| Author | Message | ||
     Iamike |
Ok, from the Damn Rednecks thread (and similar discussions from other sites) some criticised the first bike for passing on the yellow line. I have always felt that those are there for the average vehicle and not necessarily for something like a cycle. I seem to remember bikers getting off on charges for that reason. Needless to say I have also seen guys pass in blind corners that surely has to piss off the cars seeing that. | ||
| Ratbuell |
}I have always felt that those are there for the average vehicle Seriously? Wow....so a Corvette, or a Ferrari, or a Porsche - they'd be able to pass on a double yellow too? What's "average"? What's "better than average"? Who makes that choice? | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I used to paint highway markings,both 2 gun and three gun(there is a difference). Seems like the spec back then was 900 feet or less of clear sight, required a yellow. Not much margin for some vehicles,plenty for others...and all depending on speed.You'd be surprised at how many people don't even know the difference between yellow and white......... lines or stripes. | ||
| Bikertrash05 |
I agree with you, Iamike. There are even a couple states that allow quick passing on a double yellow. High performance motorcycles and the "average" car are WAY different. It just sucks that many (most?) 4 wheelers think that motorcyclists are riding "recklessly", when in fact they are not even close to the performance limits of their bike. I honestly believe there should be separate traffic laws for sport bikes and cars. Maybe even include high performance cars. | ||
| Buellish |
In the Suches area of North Georgia,on highway 60 there is a stretch that for my lifetime was a passing zone.About 4 years ago the DOT repainted it as a double yellow.Three years ago I passed a car there with a clear line of sight and no oncoming traffic.A Leo was hiding up a shady driveway in a black car.He wrote me for passing on a double yellow.He admitted the stretch had been a passing zone for decades,but could offer no explanation as to why it had been reclassified.I'm just upholding the law sir. $130 dollar fine. | ||
| Britchri10 |
Laws are laws: If it says don't do it, don't do it unless you are prepared to face the legal consequences. I agree that many traffic laws are tailored to the "worst" vehicles on the road but they are still laws. (Not to say that I never break any traffic laws - Hell, I probably break at least a half dozen a day! - This from a man who got a $140.00 ticket for 68 in a 35) Chris C | ||
| Dynasport |
I don't consider myself an aggressive rider, but I know I can pass safely in some places on my bikes that I can't in a car. I don't recall ever passing on a double yellow in a car, but I have on my bike. Each and every time I felt totally safe doing it. | ||
| Trevd |
In Ontario, Canada, the lane markings are merely suggestions. Even if there is a double yellow you won't get a ticket for passing unless you are being dangerous in doing so - ie. passing uphill, around a curve, etc..., or unless the LEO is having a bad day, in which case he'll give you a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the line, but I think that could be easily won in court. (Message edited by trevd on May 29, 2011) | ||
| Brumbear |
I pass on the double yellows quite often. I don't do it just to bomb the roads though, quite often the cars are moving 30 mph in an area where a bike can easily and safely travel at twice that speed. I do not typically ride on highways I mostly ride on byways or 5 series roads mostly 6 series roads. The cars are usually sight seeing or just putting so I will run up to them when I see a clear enough area I just simply glide past em. I have done asinine stuff I would think we all have but usually I try to calculate my passes. I just don't want to be near cages when I ride it quite often ends bad for motorcycles. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Laws are laws True dat.....BUT,you have to remember that "people make the laws" and some of those people that are empowered to do so...... DON'T HAVE A CLUE. | ||
| Iamike |
Yes, seriously. I have heard that many yellow lines were exteneded to minimize liability to juristictions. Or worse yet, when red light cameras are installed, the duration of the yellow light shortened. A clear example of looking of revenue instead of safety. Look how often you see them with long lines of sight. Too many laws are written to save us from the idiots who ignore them anyway. Just like the anti-texting or cell phone use laws. Yet, I continue to see people violating them and then they would be the first to bitch when I pass them on a yellow line. | ||
| Ratbuell |
So....if they bitch at you for breaking a law, how is that different than bitching at them for breaking one? Sorry...I just can't wrap my brain around this one. Granted, I do speed so I'm no saint...but highway markings, stop signs, traffic lights...non-negotiable in my book. Or should we start running stop signs and traffic lights, too? Y'know...since it's OK to pass on double-yellow. Where do we draw the line? (no pun intended). What's OK to do, and what's not? Who decides? We don't get to pick and choose. You don't, he doesn't, she doesn't, and I don't. And I hate to say it, but laws ARE laws and if you choose to break one, be prepared to pay the consequences. True, some legislators don't have a clue. So vote for new ones. But the fact is, the law is there and it needs to be respected. If I'm on a ride with someone and they decide to pass on double-yellow...I'll catch up to them later. Once I get a passing zone. And here's another factor to think about. IF a cager is paying enough attention to realize they're in a no-passing zone...the LAST thing they're going to expect is a motorcycle whizzing by them on the left. So...why would they bother using their left turn signal if their driveway is coming up? Nobody's coming from in front of them...and nobody SHOULD be coming from behind them...so why not just...turn? Like they always do? Oh, yeah...because you decided that you're smarter than the lawmakers and that yellow paint doesn't apply to you because you're in a hurry. But...I bet they won't think of that. At least not until they feel you smash into their drivers door. Ooops. NOW, whose fault is it? Theirs for not signaling? Or yours for passing on a double yellow? | ||
