Riding In Traffic Versus Country Roads

Most of us who ride motorcycles prefer finding wide-open roads and avoiding city traffic.  The fewer the cars, the better we like it, and we spend most of our miles on roads like these.

So, unless you are a commuter, forced to ride into a city, most of your skills are developed outside of this context.

However, even if you are a diehard back roads rider, you may have times when your route will take you through a town or city where you will be forced to find your way through at least some traffic to get on with your journey.

There are some things to consider when riding in traffic, versus the skills it takes to cruise the open road.

Don’t park in places where people wouldn’t expect to see a vehicle

You’re in traffic, and you can see a lovely, narrow walkway that you could easily cruise down.  It’s tempting when you see those spaces to want to go through them.  However, a good rule of thumb is to avoid placing your bike in areas where other vehicles do not expect to see you.  Even in states where lane splitting is allowed, it’s still dangerous.  As we know, cars don’t always look out for motorcycles, so you increase the odds of an accident by trying to avoid traffic in this manner.

Just be patient, wait, and stay out of the bicycle lanes!

Avoid the middle of the lane

As you know, a single lane for a car is really three lanes for a motorcycle.  So we have the choice to stay in one of the three “lanes”, but in heavy traffic, it’s best to avoid the middle lane for two reasons.

First is the condition of the road; high traffic areas mean that cars and trucks often stop and wait.  That means any liquid, such as oil or antifreeze, drips and accumulates in the middle lane.  You can generally see the darker spots, so try to stay out of this part of the street.  This goes double for times when it is just starting to rain.  Even a summer sprinkle can cause those areas to be slick.  Watch where you ride, and where you put your foot down!

The second has to do with visibility.  Remember, at intersections, staying in the right lane (as opposed to the far left) can keep you more visible to cars crossing the intersection on your right.  This is especially true if a car in front of you blocks your visibility, causing another vehicle to pull out to your right, simply because they couldn’t see you.  This can happen even when they are looking – you are just blocked from view for them.

Use traffic lights to study the vehicles around you

Traffic typically moves more slowly where there are traffic lights, which can be particularly annoying on hot days.  However, there is an advantage to this.  You have more time to observe what is going on around you.  You can observe the behavior of drivers around you, as they are likely to stay with you until you pass through the heavy traffic.  You can see the ones that are driving aggressively (changing lanes quickly and without warning), before they come into your space.

This way you can learn who to avoid or let pass you.

Also, avoid getting into the habit of just staring at the light, waiting for it to turn green.  Watch the other lights around you as they turn from yellow to red.  This will give you a heads up, and you’ll be ready.  But don’t rush through an intersection too fast; that is not smart.  Remember, some cars will speed up to run that yellow light.  Don’t just depend on a green light to tell you it is safe to move!

Traffic can’t always be avoided, but with just a few tricks and some common sense, you can navigate safely.

My next blog will be on layering up for colder weather!

Until then, remember, ride safe, ride smart, and have fun!