Lack of respect

[Raven]

Over the past few months I have borrowed my partners learner bike (YBR 125) every now and again, and I've probably done 200 miles or so on it. And you know what, the way learner riders are treated by other motorist is appalling. I've probably seen more sh!te driving and acts of aggression in those 200 miles than I have in the 30,000 miles I've done since I started learning to ride on my own learner bike.

On TWO separate occasions I have been in a holding road position on a main road, and I've had a car squeeze between the bike and the kerb, with barely a fag papers width between either, just because I was sticking to the limit! I have NEVER had that happen to me on my 'Alp, or even on my varadero 125 when I had it. I have had several cars at side roads waiting to pull out sit there for ages then pull out at the last second, only to stop dead in front of me when they realise they cant make it after all, then give me a look as if to say its my fault ... " hell, it's only a learner motorcyclist they dont matter do they "

And to cap it all of today i was on a flowing back roads on my way home, and when I moved over to the left side of the road to take the long a sweeping right hander, he took it upon himself to push me into the gutter on a blind corner, with half his car on the opposite side of the road, and go round at the exact same speed at me!

I worry enough about her out there as it is, and when bikes with L plates get treated this badly, its only making me feel worse....

[Wigan Chris]

i couldnt agree more.
i only switched from a 125 vara to an AT at christmas, and the difference in drivers attitude is massive.
id have to say tho, im not sure how much of it is down to just the L plates, and how much of it is down to sheer road presence from a bigger bike.
i rode my vara 125 with and without L plates (i know, naughty naughty), and didnt notice a big difference, but the switch upto the AT has been a huge change, i think once you take up that much more room, with a bit more height it helps out... even to the point where the 125 vara faired better than some scooters and cg125's

[Lutin]

Based on what I've seen over the years, there's a general lack of respect for learners full stop!

It seems that, car drivers, especially seem to forget that they had to learn to drive once upon a time. Well some of them did - some of them, I'm not so sure.

Looking on the positive side, it does instil a certain healthy paranoia - as well as developing eyes in the back of your head.

[Mervinh]

I have seen this when teaching my daughter to drive, idiot follows us through a village attempting to overtake when it is impossible. clear of the village overtakes then immediately brakes and stops to turn right nearly causing an accident, plenty of twats out there, one this morning came up behind 3 cars travelling at 40 mph spaced out sensibly, (2 jags following a passat) started to overtake could see i had room to get past jags before oncoming car and the **** in the first jag starts to accelerate as soon as i get beside him meaning i had to get into the gap rathe faster than i would have liked too
Merv

[Snaphappy]

lack of respect allround, tarmac terrorists and kn*bs I pity anyone that has the misfortune to share the road with them.
I sometimes wonder if its a bullying revenge thing, you know the total school idiot the was allways picked on now needs to show that he is better or faster than others but then there were not enough idiots in schools to make up for the idiots on the road

Stay paranoid and keep an eye out for them, they are ALL out to get us

[Baggy]

Have this problem when I commute on my CG.... and I tore my L-plates up many years ago I suspect I get fewer problems on the TA since the b*gg*rs have less opportunity to catch me up

Imho, it's a general decline in civilized behaviour across the board... and I put it down to either arrogance or ignorance. Trouble is it makes me ride in ways I find uncomfortable and with more aggression - not a big problem for me ( apart from needing occasional self anger management ), but would be if you're trying to hone your skills to pass your test.

I am paranoid - when colleagues have followed me they ask why I'm always looking over my shoulder - I always expect the cagers nearest me to make some kind of attempt at homicide at some point. I have found one thing though - wearing an open-face helmet means they get to see the grizzled, bearded, face of one pi**ed-off motorcyclist at which point they usually cause me less trouble.

Whatever happened to "duty of care..." or whatever it's called...

Keith.

[micksylver]

Have seen it in action recently. Sheperded an old feller on a scooter by not letting anyone pass me after 3 cars in front passed him by cutting him into the kerb. Mind you it was his own fault - too slow, 30 in a .... 30 zone What was he thinking?

[Recycler]

....... and when I moved over to the left side of the road to take the long a sweeping right hander, he took it upon himself to push me into the gutter on a blind corner, with half his car on the opposite side of the road, and go round at the exact same speed at me!

That's the downside of proper positioning......... virtually nobody else on the road gets it. I (not trying to tell you how to ride by the way) would stay a bit further out when closely followed, or Mr Cock behind will use both his brain cells to calculate you are letting him through.


Cagers!

[fatowl]

Imho, it's a general decline in civilized behaviour across the board...

+1 on that

[datsun fan]

I know that drivers with two brain cells are more dangerous than those with one, as the those with two brain cells have a good chance that those two cells may collide with each other and be damaged - leaving none!!