Question on motorcycle positioning in town
Discussion
Hi everyone,
Can anyone offer advice or views on the following? Views from a police Class 1/bike cop would be especially welcome.
You're riding along a gentle right-hand bend in town, say in a 30 limit. You can see a junction ahead on the nearside. You can see into the entrance of the junction, which is currently empty of vehicles. In what position would you ride?
Position 1 obviously seems too far towards the nearside for town riding, encouraging other vehicles to overtake. Position 2 gives you more view ahead, but lets say you can see well into the distance even in position 5. Position 3 splits the difference. Positions 4 and 5 give you increasing view into the junction, but you can already see it's empty.
Advice I've heard is position 2, because you know the junction's currently clear so don't need the view into it. I personally prefer this, because it also allows me to move to position 4 or 5 (depending on oncoming traffic) if a car appears at the junction. If a vehicle appears, I feel the lateral movement helps the driver see me as much as my new position. However, more recent advice was to always position towards the centreline for nearside junctions, in order to see and be seen.
Thoughts ... ?
Can anyone offer advice or views on the following? Views from a police Class 1/bike cop would be especially welcome.
You're riding along a gentle right-hand bend in town, say in a 30 limit. You can see a junction ahead on the nearside. You can see into the entrance of the junction, which is currently empty of vehicles. In what position would you ride?
Position 1 obviously seems too far towards the nearside for town riding, encouraging other vehicles to overtake. Position 2 gives you more view ahead, but lets say you can see well into the distance even in position 5. Position 3 splits the difference. Positions 4 and 5 give you increasing view into the junction, but you can already see it's empty.
Advice I've heard is position 2, because you know the junction's currently clear so don't need the view into it. I personally prefer this, because it also allows me to move to position 4 or 5 (depending on oncoming traffic) if a car appears at the junction. If a vehicle appears, I feel the lateral movement helps the driver see me as much as my new position. However, more recent advice was to always position towards the centreline for nearside junctions, in order to see and be seen.
Thoughts ... ?
Hi Mark,
IMHO,
Position `to your advantage`, ie allow space around yourself to take account for all other road users mistakes.
The fact that you are asking for clarification is in itself showing you are taking an `active roll` in your riding.
There are lots of grey area,s within riding/driving and learning should never stop.
It has been said that the average driver concentrats on the road for only 1/4 of the time they are driving. Take care its a jungle out there.
Dave
IMHO,
Position `to your advantage`, ie allow space around yourself to take account for all other road users mistakes.
The fact that you are asking for clarification is in itself showing you are taking an `active roll` in your riding.
There are lots of grey area,s within riding/driving and learning should never stop.
It has been said that the average driver concentrats on the road for only 1/4 of the time they are driving. Take care its a jungle out there.
Dave
Hi Mark
Under normal straight road conditions I would be in the 4 to 5 position, as you say at junctions in order to see and to be seen. however on a right hand bend, traffic comming in the oposite direction invariably drifts over to the centre ( left hand bend for them) so i usually poition myself in the 2 to 3 position, ready to react, until eye contact is made with the guy at the junction.
Regards
Dale
Under normal straight road conditions I would be in the 4 to 5 position, as you say at junctions in order to see and to be seen. however on a right hand bend, traffic comming in the oposite direction invariably drifts over to the centre ( left hand bend for them) so i usually poition myself in the 2 to 3 position, ready to react, until eye contact is made with the guy at the junction.
Regards
Dale
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