Motorcycle Training Forum

[mrkurt]

Hi all, I'll be taking my test in about a month, I haven't had any lessons yet but I was just wondering what is the recommened thing to do in these situations.

1, you come to a roundabout and the traffic is heavy and there is a load of cars stationary on the roundabout nearly all the way around it, there is a small gap big enough for a bike not a car, should you go through it?

2, you come to a busy two lane one way street, the traffic is head to tail on the furthest lane away from you, the nearest one is empty. you need the furthest lane, you have been waiting for people to let you in, they either don't or whenever they do a car comes in the closest lane so you can't pull out, so they give up and close the gap they offered you. Your waiting and waiting, cars behind are getting annoyed, what should you do?

(in the past i've even had cars bumping my back tyre trying to get me to go into the lane i don't want, I usually end up going in the lane I don't want then pull alongside the cars in the other lane and sweeze my way in further up the road. People in cars just pull out and block the other lane until someone lets them in. I'm not crazy enough to try that on a bike as the traffic comes along the empty lane about 30mph)

Anyway any ideas what to do if we come to these roads on the test? I don't want to fail for being over cautious.

MrKurt

[Rjhmt]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum, why not introduce yourself in the introduce to the gang section?

The advise I would give to your queries as follows:

[b]1, you come to a roundabout and the traffic is heavy and there is a load of cars stationary on the roundabout nearly all the way around it, there is a small gap big enough for a bike not a car, should you go through it?


Whilst when you have passed your test this manouvre can be perfectly legal, providing there are no signs or road markings to say different! I would advise not doing so on your test, unless the examiner suggested/asked you to do so. keep it safe!


[b]2, you come to a busy two lane one way street, the traffic is head to tail on the furthest lane away from you, the nearest one is empty. you need the furthest lane, you have been waiting for people to let you in, they either don't or whenever they do a car comes in the closest lane so you can't pull out, so they give up and close the gap they offered you. Your waiting and waiting, cars behind are getting annoyed, what should you do?

In this situation, you would need to demonstarte a confident, making progress approach!
I would suggest emerging into the nearest lane at the earliest opportunity to complete 50% of your manouvre, then get into a right side of lane position with right indicator on and wait for an opportunity to emerge into the furthest lane!

Be patient and someone will let you emerge, be prepared to make the manouvre as soon as someone gives you the opportunity!

This would be seen as making reasonable progress given the road and traffic conditions.

If you sit and wait to get into the furthest lane, through the nearest lane in one manouvre, (this is why you are probably struggling to get there) then cars coming along in the nearest lane probably are unaware of your intentions.

Do not feel intimidated by vehicles behind, you would want to show confidence and safety.

Hope this helps

[rjh_786Bn]

Hey Mr Kurt, did you take your bike test?