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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: ScooterWolf on November 04, 2010, 06:34:33 PM
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On my commute to work I've notice that I prefer to ride in the passing lane when on a highway. In my case it's a 3-lane highway with a barrier on the left between the highway holding traffic going the opposite way. I've been doing this on the advice of a friend who said it was the safest place to ride because other drivers can only enter your lane from the right, middle lane. Riding in the middle lane means traffic can merge into yours from the left or right, and riding in the right lane means traffic can merge into yours from the left (middle) lane, or from traffic merging from an on ramp, gas station, commercial store, etc ...
Oddly, when riding at night I prefer the middle lane because my lights can't fully illuminate what's to my side, while cars traveling in the left and right lanes give me the illumination that I need, especially when they approach to pass.
Anyway, I was wondering what others' highway riding strategies were?
-Wolf
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On my commute to work I've notice that I prefer to ride in the passing lane when on a highway. In my case it's a 3-lane highway with a barrier on the left between the highway holding traffic going the opposite way. I've been doing this on the advice of a friend who said it was the safest place to ride because other drivers can only enter your lane from the right, middle lane. Riding in the middle lane means traffic can merge into yours from the left or right, and riding in the right lane means traffic can merge into yours from the left (middle) lane, or from traffic merging from an on ramp, gas station, commercial store, etc ...
Oddly, when riding at night I prefer the middle lane because my lights can't fully illuminate what's to my side, while cars traveling in the left and right lanes give me the illumination that I need, especially when they approach to pass.
Anyway, I was wondering what others' highway riding strategies were?
-Wolf
This depends only on one thing: your speed vs. speed of the traffic in the lane you are in.
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Anyway, I was wondering what others' highway riding strategies were?
In many countries you don't have a choice of lane, you have to keep right (most EU countries) or left (GB, India, Japan) if you don't actually pass other vehicles.
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What lane I ride in depends on what risks are presented to me. I am going to ride in whatever lane is going to remove or minimize as many risks as possible. I tend to ride closer to the center of overall road, away from merging "gutter" traffic that cannot see me due to shallow line of sight and bad viewing angles and where on-coming traffic (higher risk of major accident) can see me. Right side or left side would depend on what country you are in but the rules are the same.
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What lane I ride in depends on what risks are presented to me. I am going to ride in whatever lane is going to remove or minimize as many risks as possible
..i know that's right......
:-\
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I know here in the US the left lane is supposed to be for passing only, even though 95% of people dont abide by this law they still do it, but I cant say I have seen a scooter in the left lane on a highway, I never had the balls to do it.
Right lane I would say.
3 lanes each way is a 6 lane highway, 2 lanes is a secondary road,
6 lane highways here the traffic is moving 75-80MPH in the left lane.
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6 lane highways here the traffic is moving 75-80MPH in the left lane.
..at least!!
..here, tractor trailers are not allowed in the furthest right-hand lane, if it's three lanes or more in one direction...
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... then look over your left shoulder... here I come!
Big fat guy on P250 with ratty plastics. I run in the left lane all the time. I even split/share between lane 1 and 2 when the traffic back up on the freeways here.
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..tech, check out these ratty plastics!!..lol..
"http://kymcoforum.com/index.php?topic=3109.15"
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The highway I take is a three lane route with a posted speed limit of 45 mph. Average flow of traffic is 55-65 mph, where I do about 55-60. It's about a 3-4 mile stretch that takes one to the Ben Franklin Bridge over to Philly. I agree about finding a bubble to stay safe and to drive so that you can see and be seen. I actually do that more when I'm crossing the bridge, but the highway before that has a row of gas stations and liquor stores along the right of the route were traffic is constantly merging and exiting. I find I'm safest in the far left lane with the division barrier between my scooter and on coming traffic from the opposite side.
I was curious if anyone has a serious commute to and from work if they've adapted a strategy for riding that deviates from the motorcycle/scooter safety manual, especially with driving at night.
-Wolf
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I was curious if anyone has a serious commute to and from work if they've adapted a strategy for riding that deviates from the motorcycle/scooter safety manual, especially with driving at night.
-Wolf
Well, I do not know what should be the "manual rules", but I try to be fast enough and not have other vehicles behind or (especially) beside me. If there is somebody in front of me, I keep plenty of distance. Also, if I can, I overtake it. I use whatever lane necessary and if I am slower than the vehicle behind me, I move to the right lane in order to let it pass in front of me. I wonder why this topic even exists, isn't all this logical?
