Letting Cars Change Lanes

[Bendito]

I think this is going to be THE major problem on the ride.

Anyone familiar with the LNRs (or anyone who saw the blue car on the test run I came on last week) will know what I am talking about. We like to think us motorcyclists are super-aware, and always on the ball in traffic, but in groups, we become stupid sheep, fixated on the taillight in front with no consideration for those following.

Scenario One:
Large group of bikes traveling in one lane, car along side wants to change into the same lane to make a turn (or whatever). Nobody lets them in. Their turn is approaching, they still haven't got in, so they slow down, waiting for a gap.
Result:
Car continues slowing, maybe even coming to a stop. There is now a big speed difference between the bikes and car. Eventually, they try force their way in. An impatient driver may try push in even earlier.
Solution:
LET THEM IN! Without debating who has right of way, it's a small courtesy, and will let everything run a lot smoother. People are dumb enough to stop or even reverse on major roads/freeways if they can't get their exit/street, this WILL happen. Back off a bit and they will slot in, make the turn and everyone gets to continue merrily

In the same vein, cars sitting at sidestreets will get impatient and just pull out (saw it twice on the 07 MAD Run). If it's possible to back off a tad and let them out, then great, but NOT if it means slowing too much and causing a concertina back through the pack.

Scenario Two:
Large group of bikes in one lane wants to get into another lane (also happens at merge points). Somewhere along the pack is a car already in the other lane. Leader moves over, bikes behind move also. The few bikes in front of the car move over, then the bikes next to the car accelerate up, squeeze in, and brake in front of the car. More bikes near the back of the car, and behind will try to do the same. It must be some irrational fear of losing their way if they get more than a few metres from the bike behind. This happened on the test run with the blue car, and it worried me greatly to see our fearless leaders doing the same thing that happens far too often on LNRs.
Result:
Car jumps on brakes, bikes trying to change in behind possibly rear end the car, or other bikes further back as everyone has to suddenly brake hard, panicky front lock-ups causing pile-ups and traffic jams.
Solution:
OBEY THE LAW! Don't push your way in. It's a pack of over 100+ bikes, and it's a dead simple route, you won't lose them, so BACK OFF and slot in behind smoothly, happily, and at the same speed. 90% of the time, the car will change into the other lane after suddenly becoming surrounded by big scary bikes, and Voila! The pack of bikes is reunited once again.

Both of these scenarios WILL happen, and the second (the most likely along the three-lane section of Mounts Bay Road) has ALREADY HAPPENED on the test run I mentioned earlier. Bikes in right, want to go left, car in left. Leader moves (correct), people behind follow (correct), bikes next to car start moving and force the car back (it almost looked like some of you didn't see the car at all ) bikes behind have to brake sharply.

This was with ONLY TWELVE BIKES, and they are the same ones that are to herd the ~3000 sheep successfully into the CBD.

I don't mean this as a dig, but it really bothered me (also I'd hate to think anyone blamed the car for taking off from those lights a little quick, and "appearing" next to us), and I see these types of things happen on pretty much every group ride with more than ten or so bikes.

TL;DR Version: Back off and let cars in, because waiting for a few hundred bikes that won't let you in WILL cause problems, and forcing cars to panic brake in front of our fellow riders WILL cause problems. Just be cool, and back off, smoothly open a gap for them and we'll see you all at the Bike Show

Steve/Tim: If any of this differs from how you want us to ride it, feel free to chop out the bits you don't like...

[Yagadan]

Well said benny boy...

[Barfridge]

well said Ben

[Griff]

Wisdom, Ben...

[Uncle Flash]

If we keep left, there's only one lane change to worry about from memory.

[Lefty]

Scenario Two:
Large group of bikes in one lane wants to get into another lane (also happens at merge points). Somewhere along the pack is a car already in the other lane. Leader moves over, bikes behind move also. The few bikes in front of the car move over, then the bikes next to the car accelerate up, squeeze in, and brake in front of the car. More bikes near the back of the car, and behind will try to do the same. It must be some irrational fear of losing their way if they get more than a few metres from the bike behind. This happened on the test run with the blue car, and it worried me greatly to see our fearless leaders doing the same thing that happens far too often on LNRs.
Result:
Car jumps on brakes, bikes trying to change in behind possibly rear end the car, or other bikes further back as everyone has to suddenly brake hard, panicky front lock-ups causing pile-ups and traffic jams.
Solution:

Sound like you know what you're talking about there...

Well said.

[delete_me_kthxbai]

If we keep left, there's only one lane change to worry about from memory.

Correct, but a few merge points, especially going along the back of Cottesloe.

[Guzziboy]

Could not have put it better myself Ben.

It astounds me that on a group ride of allegedly traffic aware motorcyclists, how one or two cars getting inbetween bikes seems to create so many dramas. The people behind the car can still see ( and sometimes smell ) other bikes, but go to rather unusual methods at times to go around the car, I just don't get it.

This is not picking on any particular group of people, I have seen this on every group ride I have been on, with the possible exception of a country run with no other traffic.

[Guzziboy]

Correct, but a few merge points, especially going along the back of Cottesloe.

As long as we don't fall into the " merging is a sign of weakness, must get in front " line of thinking, and use some common sense and courtesy to other road users, I am hoping that these merging areas will not cause too many problems.

[Bendito]

If we keep left, there's only one lane change to worry about from memory.

There's a few 1 > 2 > 1 sets of traffic lights along the way to look out for.
Cars in the right wanting to go left will still be an issue

[Uncle Flash]

I lost track of the thread there while reading another similar. I do agree though, with that many bikes it's going to be hard for any car to use the same piece of road at the same time. It will be the marshalls that will have to open gaps for cars if they want to change lanes because the other couple of thousand riders are going to be doing what comes naturally.

Did that sound right?

[Flamedance]

Well said Ben pretty much just covered most of the speech I was gonna give at the next practice. Also now instead of typing it I can just copy and paste yours to put into the main riders brief on the main day

[Bendito]

I want royalties

[Flamedance]

No problems I'll give you half of what I get for it mate

[Harro]

Wow see thats generosity right there folks.

Spot on right though Bendito - I guess the thing on this ride will be, there is no rush. Its not a race, its not fast, its a big cumbersome group of bikes.

The lead Marshall has the responsibility to ensure that any vehicle that wants to change lanes should be able to - we shouldnt be overtaking cars at all. There is no need to surround a car with bikes - if the Marshall backs off to give way then the whole group will have to too.

[Guzziboy]

^^^^^ With large groups like we will be having, you will also run into the situation where a car will need to change lanes into the middle of a group so that they can turn left. In this instance it will be up to the individual riders to ensure that this happens safely, and that we as a group do not become responsible for creating hazards for other road users around us.

All it will require is for people to allow the cars to change lanes, not do the "block them out" trick, and there should be no problems.

The last thing we need is frustrated car drivers forcing their way through our groups, which we all know they will do if we don't show them a bit of common courtesy on the road.