Commuting Thoughts

[iehawk]

Once you decide to start braking it generally takes 0.75 seconds to start braking. At 60MPH that works out to 68ft.

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.

Part of my points... reaction time. Have we given ourselves enough time to react? You can say you can see the headlight coming from way back there, but what about when the car behind you is a bit off to your side, blocking your view? Or at night with all other headlights showing bright white dots? Or both?

What if you were thinking of what to get for dinner? Give your brain a processing time? From seeing to recognizing takes a fraction of a second if you're alert. These little fraction of times add up, then add what was said... that 0.75 sec is after everything else, just to start braking.

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.

Kinda dangerous to assume they drive like zombies. They drift, make sudden adjustments, make sudden lane changes because they just snapped out of it. Based on this, I'd feel safer driving next to a Tesla going in Autopilot. But I won't take that chance, how can I really know what they're doing (just started, in the middle of, or almost done?).

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

Thanks for this. I've experienced this too, where they came out of nowhere. Not because I wasn't aware, but because their speed difference is a bit high or they came from behind a car that blocked the view, etc.

We are responsible for watching the traffic ahead of us first, then for the rest around us. We are still responsible for giving people enough time to react, even while assuming we're invisible on the bike.

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.

I never understand these fast riders... if they're late, I hope they realize sooner than later:
1. They were already late leaving when they started.
2. The time saving of going stupid fast like that in a 30-min commute is probably about 2 minutes, 3 if they get a couple green lights.

I'm never good at writing, I tend to forget my points. I write far in between, but glad to see this discussions.

 

[Enchanter]

Fast drivers / riders aren't necessarily 'late'. They just want to ride fast, or at least fastER than the other vehicles.

 

[iehawk]

Fully aware of that. Many just love the thrill of going fast. As you said it, 'not necessarily late', I imagine it means not all? Just trying to say it 'nicely'. Or I guess I have to spell it out next time.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Maybe spell it out, because I have no clue what dafuq you just said.
There are numerous factors for poor moto manners.
Being late is way, way down the list.

 

[budman]

To Al's point on the love of going fast.

While not necessarily communiting I know my Moto Manners are subject to scrutiny by cagers.

Certainly some passing (as I did on 108 coming home Sunday) is not well accepted. I am sure my brisk pace will not reflect well on motorcyclist for some of them. Try not to do anything crazy of course, but still some will think it is a smudge mark on motorcyclists in general.

 

[John2023]

I still commute by moto everyday from Turlock to Modesto. Every year traffic is getting worse...

I know that area well, lots of 18 wheelers on that stretch too coming off or going to the 120 connector in Manteca between 99 and 5.

 

[John2023]

I like my California lane splitting privileges, I just hope some riders don't ruin it by treating it like a racetrack because us motorcyclists have a very small voice vs. the general public, mainly cagers.

 

[Blankpage]

^^^^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.

I got into this habit of one finger on the lever but for me it’s a habit I’d like to break. Maybe I have weak hands but for me one finger braking will not apply enough pressure to stop within the limits of the bike near as well as two fingers.
In sketchy situations where I suspect I may have to brake hard I have to conscientiously ride with my fingers off the lever so I can react faster with two fingers if needing to make a panic stop.

One finger works great for sporty riding to scrub off speed in a corner but if it’s a blind corner where something suddenly appears on the road requiring a quick stop, I wouldn’t get it done in time with that one finger on the lever.

The reason is I notice that riding for a while with hand wrapped around the grip dealing with vibrations and holding to a certain extent my upper body weight my hand will become slightly numb. Enough to impact it’s reaction time if needing to go quickly from one finger on the lever to two. I’d estimate the amount of time needed is at least twice as long as it takes me to get my foot on the brake pedal when driving a car and needing to make a sudden stop.

I’ve wondered if sliding the brake lever further from the bar end would so my finger with be closer the the lever end, would give me better leverage than the standard stock position of placing that one finger closer to the pivot point and therefore applying less braking force for same amount of input.

 

[budman]

for me.

Took some work to get there after riding bikes in the 70’s-80’s-90’s.

 

[ST Guy]

I ALWAYS gripped the throttle with my thumb and forefinger. The remaining three fingers were on the brake lever. That way I always had three fingers to brake with and they were as far from the lever’s pivot point for maximum leverage. I could ride all day like that. And I also had excellent throttle control.

 

[kawakakana]

"I just ride for fun, I don't want to turn it into a chore like driving is for me" I say to myself. "I'm not jealous of every single motorcycle I see on the road while commuting," I insist.

Once I muster the courage to lane split, it's over for the Prius.

Yesterday I chose to commute by motorcycle for the first time. Riding to the office was a breeze and put me in a great mood for my workday. My coworkers were excited to see the bike.

The ride home was less enjoyable due to SJ being hotter than the surface of the sun. Otherwise not bad and still more fun than caging, but I was definitely missing that a/c. Did some light lane splitting on 237 and it did make the commute a little quicker Wasn't sure about the express lane so I didn't hop in, but I've got a flex transponder on order so I'll be able to use that confidently moving forward.

 

[berth]

You should certainly research the express lane. Down here, the lanes that I use are free for motorcycles, save for the east bound 91 between 4pm and 6pm (I think). I don't ride at those times, so it always free for me.

The west bound lane in the morning is stupid expensive (like $15), so I rarely take it in the car. But some lanes are just a dollar or two, and, especially on the bike, IMHO, even if not free, that's worth it simply to get out of the surging of the cars jockeying for position. "One less thing."

 

[ctwo]

If everybody acted like me, there would be no express lanes.

 

[kawakakana]

Tuesdays have become my moto commute days and consequently one of my favorite days of the week. fastrak flex in the pocket and i'm good to go for the express lane, no issues thus far