Lane Positioning + Safety Precautionary Habits

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renntecher

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Hi All,

Just wanted to get some street riding tips / input from the forum.

Which blocking position would you ride in given the following scenario:

In a two lane road ( two on each direction ). I usually ride in the blocking position closest to the middle of the two lanes ( either right blocking position of the left lane or the left blocking position of the right lane ).

I feel that in this position, I have the best reaction time for drivers making right hand turns without stopping or I can do the SMIDSY maneuver; increasing my visibility to the automobile turning left.

Recently I have found myself doing the SMIDSY maneuver a lot more as I am noticing a lot of drivers 'creeping' out either turning left or right.

What are some other safety tips you can share?

thanks!
 
renntecher said:
Hi All,

Just wanted to get some street riding tips / input from the forum.

Which blocking position would you ride in given the following scenario:

In a two lane road ( two on each direction ). I usually ride in the blocking position closest to the middle of the two lanes ( either right blocking position of the left lane or the left blocking position of the right lane ).

I feel that in this position, I have the best reaction time for drivers making right hand turns without stopping or I can do the SMIDSY maneuver; increasing my visibility to the automobile turning left.

Recently I have found myself doing the SMIDSY maneuver a lot more as I am noticing a lot of drivers 'creeping' out either turning left or right.

What are some other safety tips you can share?

thanks!
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Be in the right lane when approaching intersections when there are vehicles stopped in the left turn lane for your direction.
 
renntecher said:
is this to increase others visibility of you since the car in your direction may be blocking the other cars view of you?
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Exactly, to the point I ditch the blocking position and get close to the curb so they have the BEST chance of seeing me. It's saved my bacon about 3 times so far, from people starting to gun it thinking "if I can't see around the cars turning left in front of me, I guess it's safe if I gun it quick!".

Damn people, if you can't see YOU DON'T TURN LEFT! Wait for the ****ing amber and don't be in a rush :(
 
The only question becomes, if the car starts its left turn and pulls half way through the intersection then sees you and stops... and you feel your speed/road conditions aren't good enough to stop in time, do you swerve to the right around the front of the car (it's blocking your lane the least, but the driver keeps looking ahead like they plan on giving it), or swerve to your left to make it around the back of the car. This could be troublesome due to the concrete center median on the other side of the intersection, you could swerve left and stay left and go into the oncoming turn lane or oncoming main lanes (if empty)...

Always have a plan, worst case scenario, if that person pulls out, slams on brakes, does U turn in front of you, where can you go?
 
When I am in left lane, right tire track, and approaching an intersection with left turners I tend to move to the left tire track briefly. I do this most of the time when there is a truck van or suv in front of me. This way the left turning vehicle can see you better. I usually throw in a bit of smidsy too. Saved my butt many times
 
I have no hard fast rule, other than make myself as visible as I can depending on the situation. That might mean surfing the curb, staying way left, whatever I'm presented with, I come up with a plan. Toss in some lateral movement, because that does seem to work.
 
One thing I watch for is getting between a rock and a hard place. If you're making a left turn following a vehicle doing the same thing don't expect them to carry through. All to often they stop half way into a parking lot to let out granny with the wheelchair etc. You are left stuck out in traffic.

Or you wait until you can shoot behind the pedestrian out walking their cell phone. They suddenly decide they don't want to cross the street and do a brainless 180 into your path. Again, you're stuck out in traffic that was expecting you to keep moving.
 
In a two lane road ( two on each direction ).
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That's a 4 lane road - two lane is one in each direction and less nerve racking usually - 4 lane roads crossing each other with an additional left turn lane all directions are tricky to handle. Dundas and Winston Churchill is one - it's complicated with a double left turning lane from Dundas to Winston northbound.
A blocking car is your friend.

Use another vehicle as a block if you are going straight through.
Left side of the curb lane for my positioning if no shield vehicle available that way I can swing right / even turn right and hug the curb if some idjit turns left without seeing me.

WHile smidsy works further back it's the split second decisions nearer the intersection and you don't want to be weaving there. Lower gear and prepared to brake/turn.

Lot of this becomes second nature but you can still be surprised by the idjits
 
MacDoc said:
WHile smidsy works further back it's the split second decisions nearer the intersection and you don't want to be weaving there. Lower gear and prepared to brake/turn.
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You bring up a good point that perhaps is often forgotten. If someone is going make a last-minute, unexpected turn in front of you, you simply may not have the time to react and avoid. The best-case in this situation is that you were not travelling excessively fast. Rather, you were doing the speed-limit (or a bit under) and that last second grab for the brakes got you slowed down enough to be the difference between a couple bangs and bruises, or a broken bone (or worse).

If you are not VERY certain the car turn-left in front of you sees you (and won't turn) then slow down, and do all the other stuff suggested to avoid the possibility of a SMIDSY accident.
 
chiefswallow said:
Always have a plan, worst case scenario, if that person pulls out, slams on brakes, does U turn in front of you, where can you go?
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^yes this is key...always have a plan; whenever someone is heading in a path that could possibly cause a collision; I try to position myself so that the driver can see me.


mikbusa said:
I have no hard fast rule, other than make myself as visible as I can depending on the situation. That might mean surfing the curb, staying way left, whatever I'm presented with, I come up with a plan. Toss in some lateral movement, because that does seem to work.
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^Thank you for your answer; Its really good to bring this up again just as a refresher to keep this in our minds.




MacDoc said:
A blocking car is your friend.


Use another vehicle as a block if you are going straight through.


Left side of the curb lane for my positioning if no shield vehicle available that way I can swing right / even turn right and hug the curb if some idjit turns left without seeing me.


WHile smidsy works further back it's the split second decisions nearer the intersection and you don't want to be weaving there. Lower gear and prepared to brake/turn.


Lot of this becomes second nature but you can still be surprised by the idjits
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Totally agree with what you said here - thanks for tip with using the car for blocking; just becareful of drivers that change lanes in the middle of the intersection


Bagman said:
You bring up a good point that perhaps is often forgotten. If someone is going make a last-minute, unexpected turn in front of you, you simply may not have the time to react and avoid. The best-case in this situation is that you were not travelling excessively fast. Rather, you were doing the speed-limit (or a bit under) and that last second grab for the brakes got you slowed down enough to be the difference between a couple bangs and bruises, or a broken bone (or worse).


If you are not VERY certain the car turn-left in front of you sees you (and won't turn) then slow down, and do all the other stuff suggested to avoid the possibility of a SMIDSY accident.
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I recently went to Mister Safety and bought one of those crossing guard vests; I know it looks kind of goofy but I'd rather be seen and stay safe; I don't really care about what other people think about how silly I look; in fact I even think I look silly haha.


This is a good point regarding slowing down; it would make a big difference.
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