Suggestions for staying upright Pt. 1 of 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Suggestions for staying upright Pt. 1 of 3

35yearson

Member
[FONT=&quot]Some possible practices for riding in city/town traffic Pt. 1

Always monitor traffic ahead and around you. Scan to varying distances forward, 11 seconds ahead and points between you and this distance. If on a multi lane road, this provides opportunity for determining your safest lane choices.[/FONT]


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[FONT=&quot]When you see lane closures on multi lane roads ahead, you have some options. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1) Go as far as you can before the cones/barriers force you into the lane. This usually attracts negative attention as most drivers are perturbed at these last second “I’m more important than you driver”. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2) From the Riders perspective we are better off to merge some distance before and then we have the ability to let other vehicles in front with a wave or helmet nod as appropriate. This again, starts earning respect from other vehicle drivers. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3) Merge as soon as possible, best solution, avoids attention, but a little too challenging depending on the number of vehicles ahead. Best public relations.
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When in heavy or stop and go traffic on roads or highways, weather conditions permitting, use shadows cast by the vehicles, where possible to look ahead at traffic patterns. As traffic slows or stops shadows converge. This gives you advance warning of impending stop.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Also as traffic pulls away the shadow space increases.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So if you monitor the shadows and your pace, you can adjust your speed to avoid frequent stopping and starting.

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[FONT=&quot]Watch vehicle drivers habits/distractions as they travel from intersection to intersection to determine their habits, i.e. lane changer from light to light, 1st off the line, cellphone talker/texter (don't usually signal anything), arm waving talkers, heavy bass on Stereo, thump, thump, couldn't hear you anyway. Provide extra space around the above when you identify them.[/FONT]
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When approaching intersections, watch your back, again watching the driving habits helps determine attentiveness of the driver as noted above. If the light changes, can they stop, if you hear tires screeching behind you and the light is still yellow .......quick glance in all directions, and if safe move out of the way.[/FONT]

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Vary your speed when around other cars so you move ahead or behind them, so they are reminded of your presence.

Try to avoid steady speeds anywhere behind the vehicle front doors to 5 feet behind the rear bumper, (Still allows them to move over, but very close for your comfort if it occurs), if ahead of the front doors, they may see/hear you


Allow drivers space, as most cars follow too close, so when they have to stop suddenly to avoid another vehicle in front, guess where they try to escape, into your lane, even if you move over in the your lane away from the vehicles, you buy space and time.

Generally most drivers I find are reasonable, but when it comes to stop signs, the definition of "stop" has been redefined to "quick glance and roll through". At a 4 way Stop sign intersection, if in doubt, you are better to yield than try to contest, flick of the helmet or wave through with glove helps remind the driver acts of courtesy are still around.



Some ideas I have put in practice.[/FONT]
 

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