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The Conundrum Of Speed
Blog Date - 16 March 2015
How fast should a motorcyclist ride his motorcycle?
I am currently following a couple who are riding across Canada this winter on 2 Honda C90s. You can keep abreast of their shenanigans at wanderonahonda.co.uk, their tales of fun, frolics, breakdowns, bodges new friends and silliness makes for interesting reading. They have however received a complaint.
Honda C90s are not a fast machine. On the day in question it appears the couple were making their way down a long straight Canadian highway. As you might imagine the edges of the road were covered in snow but generally visibility was fair to good. The complaint states that a lady driver had to swerve to avoid them as they were travelling so slowly in such poor conditions. While that particular incident was minor the complainant rather rudely points out that their actions could easily lead to a severe accident that could injure or kill several road users, not just the riders.
I have come across several other examples of this thinking. Here is a link (Youtube Video) to a video of 2 riders crossing Australia on Sym Symbas, an updated version of the Honda C90. PLEASE NOTE! The video contains swearing so it's not for the kids. To summarise the situation is the very similar, some rather gobby woman is effing and cursing at the riders as they weren't going fast enough and she had to brake hard to avoid them.
Personally my preferred method of transport is my Honda CBF 125. While it is a tiny bit faster than a C90 or Sym Symba it is certainly not a fast bike. For the most part it can keep up with the traffic but when I'm loaded up with camping gear and facing a hill and a headwind things can get mighty slow. I am not at all bothered, I ride to see the places I ride through, I no longer desire to whizz through them. I am aware though that many many drivers and even other riders are not happy if I'm not moving along swiftly.
When it's loaded up like this my 125 is never going to be a pocket rocket.
I will ensure other road users can pass when it is safe to do so. I am aware that not everyone leaves that extra 5 minutes to get to work. I am aware that most motorcyclists are speed demons and not sightseers. I am aware that I sometimes slow other road users down.
What is the right philosophy on this?
Legally I am not required to maintain a certain speed, except for the rare stretches of road that have minimum speed limits. If I choose to travel at 30mph in a 60 zone there is no specific law to stop me doing this. I'm sure there are "catch all" laws that could be applied though, I could be charged with blocking the highway, driving in a manner that endangers other road users or driving without due consideration for other road users. It is a grey area, a legal outcome would depend on the particular magistrate or judge, the mood of the officer on the day, the road itself and of course the skills of my lawyer.
Counter to this is the fact that cyclists and horse riders are typically given the full support of the law. While I know many motorists despise these slow movers woe-betide anyone who scares a horse with a horn or cuts up a cyclist while the authorities are watching. In the Highway Code rules 214 and 215 make it clear that horses (and other animals) should be treated carefully. It is expected that cyclists and horses will not be moving at full traffic pace and as such due care should be taken or the law will rightly protect them.
There are the best roads for riding slowly.
It seems then that a motorcyclist who chooses not to travel at the normal pace of the traffic could fall into a gap in the law between protecting slower road users and protecting the flow of everyday road users.
There are other situations where road speed is not "typical". No-one would expect a 1920's vintage motor car to be hurtling down the M6 at 70mph. A Hearse with a coffin inside will often be seen travelling at barely even jogging pace yet no-one bats an eyelid. These things are anticipated, understood and more often than not expected. Motorcycles however are normally expected to be overtaking everything in sight, blasting by at interstellar speeds and generally considered a nuisance by being too fast.
So when Mr and Mrs Car Driver see a horse they slow down, it's the done thing. When they see a cyclist they don't expect him to be doing more than 20mph. When they see a Hearse or Limousine they're aware they might be in a funeral procession. When they see a vintage motor they understand it is unlikely to be hurtling around the next roundabout. Yet when the see a motorcycle, large or small, they expect it to be moving as fast if not a lot faster than the "typical" traffic. If I'm not moving at that speed I am doing something unexpected, unusual. That confuses and upsets other road users.
Any arguments fall into the category of "a matter of opinion". In my opinion if someone chooses to ride a motorcycle at a gentle pace then they are being a safer rider and the other road users should be thankful for their care and consideration and take equal care and consideration as they approach and maybe even pass the rider. Motorists are expected to give good grace to slower road users like horses and cyclists, older drivers, tractors and sometimes even lorries.
However! If a motorcyclist does choose to ride slowly he or she needs to be aware that they are doing something that is contrary to the typical attitude of most motorcyclists. This confuses other road users and anything that confuses the masses will upset the masses.
Reader's Comments
Tony Wilkins said :-
As a fellow CBF 125 rider I see what you mean.
I too enjoy getting out into the country and seeing this wonderful coutryside, taking my time and stopping when I want.
Its a shame that so many seem to think the national speed limit is a minimum rather than a maximum. Being tailgated at 60mph is not fun! But I guess thats another subject :)
I'm sure part of the problem is that bikes and cars are so powerful these days, and much is made of making progress.
Why is everyone in such a rush?
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Tony. In my experience everyone is in a rush because they can't organise their time properly! The people who leave for work at the very last moment, those who think it takes 10 minutes to do a half hour journey and those who dilly-dally around the house so have to rush on the road.
