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07-18-2008, 02:13 AM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Wants Better Weather   Join Date: Apr 2008
Bike: 1972 Honda CL450 Scrambler, 2005 Suzuki DRZ400SM
Location: Michigan
Posts: 650
|  Passing on the right
So, I was riding tonight on a two lane road at dusk (the sun had set but it wasn't full-on dark yet). I like to ride in the left side of the lane when there is little reason to be elsewhere, and that is where I was riding at about 55mph, indicated. In my rear view mirror, I see a motorcycle about an eighth of a mile behind me. I look again a few moments later and see the single headlight of the motorcycle a little closer and what looks like two headlights of a car behind it. Next thing I know, a bike is passing me in the right side of my lane. This whole time there isn't much traffic in the opposing lane, and the road definitely isn't double yellow for more than a quarter of a mile; there are reasonable passing areas. I figure that this guy isn't alone, so when his friend passes, I reach my left hand over to give him the bird. I'm pissed and expecting the third rider. I wanted to swerve into the right part of the lane, but the more reasonable (and stubborn, thankfully) half of my conscience keeps me in place on the left as the final bike passes me on the right. I'll give these guys some credit; they probably weren't going more than 65mph (my indication) when they passed, and when they were pulling away, it didn't look like they were going at speeds I would consider unsafe, albeit still over the speed limit. Still, don't pass me in my own lane  !!!! That is my lane. I expect to be able to use that part without making sure it's clear. Even though riding two abreast is legal in Michigan, I could have not known they were coming up to me and have moved over into that part of the lane. Someone could have died or been seriously hurt.I haven't had loads of riding experience (<10,000 miles), but if I would have seen that group following behind me in a busier road, I might have moved over to the right and waved them through my lane, but I don't think passing through another biker's lane is acceptable without some kind of acknowledgment from that biker. I don't care what everyone sees on YouTube their behavior was NOT COOL!!! |
