Good Guide to urban riding, any comments or additions ?

While the lists points should already be apparent to experienced riders think putting them in point form makes them easily understood and theirfore useful.


Does anyone have any comments or additions to belows " MCNs Good Guide to urban riding " ?


1. Be alert – It’s natural for your concentration to waver during a journey, but in this state you’re extremely vulnerable to sudden hazards. Rest regularly or simply stop riding if your mind keeps wandering.

2. Be judgmental – If a car’s banged up and held together by sticky tape it’s fair to say the driver is no stranger to accidents. Beware.

3. Look up – The further you look, the more you’ll see. Knowing everything that’s going on around you is key to avoiding dangerous situations. Don't be afraid to move to get a better view.

4. Anticipate problems – The more time you have to react to a hazard the more likely you are to deal with it safely. Police riders recommend commenting aloud on an upcoming hazard, detailing what you intend to do.

5. Put two and two together – A stationary bus means pedestrians, a bouncing ball in the road means children at play, a bare, open road means crosswinds. Experience can help you predict hazards before they appear.

6. Check your blind spots – Doing your rearward safety checks isn’t just something you do to pass your test, it’s a potentially life-saving habit. Make sure you keep it up.

7. Check your speed – At 70mph the shortest distance for a complete stop is 96m.

8. Keep your distance – staying a safe distance behind the vehicle in front will increase your range of vision as well as giving you space to stop in an emergency. "


List is from Motorcycle News UK | Motorbikes | MCN site and is MCN's guide to urban riding:

 

Ride/Read "The Pace".

 

9. If there is one, there is probably at least two; this mostly applies to deer, raccoons, etc.
10. Half of the other drivers can't see you. The other half can, and they want to hit you.
11. Don't out-drive your headlight at night. If you can't see it in time to avoid it, you're going too fast (roughly coincides with 3 & 8 above).

Good idea, John451! It's always good to refresh these sort of things.

 

One that fits with your 10 - Be aware of your positioning on a multilane road, always assume the guy in the center lane will panic just remembering they need to take next exit off without checking blind spots as you are ride the inside or outside lane.

 

When making a turn, signal well in advance. When slowing for the turn flicker your brake light with the front lever first to get the attention of the guy behind. Always press one of the brakes hard enough to turn the brake light on when slowing, even if most of your decel is done by engine braking and down shifting. Just a little something i like to do.

 

11- Look at the road surface before entering a corner or entrance/exit ramp. If it's shiny then the surface is real smooth or may have diesel fuel on it.

12- When country road riding slow when topping a crest where you can't see what's on the other side. Things like tractors, Amish buggies and fresh mowed grass my be in the road. Also country corners for fresh mowed grass. Farmers just let it go in the road.

13- expect everybody to pull out in front of you. Even if they make eye contact.

14- If racing at Nelson Ledges at night, watch out for the bull frogs on the back straight. or Woodchucks to run across the front straight day or night.

 

I like to have a clear distance from everyone while riding especially on the Hi way in So. Cal
look around for any agressive drivers and be ready..... at all time

 

15. When pulling up to a set of traffic lights, keep the bike in first gear after you stop. In case the car behind you doesnt.

 

Something I do on every red light in my city commute, unfortunately didn't stop me being rear ended one time when long stopped on Red the SUV stopped behind accelerated inexplicably straight ahead on a Green Right turn lanes arrow without realising the straight ahead lanes light was still Red.

When questioned why he accelerated from stationary into my rear on a Red light he just mumbled that he assumed the light straight had turned Green with the right lanes Green arrow and as I on a bike would naturally accelerate quicker than him ??

Luckily being fully gear I was more shocked at being unexpectedly being launched through an intersection from behind than injured and as he was apologising profusely and his insurance covered my bikes repair I wasn't too mad but scary to think their are Car drivers on the road that drive by assumption without paying attention to reality.

 

yep!!......

 

Allways stop to the right or left of the car in front of you at stops and watch the mirrors, then you have a way out if a car comes from behind and can't stop.

I try to use cars next to me as blockers when going thru intersections, especially if it looks like a car may turn.

 

When on the highway with semi's, big RV's and buses I watch the front tire when passing. Where ever that tire goes so does the rest of the vehicle. Saved me several times.

 

I lost track of the numbers... (?) 18. If you are staying in one lane, change positions often (left side to right side, etc.). Try to keep a line of sight at least 3 vehicles ahead for brake lights and road debris. Moving back and forth occasionally also alerts or reminds others of your presence.