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4 or more lanes, usually the right lane (US) unless passing or traffic in right lane is just too slow. With the X500 you can run in the left or middle lane at whatever speed traffic is running. On the expressway not uncommon to run 70 - 75 MPH in left lane unless it's rush hour then it can alternately 10 MPH down to stopped... That's when my clutch hand is happy to be on the scooter. ;)
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Well, I do not know what should be the "manual rules", but I try to be fast enough and not have other vehicles behind or (especially) beside me. If there is somebody in front of me, I keep plenty of distance. Also, if I can, I overtake it. I use whatever lane necessary and if I am slower than the vehicle behind me, I move to the right line in order to let it pass in front of me. I wonder why this topic even exists, isn't all this logical?
My commuting style seems to go against conventional logic -- and works. I was wondering if I was alone in this style. I still use the 2 second follow distance rule, but limiting where merging traffic is coming from means I only have to check my mirrors for who's behind me and a mirror and head check for the right lane in case I do need to switch lanes. My scooter's a 175cc so I can run with most of the big boys in their cages.
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My commuting style seems to go against conventional logic -- and works. I was wondering if I was alone in this style. I still use the 2 second follow distance rule, but limiting where merging traffic is coming from means I only have to check my mirrors for who's behind me and a mirror and head check for the right lane in case I do need to switch lanes. My scooter's a 175cc so I can run with most of the big boys in their cages.
Good rule is to be faster than 99.99 % of the traffic.
For this you need 500 cc or more, so it is not scoot-applicable. :)
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Naw -- not really interested in getting a Maxi scooter, too big and heavy for me. Plus, many don't have flat running boards. Anyway, I think you need to be smarter than 99.9% of the traffic and minimize and control your risk. I generally hit the road before 6:30 am and miss the bulk of rush hour volume.
I know how New Jersey drivers roll - changing lanes without signals, talking on cell phones, etc. Placing myself where I have to constantly second guess every driver -- driving poorly -- isn't safe. Speed may not always be the answer, least for me.
If I was on one of the areas superhighways, I think what you suggested is true, but I wouldn't ride on those even on the off hours.
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Unless it's rush hour, I have observed that cars and trucks tend to run in "packs". I do whatever necessary NOT to be in one of these packs. If I see a pack approching from behind me, I speed up, if possible. If I see one ahead, I stay well behind em. If I find myself in the middle of a pack forming, I usually move to the right and let all them "jet pilots" go on ahead so I'm not involved in the racing that inevetably occurs.
This works for me on interstates too as long as it's not completely full of heavy fast traffic. I do the same in my car.
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I ride differently than I drive. I have been noticing, when I ride, the "bubble" around me is MUCH smaller. I live in California so lane sharing (splitting) is the 100% norm for me. I split every ride; nearly every light. When there are more than two lanes going the direction I am going and it is safe to do so.
What does this mean? This means I spend a lot of time between lanes of traffic. When you spend a high percentage of your ride time between lanes of traffic, your comfort level for having cages near you goes way up. You are within a foot of cage mirrors and two feet of body work and truck sides all the time. When I drive my truck or my wife's MINI, I would never consider getting within a foot of another cage....EVER.
When I split, I tend to move to the stop line, squirt ahead of the stop light pack, ride in the empty section between packs, and then split to front of the next cage pack at the next light... lather, rinse, repeat.
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You are within a foot of cage mirrors and two feet of body work and truck sides all the time.
If you do this in Roma or Chennai, other guys will zoom through the 2 feet gap. :D
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Zoom through the 2 foot gap -- Haaaa! :D Yeah, I've been wanting more and more to start lane splitting at least at stop lights and bumper to bumper traffic but no courage for it yet since I know the police around here would ticket me for it in a heartbeat.
The packs are constantly changing, dropping apart, and re-forming so it's a constant effort to stay out of them.
I was taught in defensive driving class, (years ago) when three lanes go in the same direction, such as an interstate hwy or expressway, to cruise in the middle lane. This way you don't have to deal with the drivers merging from the right -- nor do you have to ride/drive with the lunatics who are doing well over the speed limit in the left. I don't know if this applies to today's drivers, though, who will pass at 90 on the right!
