Are you gaining experience, or just logging miles?

[SquidStar!]

"I am invisible and everyone is trying to kill me."

The above philosophy combined with a healthy dose of paranoia keeps me alive.

yup yup yup....

 

[fonseca]

After 40 years I have learned to ride faster and safer. And logging hundreds of Sierra trip miles. Guess I'm doing both.

Having a simple awesome time of it too. arty

 

[iehawk]

Lane sharing (which is the term I prefer more than lane splitting)...

I used to get upset when a bike is slower in front of me or when cars move left and right blocking me... or worse changed lane in front of me.

Then as I drive in traffic I started paying attention to the mirrors, trying to see what these cars see as they drive during the rush traffic hours.

What I noticed... they can't really see much. Especially when the cars behind them are closer to the line, then effectively, they can only see that car and nothing beyond it. That means he/she can only see one car length behind.

At night, when it's darker and all cars have their lights on, it's even worse. Now most you see are bright white circles of lights... trying to differentiate those of cars and motorcycles are not easy at all, definitely not something you can do at quick glance.

So, I guess I've become more patient in my commute. Also more aware that those cars just don't see you because it is not that easy to see a motorcyclist.

When I lane share, I approach cars a bit slower, more cautiously. I come through with the hazards and/or highbeam on, just to maximize my own visibility.

I do wish more people are a bit more patient... riders and drivers alike.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Hiya Dan...

I have had the experiences of a life time logging miles...

 

[Enchanter]

Hiya Dan...

I have had the experiences of a life time logging miles...

While I most certainly agree with you, I think that you may be missing the intent of the thread. The intent of the 1Rider Forum, and this thread in particular, is inspire riders to think about what they are doing as they ride. Are we blindly out there on the road, or are we processing information with the intent of learning from the events we participate(d) in?

I learn something on every ride (and drive!). Example: I've noticed that when on 280N, the exit to Lawrence Expressway is rather crowded and dangerous regardless of the time of day. Due to this, I've decided to not use that exit while riding a motorcycle. Yesterday there was a huge multi-vehicle crash there, and it extended from the exit lane into the #4 lane on 280N. I've now added another tactic when I pass that exit. I will now be as far to the left as is possible. I want to avoid crashing vehicles and other vehicles swerving to avoid those crashing vehicles.

Gaining experience vs. just logging miles.

 

[DataDan]

Lane sharing (which is the term I prefer more than lane splitting)...

I used to get upset when a bike is slower in front of me or when cars move left and right blocking me... or worse changed lane in front of me.

Then as I drive in traffic I started paying attention to the mirrors, trying to see what these cars see as they drive during the rush traffic hours.

What I noticed... they can't really see much. Especially when the cars behind them are closer to the line, then effectively, they can only see that car and nothing beyond it. That means he/she can only see one car length behind.

At night, when it's darker and all cars have their lights on, it's even worse. Now most you see are bright white circles of lights... trying to differentiate those of cars and motorcycles are not easy at all, definitely not something you can do at quick glance.

Thanks, Al. An interesting observation from a driver's point of view.

While I'm a big advocate of the strategy "see and be seen", lane-splitting (my preferred term) is an exception. I don't think you can count on being seen because of the view limitations you describe. So don't put yourself in a position where you need to be seen. Instead, take advantage of traffic density to keep drivers in their lanes. And when density thins, use position and speed to put yourself out of reach, so even in the event of an unexpected lane change you have time and space to maneuver around an intruder.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

While I most certainly agree with you, I think that you may be missing the intent of the thread.

I'm messing with old buddy Dan... we go back to 2000 when he owned an
RC30... if I'm anything... I'm a towering mass of learning on each and every
ride... after all life is the prize...

 

[Brewbacca]

I never ride more then 2 car length close to anyone, now.
Especially riding in sf I've had several close calls where idiot cagers jam there brakes at the site of a pigeon crossing the road and I've have had every kind of fish tale stoppie possible. I even burned through my rear tire down to the tread due to some lady jamming her brakes in the middle of Harrison so a cop could pass on the complete opposite side of the street from her. :facepalm

 

[two wheel tramp]

I've been thinking I should write down some of the thoughts that occur to me when I ride. I think one of the most important lessons I have learned about myself as a rider is that being impatient makes me a little sloppier than I like being. So far my first five months have been a blast.

 

[DataDan]

I've been thinking I should write down some of the thoughts that occur to me when I ride. I think one of the most important lessons I have learned about myself as a rider is that being impatient makes me a little sloppier than I like being. So far my first five months have been a blast.

Welcome. And I hope you extend your five-month streak to five years and beyond.

Even if the notes you make are only mental, there's a lot of knowledge to be collected at this point in your riding career. Your observation about impatience is a great example. At a more detailed level, every close call, every unpleasant surprise has a lesson in it. Often, what you learn won't be how to prevent a threatening event from happening--you can't stop that dope from merging into your lane. Rather, the important knowledge is THAT it happens, so in the future you can identify the vulnerability and put yourself out of reach.

I think we all start out impatient, a bit too much in a hurry upon discovering a mode of transport that isn't subject to the same limits as a cage. Because the motorcycle accelerates faster and can fit into smaller spaces, we're eager to use that capability. One trick to rolling up miles and years safely is identifying limits that aren't as obvious as the physical ones a motorcycle overcomes: most of all, the visual and mental limits both of yourself and of the 99% of road users who aren't on motorcycles.

You might like the 1Rider thread Patience.

 

[two wheel tramp]

Cool! Thanks for the link to the patience thread. I can be pretty impatient on my bicycle, too. I don't own a car for a reason - I'm too impatient in general!

I really like this section of BARF. There's a lot more stuff that I wanted to post that I'm learning about lane positioning, bike positioning, scanning, etc, but I figure it's old hat for most of the people here. So, I will keep it to myself and file it away in my data bank.

 

[ryu]

Great message Dan! I learned two things on my commute today:

1. If there's a big-ass SUV next to you with its rear view mirror FOLDED IN wtf?!?!), it WILL cut you off.

2. If there are two cars fighting for the same lane ahead of you, stay the hell back. Also, it's useless to honk your horn in an attempt to warn them :rolleyes.

Ride safe and smart! And :rip to the Kawi rider on 680 this morning....