System to help bikers in corners expands to Wales

[Linksmas]

This came up on my Facebook feed and the comments is exclusively riding gods who never make a mistake and never need help.

I am not that talented or ignorant, and to me this seems like a good thing, especially on roads I don't know like the back of my hand.

https://www.visordown.com/news/prime-road-system-h...

I like getting home alive, I try my best to stay keen eyed whilst riding but if they're helping me properly (i.e not with speed cameras) then why not?

[Al Gorithum]

Seems sensible to me!

[Krikkit]

Went through some of these a few weeks ago on the A5 near Llangollen, they're very unintrusive and nicely placed.

[STe_rsv4]

No thanks. Ill just stick to the age old "If I cant see around the bend, Ill slow down sufficiently to make it"
Id rather councils concentrated on repairing pot holes and tramlines on roads instead of painting markings all over them

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

I've ridden quite a bit on these in Scotland. They definitely draw the eye and are good for the large number of foreign bikers in the summer.

[hiccy18]

They seem a pretty good idea and have a positive effect, which is good. If you're like me and think you know better then nothing has changed except a little bit of extra information warning you of a potential hazard ahead.

[GriffoDP]

They helped persuade a recidivist in my little group to put his bike in a safer place down in the Vosges earlier this year, so I'm a fan.

If it lowers the number of times he gets his head removed and doesn't inconvenience me at all I'm quite happy.

[Jap90s]

I'd rather the money was spent fixing the roads or cracking down on motorcycle theft or extending the Police Bike Safe scheme

[Krikkit]

STe_rsv4 said:

No thanks. Ill just stick to the age old "If I cant see around the bend, Ill slow down sufficiently to make it"
Id rather councils concentrated on repairing pot holes and tramlines on roads instead of painting markings all over them

Might work for you, but statistically not for a lot of bikers.

For the sake of a few lines on the tarmac they're tangibly improving safety, hardly a big expense

[underwhelmist]

So the idea is to "funnel" bikers to ride in the centre of the lane? I was taught to position towards the outside of the lane (so approaching a left hander I'd position towards the right of my lane) to increase visibility through the bend. It seems like this will discourage riders from doing that.

I'm sure they've got evidence that it's a good idea but I'm not convinced.

[underwhelmist]

Al Gorithum said:

Seems sensible to me!

Yeah but aren't you the guy who rides around with his main beam on all the time?

[hiccy18]

underwhelmist said:

So the idea is to "funnel" bikers to ride in the centre of the lane? I was taught to position towards the outside of the lane (so approaching a left hander I'd position towards the right of my lane) to increase visibility through the bend. It seems like this will discourage riders from doing that.

I'm sure they've got evidence that it's a good idea but I'm not convinced.

No, the idea is to encourage riders to do similar to what you've been taught so there's less running wide and mid-corner braking:



You can judge the effect on road positioning and it's merits from those pictures. If you're already doing similar (or better) then well done, these are not aimed at you.

Edited by hiccy18 on Tuesday 2nd September 06:35

[moanthebairns]

hiccy18 said:

underwhelmist said:

So the idea is to "funnel" bikers to ride in the centre of the lane? I was taught to position towards the outside of the lane (so approaching a left hander I'd position towards the right of my lane) to increase visibility through the bend. It seems like this will discourage riders from doing that.

I'm sure they've got evidence that it's a good idea but I'm not convinced.

No, the idea is to encourage riders to do similar to what you've been taught so there's less running wide and mid-corner braking:



You can judge the effect on road positioning and it's merits from those pictures. If you're already doing similar (or better) then well done, these are not aimed at you.

Edited by hiccy18 on Tuesday 2nd September 06:35

That bottom left picture is a particular bugbear of mines. Especially when your coming in the opposite direction and have to alter your line, those fkers never do.

They've been up here a while in Scotland, they're dotted around a few corners. I'm not against it, my o/h is relatively new to riding and it's roughly where Ive told her to sit to setup for corners. I'll generally be using all the road I can but I'm preparing to move at first sign of anything, with her experience I feel these positions are safest.

Again, I'm not against them. If they're helping great. But it is pretty simple stuff this. It's mainly taught at das levels too, or at least my instructor did. Should be almost subconscious for riders.

[Gixer968CS]

underwhelmist said:

So the idea is to "funnel" bikers to ride in the centre of the lane? I was taught to position towards the outside of the lane (so approaching a left hander I'd position towards the right of my lane) to increase visibility through the bend. It seems like this will discourage riders from doing that.

I'm sure they've got evidence that it's a good idea but I'm not convinced.

Your technique is the one I was taught on a course by an ex-police motorcycle rider, obviously sitting out on the right right gives you the best view through a left hand bend etc but in essence that's encouraging you to ride as fast as you can within the distance you can see. With these lines it's effectively funnelling you in to the middle where, yes, you have less line of sight but as a result will probably will ride more slowly which together with being more out of harms way is about safety not necessarily fun or speed.

[OutInTheShed]

Encouraging bikes to use the bits of tarmac that cars don't.

Where the mud, leaves and gravel collect...

[Gixer968CS]

OutInTheShed said:

Encouraging bikes to use the bits of tarmac that cars don't.

Where the mud, leaves and gravel collect...

Again, slowing you down! Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for it (though I don't see any harm) but I do see the logic. Put them in the middle of the lane and other factors (can't see as as far, crap in the road etc) will slow them down. Makes total sense from a safety perspective

[Jap90s]

Gixer968CS said:

Put them in the middle of the lane and other factors (can't see as as far, crap in the road etc) will slow them down. Makes total sense from a safety perspective

Following that logic why don't we spray the centre of the road with oil or only allow them to buy chinese tyres

[Condi]

OutInTheShed said:

Encouraging bikes to use the bits of tarmac that cars don't.

Where the mud, leaves and gravel collect...

If you do bikesafe or advanced riding courses this is how they teach you to ride, no?

You ride on whichever side of the lane gives best visibility for the corner, so a "wider" line, even if that is towards the outside the road.

[moanthebairns]

OutInTheShed said:

Encouraging bikes to use the bits of tarmac that cars don't.

Where the mud, leaves and gravel collect...

If mud, leaves or pot holes are present you sacrifice your line.

[moanthebairns]

Gixer968CS said:

underwhelmist said:

So the idea is to "funnel" bikers to ride in the centre of the lane? I was taught to position towards the outside of the lane (so approaching a left hander I'd position towards the right of my lane) to increase visibility through the bend. It seems like this will discourage riders from doing that.

I'm sure they've got evidence that it's a good idea but I'm not convinced.

Your technique is the one I was taught on a course by an ex-police motorcycle rider, obviously sitting out on the right right gives you the best view through a left hand bend etc but in essence that's encouraging you to ride as fast as you can within the distance you can see. With these lines it's effectively funnelling you in to the middle where, yes, you have less line of sight but as a result will probably will ride more slowly which together with being more out of harms way is about safety not necessarily fun or speed.

I see it as a stepping stone for someone who hasn't been doing it. Ignore them or ride slightly out with them. They're only a guide.