I always thought that was people being courteous and leaving a gap for me to take advantage of and make good progress
Filtering is illegal in Germany as is undertaking. Lots of bikers filter anyway and whenever I am in my car, I try to make room for them to pass through... 34 degrees OAT in a traffic jam is no fun on a bike. But (and here comes one of the ‘being German’ aspects, I really dislike with my people) quite a few vehicle drivers close the gap to the car next to them to hinder the biker from passing. Germans hate it, if anyone is quicker than themselves AND not abiding the LAW. This got worse in the last couple of years. Especially in city-areas. I try to avoid filtering due to the many idiots being busy with their cellphones and coffee-to-goes... ...while switching lanes and being totally ignorant towards other traffic. Turnsignals? What’s that? Red lights? CHALLENGE! Whenever you are standing at a red light and it switches to green, there will probably be one or even two cars passing and therefore crossing your lane on their RED light. With a quick bike, you would end up on their windscreen. Not so nice anymore...
How come, it is mainly BMW, Audi and Mercedes over here as well!? Those drivers all boast with their sportive image. Did anyone tell them what sport is about and that it does NOT mean, you have the RIGHT to be first!?
I am sure, you are the exception to the rule! When I talked to my dad about joining the army (he‘s a pacifist) years ago, he looked at me and said: „Do what you have to do. Anyway, I am convinced even they need some intelligent people in their club.“ I did not join. I felt, I wasn‘t the exception Oh! And he always drove a BMW sedan as long, as I can think back.
That's the trouble these days you never know which breed of nutter your going to encounter...i was terrible when i was younger and on the bike if you came close to threatening my life with your driving no quarter it wasn't wing mirrors it was whole panels or a window...never challenged. These day i have not had any problems on the bike probably dont ride enough but i am always swearing and hand signals in the car today's drivers are crap but i would certainly think twice about getting out of the car at my age. Funny incidents from the past... a mate was rather short tempered and got cut up and stopped the car who did it they both got out and the other driver just cold cocked him and left him spark out at the side of the road. One of mine ...was turning right at a staggered junction already moving and a builders truck comes out of the other side junction and causes me to swerve to miss him...me driving a custom car stops in the middle of the road and gets out an approaches the builders truck and the two burly guys inside just lock their doors and make lots of placating gestures...i am not a big guy...must have been the look on my face.
Dozers Dad Pity you hadn't dug the hole in you floor then as I am sure you would sorted him out there and then. Regards Joe.
If you carry a can of whoop ass you could open it only to find out it's empty, expired, or a cheap fake The cemeteries are full of people who had the right of way, or were in the "right" Food for thought, my companies risk managers states - do not swerve to avoid an accident, the rest can be sorted out in court maybe. Easy for them to say. You can't outrun a bullet. People in cars, are very well protected in a safety cage "cocoon" and invincible to their stupidity.