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Commuting Thoughts

mean dad said:
I mean no disrespect, but what is this post about?


Is it just a generic "be careful out there"?
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Thanks for this.

It's been on my mind, since I'm a commuter, just past 21 years on the motorcycle. I've ridden through accidents, a few with a tarp over a body. I've seen one happened behind me.

I've also been on BARF for quite a while, was active in the community, still around riders. And like many of us, also very aware at what I can and cannot see from the driver's seat.

So in a way, yup, it is that generic reminder, maybe with a bit of retrospective.

The lessons I've learnt so far...
1. Ride like I'm invisible... of course.
2. Always have a way out. Which to me includes riding pro-actively, not just defensively (waiting for...).
3. Keep learning. Got this from a MSF instructor on day 1.
And be humble: what I know today might change tomorrow or next month given new information.
4. While I don't rely on luck to save me, I will admit there have been times it has saved me.
I've also seen a car and a motorcycle saw each other, together they did their avoidance/braking, saved the day. Skill, luck, etc.
 
5. Every time after splitting and arriving safely at your destination send a thank you to your 2 wheeled guardian angel for looking over you (mine is Marco Simoncelli) and realize that you were once again very lucky your # didn't randomly come up this day.
 
^^^^This^^^^^
I cover the front brake with at least a finger draped over it as part of my normal hand positioning. I honestly have no idea when I started doing it. It was never a conscious decision. I just noticed it up there one day.
 
The time saved between opening your hand, grabbing the front brake and squeezing vs covering the lever, then squeezing is probably slight but at speed that can make a huge difference.
I try to cover the lever when lane splitting but find it awkward to work the throttle AND keep a couple of fingers stationary on the front brake lever.
I'm concerned that in a panic situation I won't roll off the throttle when I apply the brake.

Maybe someone here can point out what I'm doing wrong.
 
Once you decide to start braking it generally takes 0.75 seconds to start braking. At 60MPH that works out to 68ft.

Rolling on the throttle when braking can be caused by too high of a wrist position. Having the lever adjusted too far from the bar can cause the rider to move their wrist when reaching for the brake lever rather than just extending their fingers.
 
I cover the brake and keep my hand/wrist positioned so that I roll off the throttle in order to brake. I have to use two fingers to get the gs to stoppie, one finger for the s1000rr.
 
greenmonster said:
Maybe someone here can point out what I'm doing wrong.
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I wouldn't say you're doing anything wrong.
I know it's easy for me while my equally competent (perhaps better) riding buddy couldn't figure out how I do it.....
Until we compared hands.
I have conveniently long fingers.

You know what they say about guys with big hands.....
They have BIG GLOVES.
 
I know I'm more aware than most when I'm in the car, but I can see that headlight coming from WAY back there. And I'm always looking.
 
gixxerjeff said:
^^^^This^^^^^
I cover the front brake with at least a finger draped over it as part of my normal hand positioning. I honestly have no idea when I started doing it. It was never a conscious decision. I just noticed it up there one day.
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Me too, always.
 
I commute in my car and recently had 2 consecutive riders go by IN MY LANE (#1) even though the lane next to me (#2) was completely empty. Traffic moving at 70+ mph on 101S. As a rider, I am acutely aware of splitting riders but this just seemed to dramatically increase one's risk factor by being unnecessarily close to a wide and fast moving vehicle. And yes, I had multiple passengers hence driving in carpool lane at traffic flow speed.
 
augustiron said:
I would not want to be doing it now in the age of cellphone obsession
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IME it's actually better now. People are so distracted, they are just zombies which makes splitting safer (running red lights is another matter altogether however). Much safer for them to be passive and distracted, than aggressive and lane diving without signaling which is a much bigger risk while splitting.
Joebiker25 said:
I commute in my car and recently had 2 consecutive riders go by IN MY LANE (#1) even though the lane next to me (#2) was completely empty.
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That was them communicating that you were in the wrong lane. The left lane is for passing only.
 
KnifeySpoony said:
IME it's actually better now. People are so distracted, they are just zombies which makes splitting safer (running red lights is another matter altogether however). Much safer for them to be passive and distracted, than aggressive and lane diving without signaling which is a much bigger risk while splitting.

That was them communicating that you were in the wrong lane. The left lane is for passing only.
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Carpool lane, car full of passengers plus electric car going at or well above speed limit. They were communicating that they like taking stupid risks. IMHO
 
I have been a moto commuter for decades. I think I am hyper aware of other motorcyclists. Admittedly, I don't drive a car much, but over the past year or so I have had occasion to drive one in traffic. Twice I had situations where a motorcycle "came out of nowhere". And I was looking. I'm always looking. I didn't do anything wrong, and neither did they. Nothing happened. But it could have if I had decided to make a sudden move at that time.
Sorry, but I believe the responsibility is always on the motorcyclist not to get hit. No amount of hi-viz gear, bright flashing lights, or loud pipes will ever take the place of laser focus
 
Yeah, I've had a rider display all the body language of irritation when I pulled in to lane share on my moto in front of them after crossing several lanes of traffic on 101 in Santa Clara. He was going significantly faster than the flow of traffic. I've got good mirrors. but I simply couldn't see down the gap as far as he was when I looked. I let him by, but my inexcuseable violation was already done.
 
moto commuted a lot. my only bitch about it - the benefit of time saved in transit was offset by gearing up before and down after. and co-workers sneaking a peek when i stripped off my leathers was kinda creepy.
 
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