Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Riding in traffic

What works for me is riding in the left lane as much as possible. This way I only have to worry about the people on the right, especially on the freeways. On surface streets I ride in the right part of the left lane, so I can react to oncoming left turners and people crossing from the left. Vegas seems to attract some of the worst drivers, confused tourists, new arrivals (about 5,000 per month) and assorted lunatics. Combine that with almost constant road des...er construction, and, like everywhere, we must stay extra vigilant and refine our skills.

Yeah, it's crazy around here at times. Definitely a lot of construction/destruction going on - virtually every major thoroughfare. I too ride the left lane, to not have to worry about cages on both sides. Allows the left shoulder as an escape route too, when there is a left shoulder. Fortunately I don't have to put up with much of the stuff, as when I'm going riding I'm usually gettin out of town. When I do ride across town, it's more apt to be on a weekend (more road closures/construction/maintenance), or later at night (after 9?) when a lot of traffic has subsided (but more lane closures for maintenance). Gotta ride the country roads - the city is just no fun. I do very little boulevard cruising - just don't get out much if I've no where to go.

I keep an ongoing estimate of where drivers around me can see the best and try to stay in that spot. Yes, I realise that this doesn't really matter that much because it depends on someone actually troubling themselves to look, and that just doesn't happen.

Hi Bill,

Although my wife likes me to ride in the right column of the right lane, I tend to ride where I have the best possible chance of being seen and where I have the best choices of both an escape route and reaction time. I, like you, tend to ride

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in the left lane as much as possible.

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for the same reasons.

I just like to go faster than everyone else.

Ditto that, Yota. I don't sound safer, but it feels safer.

When riding solo on a two lane road I will ride the left side of my lane. When riding solo on a four lane road I will ride the left side of the outside lane and the right side of the inside lane. This provides me with the best view forward and aft of me. Enables me to shift lanes if needed with the least amount of movement. It insures me the use of more road on both sides if I have to take evasive maneuvers. It helps cars in front and behind to see me on the road and it helps me maintain my location or space on the road (so they don't pull over into my lane). It helps cars turning left or right onto the road to see me and most of all helps me see then just in case they are not looking.

Tom

Can't argue with that, Tom.

Hi Tom,

I could not have stated it better....

bigbill,

I also try to stay within 5mph of the speed limit when riding in heavy traffic. If you try going any faster then the cars turning onto (or into) your traffic flow most times won't see a bike. Most cagers are trained to look for other cars and if you are going faster than the flow then you just turn into a ghost. Thus their excuse to the Police that, "I didn't see the bike". Also if you are within 5 mph of the speed limit you can stop or react in time to avoid being T-boned.

About the only time I will violate this is if I see a large gap in the traffic and I will try and put myself in it. I don't care if I have to speed up or slow down. An area devoid of cars is worth occupying. It allows me a short period were I can relax just a little. Which is one reason why I liked splitting lanes when I use to live in CA. In city traffic the only time I was around cars was at the traffic light waiting for the light to turn green.

Tom

I totally agree with Tom. The only thing I would add is when making turns, especially blind turns. First I slow down and keep the revs up. Turning right I approach the turn in the center of the lane and apex far right. Left turns, I approach on the right side of the lane and apex at the middle of the lane. This allows room and power if some cage crosses the double yellow.
Dave

I agree Dave, by approaching turns this way it also allows you to see around the turn (if there are any obstructions) before actually starting the turn.

Tom

Tom, I agree for the most part. Traffic speed probably plays a larger role in my speed than the speed suggestion. I also keep my engine in the power band so I can get out of the way of those who don't see me. Also helps with braking. Absolutely, I will take a spot without cars over one with cars, as long as there are no blind intersections.

Since we are all in agreement, there are several assumption I always make when riding in traffic. 1. People in cages cannot see me (that is my job). 2. They cannot hear me (I don't care how loud the pipes are). 3. They would all try to run me over if they could see or hear me (on several occassions they have tried).

Tom
May the force be with you, young Jedi riders.....

Amen

There are some great tips & info in this thread. Thanks!
I prefer to stay invisible.... They can't see us anyway.
When I throw my leg over my saddle, I disappear. We all have to remember the pencil test. Sometime, when you're coup'd up in your car/truck/suv and see a bike coming toward you, have your passenger hold a pencil arm's length in front of them a let them see the pencil hide the bike.
Fear affects my driving when someone is tailgating me and I can't get away. People don't realize that if you rear end a car, you tear up vehicles. You rear end a motorcycle - you kill someone. Thanks again.
Dennis

We used to have a saying on the old boards - Ride like they're trying to kill you, because they are.....

If you expect "4 wheelers" to drive like idiots, you won't often be dissapointed.

If I'm in a scary situation on the highway, I just close my eyes tight until it goes away.

I'm glad thats worked for you most of the time. I imagine that can be pretty scary in itself!

Had an old biker friend years ago tell me ride the middle man and hold your lane. Ride either side and those darn fools will try sneak up beside you. He's still alive and been a biker for as long as memory serves. I usually ride the middle.

ever notice when watching a race and there is an accident, that the guy in the lead is never involved??? i like being out front. hahahahahha my wife complains that she thinks my handlebars are draggin in the left lane in oncomming traffic??? (well oncomming can see me) if i have 2 lanes going the same way i hang the line and use both lanes(like tom said) its when there are more than 2 that i get nervous hahahahahaha

For the most part, I ride the same as Tom explained. My ride to work is almost all 4 lane split highways. I almost always ride in the left lane, nearly on the center line.

I have found that in MN, if you ride about a foot or two to the left of the center line (on a four lane road), most cars actually move over to the right and give you more space. They get uncomfortable when the get next to a bike that is riding close to them. The also will rarely match your speed when you ride that way. Obviously not all cars will give you space, but I do find that most of them do. The louder pipes help too.

I think this spot makes me the most visable, and I can see the best. Here is a pic to demonstrate (notice the blue car is giving me space):

Triumphant
Cool, the picture reminds me of Frogger, I tried making the bike move with my arrow keys, but no luck.

Sometimes riding in traffic feels like frogger!

A lot of video games are based on real life....