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I do the international norm of staying right except to pass and I stay out of packs as much as possible. If you stay in the right lane, your biggest concern is only one lane. In the middle lanes you must keep track of two lanes...
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I'm with you in staying in the right, only only on my commuting route I stick to the left because of the division barrier. In the right there's traffic merging from ramps, and stores so the left lane gives me the best safety.
When I get to riding on a superhighway I'll have to adapt my style for what ever's best.
-Wolfe
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just pick a lane and ridei t like you own it they cant pass you in the same lane they should be the one geting a ticket if they do. just ride it like you own it.
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..i follow all the rules of the road..
..dang...
..i've splitted lanes only one time in three years of riding...
:o
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..i've splitted lanes only one time in three years of riding...
You'll live longer that way!
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...i reckon....... :-\
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I don't ride my 150 Super 8 on the highway. The traffic is too fast and I can barely get to the posted highway speed. When I get there, I have nothing left.
Highway riding was spooky even on my 120 hp Yamaha FZ1.
If you are on a scooter (unless it's one of the big ones), you should stick to the right lane.
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I don't ride my 150 Super 8 on the highway. The traffic is too fast and I can barely get to the posted highway speed. When I get there, I have nothing left.
Highway riding was spooky even on my 120 hp Yamaha FZ1.
It is hard for me to understand this.
With 125 cc scoot your speed is just about right for the far right lane: it is comparable to the speed of trucks.
Why was it spooky on FZ1?
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Once you get used to splitting, you feel SAFER splitting than not.
If you are between two cages, the cages behind you can not hit you. Cages to the sides must hit the cage next to you first. If you are stopped, cages don't hop and cannot move sideways. If they move left in their lane, the right side is open. If I move to the front of pack at a traffic light, I don't need to ride in the pack after the light turns green, I ride ahead of this pack and behind the pack that just turned onto the roadway ahead of us.
I am not saying I split while moving at the speed limit (that is crazy and dangerous), just while the traffic is backed up or at traffic controls.
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It is hard for me to understand this.
With 125 cc scoot your speed is just about right for the far right lane: it is comparable to the speed of trucks.
Why was it spooky on FZ1?
I hate riding motorcycles of any kind on the freeway (granted, I haven't tried a Goldwing). The FZ1 is a great bike for all occasions and has more than enough power to deal with freeway traffic, but I still don't like it.
Between the wind blast, noise and the droning on at the same speed, I get frazzled. Add trucks and cars to the mix and it is "spooky".
In the past, when I could afford my FZ1, I would ride on the highway to get to a nice stretch of curving country road.
As for the 150 scooter, I still maintain that riding on the highway is not a good idea. Highway speeds out here are in the 65 - 70 mph range, even in the slow lane, so you won't be "just about right" with your speed and the last thing that I want to be doing on a motorbike is hanging out with trucks in the right lane.
When I am on a motorbike on the freeway, I stay to the right or middle lane if a three lane road. I try not to let myself get stuck between cars or trucks and will quickly accelerate into the left lane and leave the cages in the dust in search of a more lonely piece of highway.
You can't do this if your 150cc scoot is topped out at 55 or 60. Don't get me started about the stability of a scooter vs. a motorcycle at highway speeds.
None of this is to bash scooters since I own one and it is a hoot to drive to work (no freeways thank you). It makes me smile every day.
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Just pick a lane and ride it like you own it.dont give any passing room. make theam go around you.
Here we have to ride to the right of the road and stay in the right lane but not to the side.I ride just to the right so they dont have room to pass,
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i prefer the left hand lanes if on a divided four lane street. so, closest to the center line. i am more comfortable there at intersections, also.
i ride in any lane up to 45mph speed limit. if traffic looks like its moving fast in the furthest left lane, i will stay out of it. my scooter is perfect to find a spot behind a motorist going 55mph, and just cruise. so it doesn't have to be a rocket out there to keep up
just outside my door is a divided 6 lane i ride all the time. its posted limit is 40mph in most places, 45mph in one long stretch. i have no problem being in any lane, but if traffic is moving fast i'll mix it up. usually, its not moving fast
i find myself to be a lane changer. scooting is fun, and for me thats part of the fun. my scooter is out front. and if its not, its getting there :D
so i would say i ride in all lanes