If you were in traffic on a motorway, would you notice…?

I’ve been commuting by motorbike for many years, on and off, and I’m currently doing J4 of the M3 into London, just over 25 miles. I filter past literally hundreds if not thousands of cars each day, mostly between lanes 2 & 3. Sometimes there’s virtually 10 miles solid of this.
Occasionally, maybe 2-8 times a day, someone spots me coming up behind and moves over to give me a bit of space. I like this because more than anything it shows that they’ve seen me, so I like to thank them for it, thing is, there’s no way I’m letting go of the bars to wave thanks at them, so I nod my head in their direction as I pass. I’ve been doing this for years, but I’ve never ever seen or heard of any other motorcyclist doing it.

If you were the driver, do you think you’d notice, or am I wasting my time? 🙂

Not sure I would notice it due to the full face helmet, tbh. You need a little illuminated sign on the back of your bike that says ‘Thanks!’ with a smiley face, activated by a button on the bars.

I thought most bikers made some gesture of thanks ? I did when I rode a few years ago.

Moved over for loads of motorcyclist and most will nod or raise their hand as a thanks.

It’s a sort of a sideways nod, if you see what I mean? As I’m just in front of the car.

I’ve had quite a few bikers ‘wave a foot’ after I’ve moved over a bit for them.

Worth a try!

I’ve had quite a few bikers ‘wave a foot’ after I’ve moved over a bit for them.

Yeah. Thought of that. I reckon I’m too close for that to be seen, or I’d just end up kicking the next car in the line!

Moved over for loads of motorcyclist and most will nod or raise their hand as a thanks.

Ahh, So I might not be the only one…. Good 🙂

OP, yes and the gesture is appreciated.

I’m usually looking for it to be honest.

I move over. The hand is always appreciated, a nod I have to look for, a foot is welcome and amusing.

I feel slightly aggrieved when I spot a motorcycle squeezing up between cars behind and I move over to give them extra room (checking the other side for another bike of course) and they don’t say thank you.

So keep doing it, as long as it’s safe as concessions are made when other motorists haven’t noticed and left a tiny gap.

As a ex biker, I always notice a nod of the head or a foot being stuck out.

However on a 120 mile journey today, I was almost sideswiped twice by other divers who didn’t ‘see’ me.
If these idiots can’t spot +2 tonnes of Volvo XC90, they ain’t gonna notice a nod!

Is it as few as that? Surprises me as I thought it was a common courtesy. Sometimes I get a nod, sometimes a wave, sometimes just a few fingers lifted off the bars but TBH I’m not that bothered as the bikes usually a bit busy so I appreciate its not always possible for them to acknowledge my move.

OP, yes and the gesture is appreciated.

I’m usually looking for it to be honest.

Cool. Nuff said.
On a more open road I’d wave, but not a chance of that in close proximity to solid M3 traffic, with my hands buried in muffs… 🙂

I’m not that bothered as the bikes usually a bit busy so I appreciate its not always possible for them to acknowledge my move.

That’s very true. 100% attention required to the task in hand

I never move – not because I am ignorant or haven’t noticed the person behind, but by moving I would be inviting them to make a manoeuvre that may actually be dangerous – for example, someone else may do something unexpected. It is 100% for the other party to drive according to the conditions as they perceive them.

Here’s another question then:

Lights. I can’t turn my headlight off, as bikes are all hard wired on these days, but what do we think to me having high beam and/or hazards on as I filter?

I’ve experimented and I’m not convinced it makes a difference

Thumb up off the bars a few times and the nod. Always do it if I see them coming then curse them as they cruise on by!

Attention seeking. Full beam irritating.

hazards would make it look like you are pretending to be emergency services or break down recovery etc and would probably get peoples backs up. Headlight should be sufficient.

Always have a cheery wave for anyone who moves over while I’m filtering even if 99 times out of 100 it makes no difference – I think some people are more concerned about their expensive mirrors than me

By the same token if I’m behind the wheel I’ll move over if there’s an accident on wheels coming through but I don’t expect an acknowledgement I’m just glad they missed my car!

Those who dont look still wont see you!
I reckon a fellow biker in their car will notice the nod.
When I commute on a busy a road I’m amazed how many will pull over for me to overtake when they clearly havent left a big enough space in front for me to land in. Of course you also get the ones who pull out to block you or who want to race you from the lights when you can see the next traffic jam for them to join.

I move over for motorbikes but I’ve never noticed any sign of thanks; but never until today given a thought to it!

I think I’d prefer the rider to stay on their bike tbh rather than fall off in a clatter trying to show appreciation.

Yeah,something like that gets noticed and is appreciated.

A wheelie would be better though.

Nods, legs waves and hands or thumbs all looked for and appreciated. Good things to collect on long journeys. I’m always saddened to think that so many people spend so much time staring blankly into the stationary numberplate a few yards ahead of them.

