glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Into the lions den:
20th Century biking observations
When we are laying on the tarmac, looking up at the clouds and trying to think how we got their; how many times do we hear motorists say, “I honestly didn’t see you guv!”
I am now really going to put the cat among the pigeons and make a few controversial points.
The car driver that claims they did not see the motor cyclist is a plonker!
Correct??
They pulled out of a junction directly into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, giving the biker no chance to stop. This then resulted in a dented car, badly damaged motor cycle, and who knows what injuries to the biker.
Now I'm for it:
The motor cyclist is a plonker!
What!!! I hear you all screaming. I’m stark raving bonkers, how can we say the rider is a plonker, or even suggest the accident\incident might be down to them? Bike on main road, car pulls out of side road…… car drivers fault (full stop, period)
Right, let me explain and please try to see where I am coming from.
First off
Positioning
When in a town, city or urban area the bike rider should always be in the centre of their lane, there might be exceptions, but when in town it is always best to put the bike right in the centre of the lane you are travelling in. The reason for this is all about survival. If we keep closer to the kerb then we invite other road users to pull alongside, not overtake, but push us closer to the kerb.
If we travel out to the nearside of the centre-line which at times will offer far better visibility, then we are inviting other road users to pull alongside our nearside and this time shove us out further into the centre of the road.
Why I am talking about positioning?
If the car driver did not see us, did we see them? Think about this. Did we see the car approaching the junction? In towns or cities it is extremely rare for a junction to be completely obscured, extremely rare. There will always be sufficient distance for us to see an approaching vehicles and hopefully we can see where I am coming from. If we failed to see the offending vehicle (note I say offending) then are we as much of a plonker as they are? Being in the centre of our lane will open up any junctions and give us better visibility into them. Out in the sticks we would be taking full advantage of our lane and positioning the bike to always get the maximum view (unless the road is busy) but in town it is always safest to occupy the centre of the road. Too close to the kerb narrows down any view into the nearside junction. Too far out will allow vehicles to come up our inside, but as an instructor I would suggest this is flexible dependant on the situation, traffic etc.
By looking into a junction we can very slightly adjust our speed thus avoiding our bike being at the wrong place at the wrong time. we can also see if the brake lights of the car are illuminating; a very subtle look to see if the car driver is paying attention, any clue is useful just to make sure the driver is slowing down. If the view is deep enough then a gentle increase in speed might allow us to pass the junction just before the car arrives. This point is difficult to write about but extremely easy to explain, or demonstrate.
Being in the right is plain crazy if it kills us, "I've got right of way, the car should have stopped!" what kind of rider is it that rides straight into the side of an oncoming vehicle?
My answer is…… An untrained one.
Remember we are talking about being in town where our speed should be very slowish and we are paying full attention to our surroundings.
Riding bikes around a race track is completely different from riding a bike on a busy urban road. The two skills are different and would the track rider be criticised if they start regularly looking behind them, or indeed worrying about all the other track users? A thousand apologies if I appear to be suggesting that there is no skill required to ride a bike around a race track That is NOT what I am saying, nor suggesting, nor even thinking. Mega respect to all riders that can throw their bikes around race tracks, or perish the thought.... The Isle of Man :bannana: :bannana:
An advanced motor cycle course is not about slow riding, or riding like a pansy; it is about defensive riding, being safe, surviving and most important enjoying ourselves. Advanced riding courses should spend a good deal of time out of towns and on roads where ‘some’ of the bikes potential can be used. Advanced riding will always be about forward observation, anticipation, planning and… making progress. All these skills must be taught, we cannot brush up on techniques we haven’t learnt. And I would cite the following. I have owned a computer for years; the first being a 486DX with Windows version 3. Yes I could use my ‘autoexec.bat’, or my ‘config.sys’ BUT the computer geeks on this forum have forgotten more than I will ever know regarding computers. I have possibly used a computer far, far longer than these experts, but they have been educated into how to use this wizardry. The same applies to both driving and riding; the length of time does not equate to skills or knowledge.