| Brumbear |
I can tell you 1 thing when I pass someone I ain't trying to kill em. The idea of the dude in the other thread attempting to kill someone has my perturbed a bit. As for passing being illegal your right it's wrong and when a police officer see's me do it he will probably give me a ticket which I will take cause I'd rather not sit behind a vehicle that could potentially hurt me especially if it has something in the back of it.Or a certain type of self centered the world revolves around me housefrau that would run you down to stop her perishables from melting just as soon as watch Jerseylicios. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I've done it. I'll do it again. I know it's wrong just like running 75 in a 55. Riders do it often. We know it's wrong. When given a ticket, we pay it and move on. | ||
| Greg_e |
Since I am the one that really got this started... Ratbuell is correct, where does it end? Since a motorcycle is such a small and quick vehicle, running that red light is really a reduced risk, so that should be fine, right? And hey lines are just there for the average granny to know which side of the road to use and so that some poor slob has a job painting them, they are meaningless for the above average few (which we are all apparently part of). I'm no damn angle when I drive or ride, but getting passed over a double yellow when I'm clearly doing the speed limit or a little more really pisses me off. If I'm out riding a twisty road and there is a car in front of me going at the suggested speeds for the corners (which is of course well below the speed limit or what my 9R can do) then I either get to wait for a passing zone, wait for the driver to see me and decide to pull over, or pull myself over and wait a while and try again. This isn't the F'ing race track! Everyone of us that does this illegal double yellow pass gives the rest of us a bad name. Just like the asshats on Harleys that must have the loudest available exhaust known to mankind on their machines which got them the honor of being featured in the South Park episode as self centered jerks. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I honestly believe there should be separate traffic laws for sport bikes and cars. I've long been and advocate that there should be a higher standard of licensing in the United States. Perhaps a tiered system like parts of Europe. I'd like to see significant training so that folks learn the physics involved (99% of drivers will tell you that if you double the speed of a car/bike that it takes twice as far to stop) and some skills other than parallel parking. Folks carrying this license would be allowed to drive, as an example, 80mph on the interstate system. Along with the increased privileges would be stringent enforcement. I'm thinking like a minimum fine of $1,500 and loss of license for a year for things like speeding, unsafe driving and improper lane discipline. I understand that this would be nearly impossible to enforce and that most law enforcement personnel lack these skills as well. I can dream. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Another angle to this thread. Most of us ride roads that we are not too familiar with, but found that they have alot of corners, so we are having fun. Unfortunately, there are also alot of driveways that come into play on these roads too. You can picture the worst case  I was riding the plains of Saskatchewan back in June 1975 on my new Kawasaki Z1, cruising at 150kph plus (100mph), when a tractor came off a field and onto the highway. To this day it sits in my mind what could have happened. | ||
| Cpeg |
This runs hand in hand with the other thread on people don't know how to drive. I have a cousin that is married to the Director of Motor Vehicles for a NW state. I had a nice conversation with her. It is supposed to be a privilege to drive the roads that is (supposedly) granted you AFTER demonstrating your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely within the law. She admitted the ideal has been bastardized into where obtaining a drivers license has become more of a revenue generating entitlement program perpetuated by the auto industry and insurance companies. My cousin was a HP and he even admitted that many of the laws are there just to generate revenue as that was the majority of his job. Those yellow lines were meant to give a driver a visible means to ID a safe zone for passing. I was riding with my cousin threw an area that had changed from a passing to no passing marks a few years before, he admitted it was to generate revenue. I surprised him with an observation on that trip, came on a motorhome with a line of over 20 cages behind it, I asked him who was to blame for the line of cars. He gave the standard narrow brained response that the RV was at fault. Wrongo mister badge, it was the tool behind the RV who had not passed the RV even threw multiple passing zones which made it unsafe for the people behind him to pass. My record for passing a line of idiots is ~40 vehicles, I counted ~5 motorcycles in that line that sat behind an equipment hauler doing 15 in a 55 and I did it all in a passing zone. | ||
| Britchri10 |
