Fellow riders who won't let you pass... what do you do?

[sprint_st]

understood. but it is also against the law to exceed the speed limit.  While passing or otherwise.  

Not counting the Dragon which is a special case. I believe many more tickets are given for speeding than crossing the double yellow.

That would make sense, however I believe you incorrect.  As mentioned earlier I passed four cars and was not cited for speed, probably because they were doing about twenty in a 35 and I only had to do about 40 to pass them.  Both the Snake and Dragon, plus 226A, 178 and  276 are all noted for this type of behavior.  There are lots of others too.

[dietDrThunder]

Well Con, you are the perfect example of why people do this.

I call that Self-centered and Self-absorbed.

If you are slow, fine.  But the least you can do for your fellow riders is to motion them to pass...you don't have to pull over.  If you are in a cage, use a fucking turn off.  

It's the same thing when you're walking down a narrow pathway on a mountainside at the speed of Molasses.....you see someone come up behind you and wants to pass, do you ignore them because you are NOT obligated to do anything at all?  That's asinine behavior.

Sorry, no.

Expecting others who are not acting improperly to change what they're doing because you have a desire to go faster is self-centered and self-absorbed. If you're not comfortable passing people with a little extra mustard, as it were, fine. That isn't the slow guy's fault. Learn how to pass somebody.

The car example is a bit different because it is harder to see around a car, passing a car requires a much larger intrusion into the oncoming lane to maintain safe clearance, and there is an increasingly large percentage of the time these days where passing 'at speed' causes the car driver great consternation. So ya, using a turn-off if you're in a car is a good idea...but still not necessary for me. You just drive your car, I'll pass you if I'm so inclined.

If you need  a bike to take action for you to be able to get by, you should consider the idea that your passing/fast-pace riding skills and/or comfort level maybe aren't where they need to be relative to your desire to go faster than traffic.

Walking down a narrow pathway is not a useful analogy, as that is not what one would call a 'dynamic' situation. If you need an explanation of how a motorcycle passing another vehicle on a public road is more dynamic than "walking at the speed of molasses" I can't help you.

[dietDrThunder]

Start racing WERA. It will improve your passing skills in no time  

Or this


Seriously...I'm not saying that it isn't nice when someone moves over or whatever. I'm just saying that if you want to pass somebody,  that's your issue.

[dietDrThunder]

understood. but it is also against the law to exceed the speed limit.  While passing or otherwise.  

Not counting the Dragon which is a special case. I believe many more tickets are given for speeding than crossing the double yellow.

I don't know the ratio of course, but if I were to guess I'd say that double-yellow infractions outstrip speeding tickets on the Gap maybe 4:1.

[county]

Sorry, no.

Expecting others who are not acting improperly to change what they're doing because you have a desire to go faster is self-centered and self-absorbed.

Anyone who is not contributing to the smooth flow of traffic is acting improperly....

[Cablebandit]

 

There's a huge difference between driving slower than 10-over like everyone wants and *actually* impeding traffic. I've seen very, very few instances of actual traffic impeding.

Follow any vehicle with "farm" plates.  Odds are they are going 20 under the limit and weaving back and forth all over the road.

[Yankee Dog]

I don't know the ratio of course, but if I were to guess I'd say that double-yellow infractions outstrip speeding tickets on the Gap maybe 4:1.

I dont doubt that is true on the Dragon. But I dont think the Dragon is a good place to look for any kind of data. It is after all a special case.

I would venture to guess that crossing the line on the Dragon has more to do with not being able to maintain your lane and very little to do with passing a slower rider.  

[sprint_st]

I dont doubt that is true on the Dragon. But I dont think the Dragon is a good place to look for any kind of data. It is after all a special case.
I would venture to guess that crossing the line on the Dragon has more to do with not being able to maintain your lane and very little to do with passing a slower rider.  

I can be at the Dragon in less than three hours from my house.  IMO and that of a load of other locals, there are plenty of other roads that are as much or more fun to ride from N.GA clear up into PA.  The main thing that makes it atypical is the number of lunatics that frequent it on weekends from spring to almost winter.  If you ever need a demonstration of bad passing, the Dragon is the place. Squids versus cruisers, squids versus out of town sport bikers, squids versus cars, squids verses anything that gets in their way, and any bike versus anything.

Not to hijack this thread on Dragon chit, but lately more people get killed on the Cherohala than the Dragon, but it is early in the season, maybe the Dragon can make a comeback.