I have heard comments about how I might get cancer, or I might get run over and yes they are right, but please, please note the word ‘might’ Anything ‘might’ happen and it is crazy to worry ourselves silly over something we have no control of. When we get married and have families then unfortunately we must\should think of the greater good and think about our responsibilities. You will definitely have a motor cycle accident if you ride a bike on the highways and bye-ways.
I fully accept we might get a horrible disease, or we might get struck by lightning and yes life is for living however…
BUT ......... I can guarantee that if you’re a motor cyclist, you will have an accident. I cannot guarantee you will get struck by lightning, I cannot guarantee a plank will fall on your head, but I can guarantee you will have an accident. By investing in an advanced riding course you are simply lessening the odds and honing your riding skills and in the process you will become a better rider..
Just remember when the guilty car driver says, “I didn’t see you” Try to think why you did not see them!
Cop out
I have no knowledge regarding individual teaching skills and any course will only ever be as good as the instructor, but don’t be worried if this instructor is a traffic copper. Some of them might be human. We had one down here that was a really nice, crazy person that used his official bike for teaching and it never failed to impress when he regularly stood up on the saddle whilst travelling at a sedate pace (on private property)
This rambling post is me throwing observations into the pot and shooting the breeze. It is not a: ‘This is the right way, and everything else is the Wrong way’ type post. Those reading it are hopefully bikers and I fear I might have given the impression I was anti bike.
Putting pen to paper is never the best way of having a discussion, but for me it is the only way and hopefully folks will read this post in the spirit it is meant. Times may well have changed, advice, or riding procedures should also adapt and nothing should ever be black or white. Any observations would be appreciated and as a final two Penarth.
Are we still being taught to only use our side of the carriageway?
It’s a pity Plodd is not posting as he would no doubt be able to offer some very valuable advice.
I know we have bikers that ride in London and clearly there will be times when it is a jungle, but never assume other road users have seen you, never willingly place youself in danger. Always assume that every other rode user is both blind and daft. Think bike, think survival
Kind regards to all or bikers
Yours very sincerely
John the ex biker (nearly typed bilker)
20th Century biking observations
When we are laying on the tarmac, looking up at the clouds and trying to think how we got their; how many times do we hear motorists say, “I honestly didn’t see you guv!”
I am now really going to put the cat among the pigeons and make a few controversial points.
The car driver that claims they did not see the motor cyclist is a plonker!
Correct??
They pulled out of a junction directly into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, giving the biker no chance to stop. This then resulted in a dented car, badly damaged motor cycle, and who knows what injuries to the biker.
Now I'm for it:
The motor cyclist is a plonker!
What!!! I hear you all screaming. I’m stark raving bonkers, how can we say the rider is a plonker, or even suggest the accident\incident might be down to them? Bike on main road, car pulls out of side road…… car drivers fault (full stop, period)
Right, let me explain and please try to see where I am coming from.
First off
Positioning
When in a town, city or urban area the bike rider should always be in the centre of their lane, there might be exceptions, but when in town it is always best to put the bike right in the centre of the lane you are travelling in. The reason for this is all about survival. If we keep closer to the kerb then we invite other road users to pull alongside, not overtake, but push us closer to the kerb.
If we travel out to the nearside of the centre-line which at times will offer far better visibility, then we are inviting other road users to pull alongside our nearside and this time shove us out further into the centre of the road.
Why I am talking about positioning?
If the car driver did not see us, did we see them? Think about this. Did we see the car approaching the junction? In towns or cities it is extremely rare for a junction to be completely obscured, extremely rare. There will always be sufficient distance for us to see an approaching vehicles and hopefully we can see where I am coming from. If we failed to see the offending vehicle (note I say offending) then are we as much of a plonker as they are? Being in the centre of our lane will open up any junctions and give us better visibility into them. Out in the sticks we would be taking full advantage of our lane and positioning the bike to always get the maximum view (unless the road is busy) but in town it is always safest to occupy the centre of the road. Too close to the kerb narrows down any view into the nearside junction. Too far out will allow vehicles to come up our inside, but as an instructor I would suggest this is flexible dependant on the situation, traffic etc.
