Shut your eyes and think back to the last time you drove in a jam. Picture the cars encircling, swarming, and severing you from the rest. Consider keeping an eye on closing speeds, observing and anticipating traffic signals, and reading street signs. Then consider speculating about what may happen to pedestrians or how slick that drawn line might be. And think about attempting to predict what those drivers with newspapers, cell phones, or yelling children will do.
It may be a misery to ride in traffic, particularly for first-time street riders. Is it any surprise that so many bikers who ride on crowded roadways suffer burns and crashes? It’s incredible how many various responsibilities motorcyclists handle during a typical congested journey. To do it well, you have to digest a lot of information at once and respond appropriately to each. Humanity might become roadkill if it is done incorrectly. These are fifteen astute methods for navigating congested roadways.
1. Look in the mirrors and heads of other drivers
One great approach to predict erratic movements is to observe how drivers move their heads through their windows and mirrors. The majority of drivers, even those who neglect to check their mirrors, will not dive to the left or right without first turning their heads in that direction.
2. Trust on your mirrors, but not too much
The mirrors on your bike may be really helpful, but even when they are set correctly, they don’t always provide the whole picture. When in traffic, always check over the proper shoulder to support your rear-view mirror image. If you do it fast, your information-gathering activities will benefit from an additional layer of rear-view and blind-spot understanding.
3. Avoid ever getting in the way of a car on an off-ramp.
This may seem overly simplistic, yet every year a large number of riders are killed by drivers who abruptly decide to leave the vehicle. Therefore, the straightforward guideline is to never go in the way of a car or an offramp. Although it’s normally discouraged, passing on the right is occasionally required in this day and age. Therefore, if you do it, do it in between cross-streets or exits.
4. Cover your brakes
You frequently need to respond extremely rapidly in traffic, so don’t fumble with the brake lever or pedal. Always have one or two fingers on the brake lever and your right toe near the rear brake pedal to reduce the amount of time you have to reach. You’ll be prepared for the mobile phone-wielding Dorcus who tries to cross your path on his way to the 7-Eleven to grab a supreme burrito.
5. Be noticed
Even from a distance, be sure that pedestrians and cars can see you. During daylight hours, use your high beams (but remember to switch them off while sitting behind someone at a light) and wear colorful clothing, particularly for your jacket and helmet. Now that Aero stich’s Hi Vis yellow suits and jackets are not only incredibly noticeable, but also in style, you have no more excuses.
6. Be ready with the power
Ride in a lower gear than usual when in traffic so that your bike is prepared to accelerate at a moment’s notice. (After all, not everyone rides open-class twins.) When that truck suddenly moves over, you can choose to accelerate instead of being restricted to utilizing the brakes. Increased rpm may also draw attention from additional cadgers.
7. Traffic slowing? Stay left (or right)
Remain to the left or right of the vehicle in front of you when the traffic abruptly slows down. This will give you an escape route in case you require it. In the unlikely event that the car behind you is unable to stop in time, it will also save you from becoming a glorified hood ornament. As soon as you stop, shift into gear, use the clutch, and pay attention to your mirrors. One can never be sure.
8. Practice the scan
While riding, keep an eye on everything around you, including the road ahead, instruments, mirrors, blind zones to your left and right, and other objects. This will help you stay aware of your surroundings and make quicker decisions. Staying in one spot for too long observing solely what’s in front of or behind you, for example is a surefire way to run into problems.
9. Left-turn treachery
Be prepared to turn left when you come upon an incoming automobile that has stopped. Although they will not save your life, headlights are nonetheless important to see when driving during the day so that approaching vehicles can see you. Examine the car’s wheels or the driver’s hands on the steering wheel for movement; if you notice any, be ready to use the brakes, swerve, or accelerate as necessary.
10. Study the surface
Include conditions for asphalt in your scan. Watch out for fuel, antifreeze, or oil spills; they typically appear as glossy pavement. Additionally, be on the lookout for sand and/or gravel, which are typically harder to spot. Make use of your sense of smell as well; in many cases, you may detect the presence of spilled diesel fuel before your tires do.
11. Ride in open zones
Make use of your bike’s strength and agility to pass through open spaces while driving. There are always going to be some holes in every gathering of automobiles; locate these and take a ride. You’ll be able to avoid hazardous blind spots, get more freedom to move, and stay a safe distance from four-wheelers by doing this. And change up the tempo. Especially in congested traffic, riding with the flow might render you invisible to other motorists.
12. Use that thumb
Develop the practice of frequently canceling your turn signals, regardless of the flow of traffic. When you’re not ready to turn, a flashing light may give the impression that you are to vehicles who are waiting to pull onto the road or turning left in front of you. Therefore, flick the switch a few times every minute. Eh, better to burn out the switch than eat the hood of a Hummer?
13. It’s good to be thin
The flexibility of single-track vehicles to shift left and right inside a lane to allow the rider to see what’s ahead gives them a significant edge over four-wheelers. Seeing what’s coming can offer you plenty of extra time to respond, whether you’re looking through their windshields or to the side of the cars in front of you.
14. More than one way out
Indeed, motorbikes may crash. However, they are also incredibly light, narrow, and nimble, so when things turn bad, you may as well make use of their advantages. Thus, when faced with a hairball, don’t merely brake hard. There’s usually always a way out. It could be a lot better to veer into Mrs. Smith’s front yard then to center punch the Buick that made a left turn in front of you. Maintain a prepared escape path at all times, and revise it minute by minute.
15. Running interference
It’s simple, and we’re sure most of you already do it: when navigating crossings, let larger cars handle the interference for you. It would be preferable if the bonehead approaching from the left or right struck the box van next to you instead of blowing the light. Don’t run through an intersection when the signal turns green for the same reasons. Be patient and seek protection from the cars nearby.
