So I cycle a bit in BKK, always 100km a week sometimes 4 times that. We all know about the volume of traffic but I want to ask, are there legal requirements over the amount of distance and space other vehicles are given? Not just front and back but to the side also. I had two motorbikes come so close to me last week, we were parallel, they gave me 6 inches of room! No accident thankfully. Don't they understand a bicycle isn't a straight as a car and motorbike going forward. We move from side to side more than they do. If I take my hand off the handlebars to wipe my forehead, I move a little to the side. I ride a hybrid. What can I do to make sure I ride super straight (although its pretty damn straight already). I don't want to stray into some motorbike that generously gives me 6 inches of room to the side.  

I think raising the front of the bike, effectively putting more of an angle on your forks, will make your bike even more straight-line stable, at the expense of being slightly harder to turn.

 

More practically, you could learn the Thai for "More space please", for motorcyclists

 

SC

I suspect the expression stated above is inappropriate due to its politeness. I was a little more direct on both occasions.

Ive noticed that its woman more than men who come too close and also dont take into consideration the often unusable area of road next to the pavement due to potholes, detritus etc etc

Yes agreed there