Assistant Director Don Oldaker found these excellent riding tips on the Internet. Read and think about these and you’ll be a much safer rider. Close your eyes and recall your last ride in heavy traffic. Imagine the vehicles surrounding you, crowding you, cutting you off. Imagine yourself monitoring closing speeds, reading street signs, noticing and anticipating traffic lights. Then imagine guessing what pedestrians will do, or how slippery that painted line might be. And those drivers with cell phones, newspapers or screaming kids to deal with…Imagine trying to guess what they’re going to do. Riding in traffic can be a nightmare, especially for street-riding newcomers. Is it any wonder so many motorcyclists crash and burn while riding on congested streets? It’s amazing how many different tasks motorcyclists deal with on a normal traffic-choked commute. Doing it successfully means processing a multitude of items at once and reacting correctly to each. Doing it wrong can mean roadkill – – the human kind. Here are 15 smart strategies for dealing with traffic-choked streets.
WATCH DRIVERS’ HEADS AND MIRRORS Watching the head movements of drivers through their windows and mirrors is an excellent way to anticipate sudden moves. Most drivers won’t lunge left or right without first moving their heads one way or another (even if they don’t check their mirrors.)
TRUST YOUR MIRRORS, BUT NOT TOTALLY Your bike’s mirrors can be lifesavers, but they don’t always tell the entire story even if they’re adjusted properly. In traffic, always buttress your mirror-generated rear view wit ha glance over the appropriate shoulder. Do it quickly and you’ll add an extra measure of rear-view and blind-spot knowledge to your info-gathering tasks.
NEVER GET BETWEEN A VEHICLE AND AN OFFRAMP This sounds almost too simple, but drivers who decide to exit at the last minute kill plenty of riders each year. The simple rule, then, is to never position yourself between a vehicle and an off ramp. Passing on the right is generally a no-no, but in this day and age it’s sometimes necessary. So if you do it, do so between exits or cross-streets.
COVER YOUR BRAKES In traffic you must often react extra quickly, which means not fumbling for the brake lever or pedal. To minimize reach time, always keep a finger or two on the brake lever and your right toe close to the rear brake pedal. When that cell phone-yakking dorkus cuts across your path trying to get to the 7-eleven for a burrito supreme, you’ll be ready. rivers, especially in heavy traffic.
BE NOTICED Make sure drivers and pedestrians can see you, even from a distance. Ride with you high beam on during the day and wear brightly colored gear, especially your helmet and jacket.
BE READY WITH POWER In traffic, ride in a gear lower than you normally would so your bike is ready to jump forward instantly if asked. Doing so gives you the option of leaping ahead instead of being limited to just using the brakes when that pickup suddenly moves over.
TRAFFIC SLOWING? STAY LEFT (OR RIGHT) When traffic slows suddenly, stay ot the left or right of the car in front of you. This will give you an escape route if needed. It will also keep you from becoming a hood ornament if the car behind you fails to stop in time. Once you’ve stopped, be ready – clutch in, your bike in gear and your eyes on the mirrors. You never know.
PRACTICE THE SCAN Constantly scanning your entire environment while riding – from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to blind spots to your left and right rear – keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react. Dwelling on one area too long – watching only behind or in front of you, for instance – is just begging for trouble.
LEFT-TURN TREACHERY When approaching an oncoming car that’s stopped and about to turn left, be ready, Your brights should be on so the driver can see you (during the day), but don’t rely on this to save you. Watch the car’s wheels or the driver’s hands on the steering wheel; if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, whichever seems best for the situation.
STUDY THE SURFACE Add asphalt conditions to your scan. Be on the lookout for spilled oil, antifreeze or fuel: it’ll usually show up as a shiny pavement. Also keep an eye out for gravel and/or sand, which is usually more difficult to see. Use your sense of smell too; often you can smell spilled diesel fuel before your tires discover how slippery the stuff is.
RIDE IN OPEN ZONES Use your bike’s power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. In any grouping of vehicles there are always some gaps; find these and ride in them. Doing so will separate you from four-wheelers, give you additional room to maneuver and allow you to keep away from dangerous blind spots. And vary your speed. Riding along with the flow can make you invisible to other drivers, especially in heavy traffic.
