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Following distance?

2K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  Lkdelta 
#1 ·
Okay this isn't for me to follow behind but for people following me while on the bike. Speed limit is 35mph and I think the car is too close. 2 lane road and no passing. Just looking to see what others think and how you judge it.
 
#2 ·
The 2 second rule should apply. The MINIMUM safe distance at any speed is 2 seconds. Pick a marker i.e sign post or power pole and count 1001, 1002. If you reach that mark before you finished saying 1002 you are too close the vehicle in fronta, likewise if the vehicle behind you reaches the mark before 1002 he/she is too close.

If I have someone riding too close for a time I will pull over first chance I get an let them pass, I try not to get worked up, just figure they are an Ahole let them by and ride on.

WB
 
#3 · (Edited)
I agree with Wild Bill. As an alternative to the 2 second rule, a vehicle should be at least 1 car length behind for each 10mph. So at 35 the car behind should be approx. 3.5 car lengths behind you.

I used to try and wave them off but with all the road rage and the realization that I'm on a motorcycle, I just pull over like Wild Bill says. The funny part is... I'll usually pull behind them at the next stop light or when they catch up to another vehicle that's also doing the speed limit.
 
#5 ·
I like 4 seconds a whole lot better, especially on a bike.

the standard reaction time used in most cases that I am aware of is 1.5 seconds - thats the time it takes somebodys brain to see, process, and tell the body to react. theoretically, at 35 MPH, that car is going to travel 77 feet before he/she even touches the brakes.

some studies show that time is closer to 2 or 2.5 seconds in reality - and if distracted, forget about it
 
#6 ·
Well I motioned for them to go around and they wouldnt. I was thinking to myself if I can't see both headlights in the mirror I look at then they are too close. Not sure why I didn't think about turning off the road. I was going 35 and the speed limit is only 30 on this road.
 
#7 ·
I've found that a lot of bike mirrors can be deceiving. As in making the traffic behind you look to be following a lot closer than they actually are.

I like to get in an open area with no, to little traffic, then back my bike up to the front of a parked vehicle. I position my bike so the car behind me looks to be the same distance in my mirrors, as actual moving traffic looks to be in my mirrors. Then I turn around and see just how far the vehicle actually is behind my bike. You will either get very concerned, or relieved that the following traffic, is in actuality, a lot farther behind you than what it looks to be.

I've had quite a few sets of mirrors, (aftermarket mirrors are good at doing this), that really distorted the appearance of following traffic. Making me feel like they were always running up on me.

Hope this helps.....

Ride safe !!
 
#8 · (Edited)
Been out on the road now for 36 years trucking. I see the guys in groups come by me side by side all the time next set of bikes behind them less than 1/4 a second behind them.
Don't matter how good you think you can ride its not you that will get yourself killed most of the time but its your choice where you ride and giving yourself a out!!!

When you double (ride side by side) you take away your reaction space to anything that will and can happen in front of you.
When your teamed up 1/4 second to 1/2 second behind other bikes you have Zero where to go if someone goes down or something else happens .

I'm use to swinging wide at 80 foot long I can't tell you how many times bike riders are not paying attention and try and double beside me when turning. They stop quick when the ass end of that trailer starts moving over. then throw that hand up like what are you doing buddy. Just look at them and wonder what are they thinking???

You'll know i'm new to cruises, not new to bikes but these things don't react as fast as the crotch rockets and if your caught in one of those moments not sure what your riding will make that much difference.
I like staggered just not beside each other. Driving like I do for a living you see things quick you know you would never get out of and thats what worries me about doubling beside someone on a bike. I'll drop back listen to the rumble at the rear of the pack but I'll have the best view of whats fixing to happen to everyone . Bringing up the rear ain't half bad.......LOL
 
#9 ·
LR,

I don't like riding in large groups, even with a bunch of experienced riders riding staggard. Inevitably the group gets all bunched up from time to time, when that happens I know there are very few options if something bad happens. Side by side is OK when you are stopped at a light but that is about it.

WB
 
#10 ·
I agree with Bill,I;ll pull over in the first spot I see and let them go by.I,ve been in some large group of riders,some as big as 500 when we was escorting the Vietnam Memorial Wall,and we rode staggered in that group.If we have a smaller group,10-12,we might side by side but we know each other and are going the same place but we try to keep a distance between us but if we are on a interstate,we might make that distance longer.not too long cuz there is always somebody that tries to move in between us
 
#11 ·
avoid group riding like you would avoid trying to pet a rattlesnake = bad things happen when group riding
 
#13 ·
i think if others want to group ride, i think you should try to make the group with no more than 5 or 6 bikes in that group, if more going, then separate into groups of 5 or 6 and space the groups with distance between each group like 400 feet distance between each group
 
#15 ·
+1 Great Suggestion

Unfortunately a lot of clubs are not very well organized, so in a lot of cases 1 person knows the route and everyone else follows, this is fine if there are 4-6 riders. However if you get a larger group, folks near the back don't want to get left behind (lost, because they have no clue where they are going) this tends to lead to lots of problems like not stopping at stop signs just rolling through close to the A$$ of the bike in front, going too fast trying to catch up, taking corners too fast and in general taking a lot of chances that could be avoided, by having several riders know the route and lead a smaller group.

WB
 
#14 · (Edited)
I do not like people tailgating me especially when I'm on my bike. I live and ride in the country and at times there's no room to pull over. I'll pick up my speed to keep more distance if I'm unable to pull over. Of course I'm not going to go faster than road conditions allow. The distance that is too close depends on speed limit, road conditions, weather, etc.
 
#16 ·
watch their body language .... no amount of distance is going to matter if they are playing around with their cell phones, let em go by.
 
#17 ·
wild bill, what you said about group riding tends to leads to a lot of problems is a wise comment, because for me safety is my main concern
 
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