Crazy Cager

[halfabusa]

It's a daily thing here in London that you get abuse and hostility from other road users, so i found the best solution that works for me is to wear sound isolating headphones and listen to some music or radio. That way i can't hear all that abuse, and don't get stressed out unnecessarily. Those things really stress me out otherwise and i fear i might not control myself in such situation. Oh and also i usually ride around like a lunatic, which also help keeping others away as they think i'm a maniac

[Bluebottle]

Many drivers see filtering as "pushing in".
I go for GN2s "vigorous ignoring" - I'm in full body armour with a huge lock and chain to hand so a fist fight doesn't worry me too much but never assume that the driver won't intentionally ram you. A car makes a very effective weapon ( I know, I got rammed a couple of years ago and it still hurts)

[wozza]

I'm afraid it's just something we have to put up with from time to time... Kinda of scary when it happens though...

[visfix]

If I could just address the balance a little........

Having been forced into only driving a car, due to injury, I do tend to be on the lookout for bikes and scoots, and afford them the room that they need to progress safely. However, there are a large contingent, and I'm not just talking sports bikes, that seem to have little, or no, common sense or fear for their own safety.
I'm talking dangerous overtaking and filtering through fast flowing traffic, mainly, but there has also been a lot of inappropriately dressed idiots too. All of them are donors in the making, and cast a bad light on the decent, all-weather bikers.

As with car drivers, there are good and bad, but it's the bad experiences that stick in the mind.

[johnp]

It's a normal story for us as they are only jealous of what we have and can do with 2 wheels.

[JohnR93]

There is an awful lot of aggression waiting to come out in some drivers. It's us bikers who can bear the brunt of it. Of course, there are some twits on bikes that don't do the rest of us any favours either. I'm sure some car drivers think we are all the same in that respect on two wheels. Ignoring these reprobates is often the best way forward if you can.

May I recommend one of these tucked away in your glove box for those dimwit drivers, it's amazing how mcuh those side windows cost

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RTFM, I'm not condoning your suggestion which would really give bikers a bad name, but don't take a knife to a gun fight. Consider upgrading... The upgrade...

[SpikeOne]

Someone said it's legal, and it is, and, I understand, even taught in the advanced course, but for the life of me, I don't understand why. It's always risky, blimming dangerous at the best of times, and suicidal at the worst.

Having come a cropper myself, 40 years ago, (when it didnt have a special name, wasn't legal, and everyone considered it stupid), I wouldn't touch filtering with a barge pole.

I know that it's often not the riders fault when he or she gets pranged, but its still his or her pain, or worse.

I just don't understand it, it's not defensive, or sensible...

[MrGrumpy]

Someone said it's legal, and it is, and, I understand, even taught in the advanced course, but for the life of me, I don't understand why. It's always risky, blimming dangerous at the best of times, and suicidal at the worst.

Having come a cropper myself, 40 years ago, (when it didnt have a special name, wasn't legal, and everyone considered it stupid), I wouldn't touch filtering with a barge pole.

I know that it's often not the riders fault when he or she gets pranged, but its still his or her pain, or worse.

I just don't understand it, it's not defensive, or sensible...

On the other hand, to my mind, if you are going to stick in the queues with the cars, why have a bike at all? There's no advantage to having a bike and cars are warmer and safer! Personally the ability to filter (and overtake easier) is the principle reason why I ride a PTW!! Obviously we are all different, but to me, its not filtering that is incomprehensible

[Funkycowie]

There are shit bikers and there are shit cagers, just like there are a good bikers and good cagers, some people just don't care about pissing other people off or it may just be done by accident.

The crazy shouting angry folk should not be driving or riding as they clearly are not in a correct emotional state of mind to be able to use a vehicle in a safe manner.

[Gerard C]

In my opinion its how filtering is done that makes the difference. If you go hell for leather and it looks as if you are acting dangerously then Drivers will get very protective about their investment. Filter respectfully and imagine if you were watching someone who appears to be a tosser putting your pride and joy at risk - how would you react?

I learned the theory of filtering on the IAM course and enjoy putting it into practice all the time. If someone impedes you its only going to be for a minute or two at most. Just take it steady and always look as if your taking care. The drivers who do object probably had a bad experience with someone acting recklessly. I see other Bikers and sometimes I break out in a sweat for them the way they behave.