed...33 in a 35 zone.

In hindsight I suppose you could just go to his right side and stop behind him as far as possible offline, but in the moment I did not think of that, nor is it a great solution.

When pulled over I explained I did not want to get killed and the LEO said it does not matter you passed over the DY. :nchantr

He also said "Do you know the speed limit on this road?" (HWY 84 between La Honda and Alice's).

I said it is 40 MPH and he said "No it is 35, I had you at speeds up to 38 MPH"

I said "They changed it again huh?...I am a hooligan aren't I" :laughing

Sheriff: "I am not going to write you up for that, but I am going to give you a citation for crossing the DY"

After signing the ticket I told him "I am going to beat this in court... see you there Officer".

I did beat it BTW... so still no moving violations on my record since the one I got in '74. (the only one).
Click to expand...

You'd better go knock on some wood, sir. :laughing
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Yeah... :laughing

I have been super lucky. Every time I have evaded I got away. :p

:laughing
 
HadesOmega

HadesOmega

Well-known member
I've seen people pull into the shoulder many times to give way and honestly that's too much. If I'm driving a car and see a bike splitting I will pull over as far to the left as I can without getting in the shoulder.
 
N

NoTraffic

Well-known member
I'm glad other riders are noticing this too. I have the same feelings on both these topics. I think ever since that road rage incident in NY occurred, many cagers feel its easier to avoid any conflict at all with motorcyclists.

I hate it when cars pull in the full shoulder and kick up rocks/debris behind them - including me if I'm right behind. When they do this and there's no traffic, I move over two lanes and cruise - I let them know I'm not that much of in a rush.
 
MapleRoad

MapleRoad

Well-known member
Yep. In the car, I'll feel the reflectors with the tires if the rider wants to pass. On the bike, I try to be communicate clearly with my lane position: right side, I'd like to pass. Middle or left, no thanks. It doesn't always work, and I've passed someone at 70 just because I didn't want to catch anything they kicked up.
 
Z3n

Z3n

Squid.
I had someone do #1 this morning while a cop was in the #2 lane. While slowing down to like 45mph in the fast lane. Eventually the cop got on his PA and yelled at him to speed up.

Drivers.
 
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