I just return from a 100+ mile ride this AM. During the ride I: Ignored 2 stop signs (both in my subdivision-I slowed but did not come to a complete stop), I was guilty of exceeding the speed limit approximately 12 times. (not by much but "over is over"), Improper use of turn signals ( i didn't use them when changing lanes - No other vehicles in sight). One illegal overtaking maneuver - passed a group of cyclists in a no overtaking zone..... & I consider myself a safe rider!!! If I had been ticketed for any of these infractions I would accept that I was in the wrong & would be prepared to face the legal sanctions attached to my actions. Like I said.' "laws are laws" You may not agree with them but if you transgress be prepared for penalties to be assessed. I think if any of us actually analyzed any of our rides we would find that we transgressed a least one law at least once on the ride in question. Chris C | ||
| Cpeg |
That is exactly what the LEO's are counting on, they KNOW you are guilty of something and are ready to spank you for it. | ||
| Iamike |
One of my big gripes are the people who don't stop at right turn on reds or pull out in front of you. One day I saw a lady do just that right in front of a sheriff deputy. I thought "Finally someone is going to get ticketed for that". The dep. did nothing so I figure if someone can do something so dangerous and blatant in front of a cop, so what if I pass on yellow once in ahwile. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Oklahoma driver training: This is a stop sign:  When you see these signs, you should come to a smooth and complete stop at the sign before verifying that your path of travel is clear, and continuing on your merry way. This is a yield sign:  When you see this sign, you SHOULD NOT STOP unless there is an absolutely insane amount of traffic on the road you wish to merge onto. You should be looking at upcoming traffic well ahead of your turn, and "zipper" yourself in with traffic on the road to which you are merging. Do you realize how hard it is to safely merge with 75 mph traffic using a 150 ft merging lane after you've come to a complete stop? Of course you don't. You can't even differ between the red triangle and the red octagon  [/rant] | ||
| Gregtonn |
"Do you realize how hard it is to safely merge with 75 mph traffic using a 150 ft merging lane after you've come to a complete stop?" Yep. When I first ended up in Crusty's part of the country in 1973 I was looking over my should at a nice gap to merge, when I turned to look ahead...What the..!...A stop sign!...How stupid is that! G | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Double lines are generally there for a reason, ignore them at your peril. It doesn't present much of a problem in bike-friendly France as most cagers will slide across to let a bike through without crossing the lines, if not, I'm not in that much of a hurry. One further thing to remember is that on a bike your field of vision is much better than the average car, sports cars are even worse due to being low down, what may be a clear undulating road from your point of view may have blind crests & dips from a car. Same with bends, you may be able to see across where a cager can't. It's one of those things I find extremely frustrating in a rig too. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I have broken no passing zones a few times but I will only do so if I'm behind a dangerous truck throwing rocks and sand or something like that. I try to stay on the good side of the law (With the exception of speeding) unless it means putting myself in more danger. I seldom go fast beyond reason anymore and I try to respect other people's homes. I'm thinking the pickup operator was a local that was sick of seeing too many monkeys going stupid fast on his road. What he did was wrong of course but if you provoke EVERYONE, you should expect that at least one person will rise to confront you eventually. | ||
| Drfudd |
I'm not gonna get into the law is the law side of the argument. the yellow lines are there for a reason, yes sometimes they are shortened, and yes sometimes, the way the law is written, i have broken a few, meaning that I begin my passing just before or at the passing zone and sometimes finish into the no passing zone. it happens. on a side note, when I'm driving my Ford escape I usually accept what the car is doing in front of me, even if they are doing 50 in a 55 zone, but when I'm on my bike, that's a different story, the most i passed was about 40 cruisers, every time we came to a corner everyone would slow down, and there exhaust was so fricken loud it was giving me a head ache, I passed them all inside of a legal passing zone, albeit in order to do it i hit 115+, but whats worse, excessively breaking the speed limit or staying within the legal passing zone? | ||
| R100rs |
I'm thinking the pickup operator was a local that was sick of seeing too many monkeys going stupid fast on his road. nate,exactly what i was thinking.you could see a number of riders going in the opposite direction,and there was a fair amount of houses on that road. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
"I have always felt..." Traffic laws aren't about what you feel and they contain no wording as such. What Rat Buell said. Court, If you aren't doing 80 MPH on the interstate in Flori-duh (highest posted speed is 70 MPH) you will probably get run over and/or a ticket for impeding the flow of traffic!! LOL Just kidding of the impeding part... Bottom line; You break the traffic laws at your own risk. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Evidently, I ride with some of the worst human beings on the planet. ALL have passed significantly slower traffic in no passing zones while exceeding the posted speed limit. I hate these kinds of threads. Brings out all the "I have/would never do that!" folks. | ||
| Etennuly |
Well I have never done that! I would not even consider it!In my truck or most cages I totally agree with Ratbuell on this stuff. If I cheat the highway rules and get away with it so be it. If I cheat the highway rules and get caught, I will pay the state, the county, my insurance company, and deal with my wife(who told me so). If I cheat the highway rules and cause an accident that kills a family, I'll expect to spend a little time and the rest of my life paying for it. Speaking of this stuff.....anyone sign up for Progressive's "tell on yourself box"? No really, it will save you money!  |