Always nice to be thanked but no big deal. My intent is not to be thanked but to make things safer for a more vulnerable road user. That is thanks in itself. A wavy foot always makes me smile but being thanked by a truck driver makes me feel really special. 😀

johndoh – Member
I never move – not because I am ignorant or haven’t noticed the person behind, but by moving I would be inviting them to make a manoeuvre that may actually be dangerous – for example, someone else may do something unexpected. It is 100% for the other party to drive according to the conditions as they perceive them.

Seriously? 🙄
Exactly what sort of manoeuvre could you possibly be thinking of? Edging the car slightly to the left by a foot or two is hardly “inviting them to make a manoeuvre that may actually be dangerous”!
And yes, it’s something I always do, if I’m moving and it’s possible for me to edge over to the left. And I’m usually, not always, but most of the time, rewarded with a thumb, a little wave, or a foot waggled! It’s appreciated. 😀

i always get given the boot when i pull over for or wave past the bikers in the Alps during the summer.

If you notice the bike, you’ll notice the nod, or slight raise of the fingers. I personally, even notice a glance back in the mirror (but then I was a motorcycle instructor for averal years).

Point is, in your scenario, drivers have alf selected into observant and non observant. You’re asking if the observant ones will notice a nod. I think you’re safe.

incidently, you are not allowed to filter through stationary here in the Vaterland….. bizarre. you are sat in a traffic jam and there will be a group (or solitary) bikers all staddling their machines. and this being Germany 99% of the people stick to the rules.

You should ride everywhere standing up. That would get you noticed.

If you were the driver, do you think you’d notice, or am I wasting my time?

I’d notice, but then I’m a biker.

I filter past literally hundreds if not thousands of cars each day, mostly between lanes 2 & 3. Sometimes there’s virtually 10 miles solid of this.

I use to commute M40, M25 and then M4 – once I filtered all the way from Beaconsfield to Richmond…, only added 10 mins to my journey. And then I was the only one in the meeting, as all my colleagues were late 🙂

A knee out on the relevant side seems to do the trick, and keeps your hands and feet on the controls.

In France this year, I noticed them all lowering their foot to say thanks.
I liked it

Lights. I can’t turn my headlight off, as bikes are all hard wired on these days, but what do we think to me having high beam and/or hazards on as I filter?

IME Big FO bike is needed, lots of lights and dressed up like a copper – and then you’ve a fighting chance that folk will see you.

I’ve got to be honest though, I’ve always found that riding like I own the road is the safest. It’s all about positioning and observation.

Seriously?
Exactly what sort of manoeuvre could you possibly be thinking of? Edging the car slightly to the left by a foot or two is hardly “inviting them to make a manoeuvre that may actually be dangerous”!

Absolutely serious. 100%.

Think about it – I pull over a bit to let them past, they assume that my moving has suggested it is safe, someone else does something stupid, they crash. It isn’t worth it. Of course this is only my opinion, but I strongly believe I am right in having it.

they assume that my moving has suggested it is safe,

I’m certain that the vast majority of filtering bikers would interpret this purely as “I’ve seen you” and appreciate the gesture. A biker who relied on a car driver to provide their observation for them would quickly become known as an organ donor.

The other thing you could do which is even more helpful is to increase your braking distance, so they’ve got an escape spot if needed.

As a ex biker, I always notice a nod of the head or a foot being stuck out.

Ditto. As someone else said, if a driver’s observant enough to see you to move over, they’re observant enough to see a “thanks.” I used to straighten my fingers out / up as a sort of half-wave without letting go of the bars.

what do we think to me having high beam and/or hazards on as I filter?

Hazards I’d wonder WTF you were doing and whether you were about to come axing across to the hard shoulder. Main (non-dipped) beam, I’d think you were a nob. Cos what you really want to do as you’re filtering through traffic is temporarily blind them.

I’d move slightly one way or the other if I see someone sensibly filtering. Can’t say I’ve ever noted any specific gesture of thanks, but I know they probably appreciate it.

If it’s slow moving and I see a lane swerver, serving between successive cars braking distances, then I’d cut them off and make them earn a pass.
In general, that seems to be suicidal scooters, at least here.

Have noticed that bikes on the autobahn here in Germany are pretty rare. Last one I saw was when I in a taxi at 200km/h indicated, and the biker came steaming past, wearing lid, jeans and t-shirt. Even the taxi driver exclaimed jesus effing christ!

It happens.
I notice.

It’s nice to be nice, NNTTM.

Full beam and hazards are not required.

All this talk of foot gestures on overtake has me recalling many halcyon days on 2 wheels on the continent; I always felt a bit giddy doing it when passing cars or other bikes in France, Spain, Italy etc. And it’s so much more ‘Top Gun’ when you pass a bike coming the other way and you take the left hand off the bars and do the pointy-salute thing.

Full beam on a motorway isn’t needed and just p!!!!s people off – They are mostly annoyed that we are filtering anyway (unless they are bikers too, then they are annoyed they didn’t bring the bike that day!)

However low beam is a must – I only just saw an ‘old school’ biker the other day whilst driving with his ancient twin and no hard wired headlight, black waterproofs etc. And as a biker, I’m really looking out for them too – total nutter