Then there are those who are simply aggressive. It's no longer the preserve of the boy racer or high flying business executive, I've noticed school run mum and family going shopping are just as likely to be tailgating me while doing 30...in a 30 zone.
Oh well, it's all part of the fun I guess. Gives me something to moan about doesn't it.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Drew said :-
I'd much rather have an experienced 125 rider like yourself than a kid on a scooter inexperienced and untrained.
I'm no speed demon and sometimes get tailgated. I take the opportunity to teach these people patience. Without being dangerous of course!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
John said :-
I'm not sure moving slower than average constitutes blocking the highway. I think it is (rightly) up to the overtaking vehicle to do so safely. It's only a problem if the vehicle which is being overtaken blocks the way without good reason or speeds up. Oh, and, only a nutter rides in the gutter. You should never expect another road user to endanger themselves for the sake of your wish to make more progress.
The stereotypical Nissan Almera being driven down the middle of the road at exactly 40mph, regardless of speed limit, by a man in a tweed suit who probably hasn't even checked his mirrors for the last 20 minutes anyway, is obviously not acceptable. Not because of the speed as such. More because he is oblivious to other road users.
I've no time whatsoever for anyone who would have a problem with someone traveling slowly but safely. They tend to be the same sort of people who think cyclist shouldn't use the road and then park on footpaths blocking them for pedestrians. It's inconsiderate selfishness basically. No room for that on the public highway but it is the way many people behave when then get in their cages. My right to the public highway is the same if I'm walking, cycling, biking or driving unless otherwise posted. Being faster gives you no more right to the highway and nor should it.
That said, I think you do right to make an effort to get traffic past you if you are gently dawdling and there are not safe passing opportunities (but how often does that happen in real life). To not do so is it's self slightly inconsiderate.
On a side note, to the annoyance of my wife, when we are on long motorway trips, I tend to sit at wagon speed. I do this because it uses considerably less fuel and that matters to me. I also leave a good gap between me and the vehicle I'm (rarely) following. This means I'm almost never having to brake, another huge waste of fuel. The way I see it, if you're having to use your brakes on a flowing motorway then either you're doing it all wrong or a twit in an Audi (other cars to drive in an inconsiderate manner are available) decided to leave it just slightly to late to get in lane for the exit he wanted. This then saves me money to buy soap boxes to stand on. I'll get off this one now. Bed time. Need to make my Horlix and calm myself down.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Ah John, the old fuel economy thing is, as you know, close to my heart. Even in a car or a big powerful motorcycle there are savings to be made by driving gently.
Your comment about the Audi (and other cars for example BMW) made me laugh! It would be unfair to say all executive car drivers are in a rush but they make up a considerable proportion of the "coming through!" brigade. I suppose if you've spent silly money on what is basically a mobile house extension then you feel you've also purchased the ownership of all the road and all other road users are trespassers.
That said I find school run mum can be very aggressive these days too.
The law often uses the term "reasonable" which of course is very much a perspective thing. Is it reasonable to expect a small motorcycle battling a headwind on a dark, wet night on a motorway? If I were to be rear ended while doing 45mph on this wet and windy motorway the driver might argue it was "unreasonable" for me to be on the motorway. I hope I never find out.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
said :-
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Monk said :-
You don't need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!I take care and don't ride my CBF 125 'recklessly' 'she' takes me from A-B and back again, mostly at a sedate but far from sedated mph. I've never been faster than 60mph because she won't do more so why push it. I don't know if this is relevant but it's like the bloke I once knew who was in the eighth army stationed in the desert where they used to have to go to the toilet after digging a hole in the sand. I said to him "what about the flies" his reply was, for me, amusing, "You don't worry about them... they're behind you"!Rightly or not,It's how I see car drivers, mostly.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Tony Wilkins said :-
Its a shame we have to be concerned about speed. Maybe all road users should actually think people rather than bike/car/lorry/cyclist.
Every rider / driver is someone, someones son/daugher/brother/sister/husband/wife not a nameless shape that is in the way.
I have always wondered why driving tests are concerned about making progress. It leads to people wanting to get from A - B as quickly as they can, to feel the pressure of "must make progress"
Maybe the driver training / test should have a bit more input on awareness of other perhaps more funerable road users. Then we could all chill and just enjoy the ride. Perhaps things have changed since 1980 when I passed my driving test? There was still an emphasis on progress when I took my bike test in 2014.
Maybe I'm an old hippy at heart. Peace love an flower power everyone :)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Tony. I haven't done a test recently but as far as I'm aware "making progress" is still an intrinsic part of the test. While the highway code does make firmly clear other road users must be considered it can be double edged, ie, take into consideration older drivers and horses etc there are also mentions of not hindering other road user's progress as well. It's all in the interpretation I suppose.
I know what you mean about viewing other vehicles as vehicles and not the people within. I'm guilty of this too if I'm honest. I say "that truck cut me up!" and not "the man driving that truck cut me up!" We see objects like cars and buses, even pedestrians. We should see people with families and jobs and holidays and desires. We dehumanise other road users.
What a strange quirk of the human experience. I wonder how we could change that?
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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