[dietDrThunder]

I dont doubt that is true on the Dragon. But I dont think the Dragon is a good place to look for any kind of data. It is after all a special case.

I would venture to guess that crossing the line on the Dragon has more to do with not being able to maintain your lane and very little to do with passing a slower rider.  

I posted in direct response to a Dragon-specific post.

the danger of crossing the line (for obvious reasones) comes largely with people failing to negotiate corners. The tickets are mostly written re: passing, because that's what represents the majority %-wise of incidents of crossing the DYL.

[Yankee Dog]

....................................... ......Not to hijack this thread on Dragon chit, but lately more people get killed on the Cherohala than the Dragon, but it is early in the season, maybe the Dragon can make a comeback.

Hey hijacks are what is all about. speaking of which.

I have always thought the Cherohala was MUCH more dangerous. I have seen bikes in the ditch on the Dragon. I have seen them broken in half on the Cherohala.  

[Cablebandit]

Probably because speeds on the Cherohala are 2-3 times faster.  Tends to make things worse when you screw up.

[dietDrThunder]

Hey hijacks are what is all about. speaking of which.

I have always thought the Cherohala was MUCH more dangerous. I have seen bikes in the ditch on the Dragon. I have seen them broken in half on the Cherohala.  

The Cherohaha is only more dangerous because the ...less thoughtful...riders go faster, and there's lots of Armco barrier to hit. The road itself is quite wide and in good condition, with no seriously tricky corners.  If you take out the idio...er...less thoughtful aspect, I'd say that the Skyway is much safer than the Dragon. But, like many other situations/combinations, add a dash of 'human' and all bets are off.

[sprint_st]

I have always thought the Cherohala was MUCH more dangerous. I have seen bikes in the ditch on the Dragon. I have seen them broken in half on the Cherohala.  

Probably because speeds on the Cherohala are 2-3 times faster.  Tends to make things worse when you screw up.

No doubt about it.  Not last year, but the year before, IIRC, every time I crossed it there was a cruiser in the ditch, and it definitely wasn't just a cruiser thing.  An FJR rider I know was on seen at two separate deaths that year.  The scenery is beautiful up there, but you need to pull over to look at it.

[falconati]

Anyone who is not contributing to the smooth flow of traffic is acting improperly....

 

[sagerat]

I wait a sufficient time for an opening and go around or else pull over and take a break for a while.

In terms of passing, I don't share lanes and I always try to minimize the amount of DY passing, but some times you gotta do what ya gotta do...

[county]

 

There's a huge difference between driving slower than 10-over like everyone wants and *actually* impeding traffic. I've seen very, very few instances of actual traffic impeding.

I never said anything about impeding traffic....I said if you are not contributing to the smooth flow of traffic you are acting improperly...

[tomek]

Just curious.  Where is it illegal?  If doing the speed limit I know of no place where a driver is obligated to pull over to let others pass.  If going under the speed limit then sure, you're obstructing traffic and pulling over may be required.  

In some Western States ,  3 vehicles or more behind you , you gotta use pull out .
Many mountain roads have them every couple of miles .  

Here in Illinois similar rule applies to the left  lane on the divided , limited excess highways . The law says GTFO of the left lane if there are vehicles behind you even if you are speeding .

http://fleetowner.com/news/fleet_no_left_lane

  "" According to the statute, left lane drivers must get out of the way of someone coming up behind them even if that driver is breaking the speed limit. Rutherford says that if a slower vehicle in the left lane blocks a speeding driver, both will be breaking the law. The lead vehicle is obligated to move aside and let the following vehicle pass and allow law enforcement officials to give that speeder a ticket. "

That law is about the only real accomplishment of our  now in the jail governator . IIRC it had bipartisan support .

[county]

Laws mean little to the competent motorcyclist....

[M.Brane]

Laws mean little to the competent motorcyclist....

 As long as sightlines are clear, and radar detectors are quiet.

 I gotta say county is owning you guys here. If someone is holding you up, and circumstances permit pass 'em, and be done with it. If you don't feel comfortable or are a prisoner to the threat of law enforcement hang back, and quit yer bitchin.

 This ain't rocket surgery....

[sprint_st]

Laws mean little to the competent motorcyclist....

Yep, absolutely correct---- right up to the point where the bubble gum machine lights up