Riding can be exhilirating, relaxing and every emotion in between. However, regardless of whether you are riding in the city, or on a deserted country road, constant alertness should be your ongoing riding partner…
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This is a very important topic. I’ve gotten a lot of good ideas from reading everyone’s comments. My bike is mostly white (pearl) and my helmet is silver. I feel that it shows up better than all black. I think I will take Christine’s suggestions and start wearing my orange vest. I know when I’m driving my car, there are some motorcyclists that really catch your attention by loud pipes and bright colors. There are others that you can hardly hear and are all black. The latter are not quickly noticed.
Someone here in the Buffalo area was passing a truck at which time the truck, not seeing him passing, came over into his lane. He survived but his passenger was killed. Now, if I pass someone on a highway, I honk to alert them as to my intentions. Being conspicuous and staying alert are critical. I always cross intersections on the slow side because I expect people to turn left in front of me. I watch their face to make eye contact and watch their car tires. Sometimes I will swerve out to the side to give them more room in case they do start turning. The farther I am away from them, the better.
This is my number one rule. I got into biking late in life (wish I had started much sooner!) but I quickly learned to ride defensively. When I “announced” that I started riding, I got an outpouring of concern from friends. The ones who were already riders immediately started
suggesting ways to stay safe. Number one was “be alert”. And of course, when one takes the motorcycle license exams, that is also stressed. Seeing all around you, using your peripheral vision is the key. Safe riding!
ive been told that the last ten minutes of any ride no matter how long are always the most risky, because we start switching off our alertness and anticipating getting into the house and relaxing. Anyone agree?
I really like the tips. Here in Houston I ride with my head spinning around like in The Exorcist.