Author Topic: overtaking cars (Read 10565 times)

solman · « **on:** September 04, 2007, 12:30:22 AM »

I went for a ride up into the mountains (Prescott, AZ). Once again, I ran into problems with cars not letting me pass or having to tail gate them a for a while. Some will pull over and others won't at all. It is times like today when I wish I was in Europe. Passing cars is a no issue from what I remember. You flash your lights a few times and the guy moves over. It isn't a hard concept!

StangMATA · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2007, 11:09:50 AM »

On the highways or in the city, San Antonio is a real PITA...but in the back roads of the hill country, the people are great about letting bikes go by. Stubborn cars can really ruin a good day of riding.

Blade · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:07:08 AM »

Quote from: "solman"

I went for a ride up into the mountains (Prescott, AZ). Once again, I ran into problems with cars not letting me pass or having to tail gate them a for a while. Some will pull over and others won't at all. It is times like today when I wish I was in Europe. Passing cars is a no issue from what I remember. You flash your lights a few times and the guy moves over. It isn't a hard concept!

I hear you on this one and the bad side in CA., is the cops let them do this. I can not count the times on both hands I have followed a cop who was behind some very slow person who would not use turn outs down Hwy 74 and never pull them over even though the slow driver was breaking the law. I call it discriminatory traffic law enforcement. So any more, I will count three turn outs and if they refuse to use them, I will make sure I have enough passing room for my gixxer. Then I let them hear the sweat sound of my Gixxer at about 8 to 10K RPM as I go by about 3 feet from there car in second gear.

By the time they figure out what happen, I am usually about 1/2 mile down the road.

StangMATA · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2007, 02:23:27 AM »

Just don't end up like this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vqigsgJeK4

Nitro · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2007, 08:04:31 PM »

Did you try turning that thing on the end of the right handlebar? (Just kidding)

solman · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2007, 09:30:42 PM »

I've seen that video on the dragon. I have passed on the dragon before, and I am very picky on where I did it too. Trying to pass on the dragon while on a Harley is pretty funny.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 05, 2007, 09:37:36 PM »

Quote from: "Nitro"

Did you try turning that thing on the end of the right handlebar? (Just kidding)

Not to be a smart ass but why not find a safe place to pass an move on with your day?

leedogg · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2007, 11:40:33 PM »

I am confused(not difficult to do)...Not sure I understand what we are talking about. What are turn outs? I rarely get stuck behind a car for too long...but we have mostly straight roads. Still though- I do not expect a car to pull off the side of the road to let me pass if they are doing the speed limit.

Blade · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2007, 12:52:08 AM »

Quote from: "leedogg"

I am confused(not difficult to do)...Not sure I understand what we are talking about. What are turn outs? I rarely get stuck behind a car for too long...but we have mostly straight roads. Still though- I do not expect a car to pull off the side of the road to let me pass if they are doing the speed limit.

A turn out in California is any area big enough for a vehicle to move into and out of safely. Which they are required to do, but rarely use.

In CA we have a law that govern that. If you are doing the speed limit and still holding up traffic, you are breaking the law by impeding the flow of traffic.

pmackie · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2007, 12:11:12 PM »

There seem to be several US states where use of pull-outs is mandatory to prevent impeding traffic. Washington has the same concept.

Quote

I do not expect a car to pull off the side of the road to let me pass if they are doing the speed limit.

Not sure what the actual rules are, but I have had MANY cars, trucks, campers, etc, pull off into a pull-out to let me by. It's really nice. Being from B.C., where there are not a lot of passing lanes, and cars DON'T pull off to let you by, it is always a pleasent surprise.

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2007, 12:40:36 PM »

Yup, WA's law is if you impede 5 or more vehicles, you must pull over and let them by at the first safe place to do so.

Quote from: "State of Washington"

RCW 46.61.427
Slow-moving vehicle to pull off roadway.

On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow moving vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in a line, shall turn off the roadway wherever sufficient area for a safe turn-out exists, in order to permit the vehicles following to proceed. As used in this section a slow moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.

In WA, if the lead vehicle was doing the speed limit, it could not be impeding flow because to exceed the speed limit is reckless driving.

Nitro · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2007, 06:21:36 PM »

Ah, in Florida and Wisconsin, there are no turnouts. On a slightly different subject, in Florida, you can't pass on the right, unless it's a 4 lane road (or a 3 lane with 2 on your side). In Wisconsin, you can pass on the right when someone is stopped to turn left when there is a safe spot to do that. There are some places that do have short lanes for that.

B6mick · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2007, 06:47:13 PM »

We here have turn out, or slow vechile lanes, which by law must be used, but, yes thats a huge assed but, our beloved law enforcement agencies would much rather chase you down for speeding 5 kph over the limit, than book buttwipes, for failing to have even the smallest amount of road sense, but hey, thats road safety Australian style.

But yes I must agree, one of my favorite roads, can be a total nightmare, with no overtaking spots for miles, if one was to caught up behind
Mr and Mrs Rubberneck, and their friends Mr and Mrs We Will all die if we go faster than 40KPH. But thats Life and I find its better to pull over, let the dog go have a pee, pretend I was a smoker again, roll a number and chill for 10

solman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2007, 08:21:15 PM »

Quote from: "PitterB4"

Quote from: "Nitro"
Did you try turning that thing on the end of the right handlebar? (Just kidding)

Not to be a smart ass but why not find a safe place to pass an move on with your day?

When you are in the twisties, waiting to find a place to pass may take a while and ruin a lot of good riding.

leedogg · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2007, 06:38:34 PM »

Okay- thanks for the explainations guys. we don't have those laws here in the south. But still- if you are wanting a 'spirited' ride in the twisties- you are prolly well exceding the posted speed limit in the process...at least I am to have fun. Hard to blame the cars for driving the speed limit.

Now I am no prude- I like to haul ass. and a huge peeve of mine it the left lane 'cruisers'. but hard to be down on a 18 wheeler doing all he can on a twisty road. He isn't in my way on purpose.