By looking into a junction we can very slightly adjust our speed thus avoiding our bike being at the wrong place at the wrong time. we can also see if the brake lights of the car are illuminating; a very subtle look to see if the car driver is paying attention, any clue is useful just to make sure the driver is slowing down. If the view is deep enough then a gentle increase in speed might allow us to pass the junction just before the car arrives. This point is difficult to write about but extremely easy to explain, or demonstrate.
Being in the right is plain crazy if it kills us, "I've got right of way, the car should have stopped!" what kind of rider is it that rides straight into the side of an oncoming vehicle?
My answer is…… An untrained one.
Remember we are talking about being in town where our speed should be very slowish and we are paying full attention to our surroundings.
Riding bikes around a race track is completely different from riding a bike on a busy urban road. The two skills are different and would the track rider be criticised if they start regularly looking behind them, or indeed worrying about all the other track users? A thousand apologies if I appear to be suggesting that there is no skill required to ride a bike around a race track That is NOT what I am saying, nor suggesting, nor even thinking. Mega respect to all riders that can throw their bikes around race tracks, or perish the thought.... The Isle of Man :bannana: :bannana:
An advanced motor cycle course is not about slow riding, or riding like a pansy; it is about defensive riding, being safe, surviving and most important enjoying ourselves. Advanced riding courses should spend a good deal of time out of towns and on roads where ‘some’ of the bikes potential can be used. Advanced riding will always be about forward observation, anticipation, planning and… making progress. All these skills must be taught, we cannot brush up on techniques we haven’t learnt. And I would cite the following. I have owned a computer for years; the first being a 486DX with Windows version 3. Yes I could use my ‘autoexec.bat’, or my ‘config.sys’ BUT the computer geeks on this forum have forgotten more than I will ever know regarding computers. I have possibly used a computer far, far longer than these experts, but they have been educated into how to use this wizardry. The same applies to both driving and riding; the length of time does not equate to skills or knowledge.
I have heard comments about how I might get cancer, or I might get run over and yes they are right, but please, please note the word ‘might’ Anything ‘might’ happen and it is crazy to worry ourselves silly over something we have no control of. When we get married and have families then unfortunately we must\should think of the greater good and think about our responsibilities. You will definitely have a motor cycle accident if you ride a bike on the highways and bye-ways.
I fully accept we might get a horrible disease, or we might get struck by lightning and yes life is for living however…
BUT ......... I can guarantee that if you’re a motor cyclist, you will have an accident. I cannot guarantee you will get struck by lightning, I cannot guarantee a plank will fall on your head, but I can guarantee you will have an accident. By investing in an advanced riding course you are simply lessening the odds and honing your riding skills and in the process you will become a better rider..
Just remember when the guilty car driver says, “I didn’t see you” Try to think why you did not see them!
Cop out
I have no knowledge regarding individual teaching skills and any course will only ever be as good as the instructor, but don’t be worried if this instructor is a traffic copper. Some of them might be human. We had one down here that was a really nice, crazy person that used his official bike for teaching and it never failed to impress when he regularly stood up on the saddle whilst travelling at a sedate pace (on private property)
This rambling post is me throwing observations into the pot and shooting the breeze. It is not a: ‘This is the right way, and everything else is the Wrong way’ type post. Those reading it are hopefully bikers and I fear I might have given the impression I was anti bike.
Putting pen to paper is never the best way of having a discussion, but for me it is the only way and hopefully folks will read this post in the spirit it is meant. Times may well have changed, advice, or riding procedures should also adapt and nothing should ever be black or white. Any observations would be appreciated and as a final two Penarth.
Are we still being taught to only use our side of the carriageway?
It’s a pity Plodd is not posting as he would no doubt be able to offer some very valuable advice.
I know we have bikers that ride in London and clearly there will be times when it is a jungle, but never assume other road users have seen you, never willingly place youself in danger. Always assume that every other rode user is both blind and daft. Think bike, think survival
Kind regards to all or bikers
Yours very sincerely
John the ex biker (nearly typed bilker)