Stopping in traffic: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:New Riders]]
[[Category:New Riders]]
[[Category:Riding Techniques]]
[[Category:Riding Techniques]]
Remember to always check your mirrors whenever you stop for a light to make sure the guy behind you isn't sleeping (this is taught in the MSF). The risk is probably smaller (and can be battled) if you blow through a yellow light rather than take the chance of someone making a right turn and not seeing you . Remember that most people making right turns have a lane of straight or left turners blocking their view as well.
To avoid being squashed:  
To avoid being squashed:  


*Always leave the bike in first gear while you're stopped at an intersection.  
*Always leave the bike in first gear while you're stopped at an intersection.  
*Watch your mirrors.  
*Watch your mirrors to keep someone from ramming you from behind.  
*Stay to one side or the other of the car ahead of you. It gives you somewhere to go if you must make a quick exit.  
*Stay to one side or the other of the car ahead of you. It gives you somewhere to go if you must make a quick exit.  
*If you're in California, lanesplit. The drunk coming up from behind can't hit you if you're between two other cars. (But even then, still pay attention to items # 1 & 2 and get the heck out of Dodge before any impact.)  
*If you're in California, lanesplit. The drunk coming up from behind can't hit you if you're between two other cars. (But even then, still pay attention to items # 1 & 2 and get the heck out of Dodge before any impact.)  
*Work on developing your situational awareness: knowing exactly where all the traffic around you is located, and constantly updating your mental map of where they will (or MIGHT) be in the next few seconds. The only real defense a biker has in a bike-vs-cage collision is not to be there when it happens.
*Run yellow lights (usually). This will help avoid being rammed from the back, but you'll still have to watch out for people making last-second decisions to enter the intersection and turning in front of you.
*Work on developing your situational awareness: Know exactly where all the traffic around you is located, and constantly update your mental map of where they will (or MIGHT) be in the next few seconds. The only real defense a biker has in a bike-vs-cage collision is not to be there when it happens.

Revision as of 04:36, 16 October 2009

To avoid being squashed:

  • Always leave the bike in first gear while you're stopped at an intersection.
  • Watch your mirrors to keep someone from ramming you from behind.
  • Stay to one side or the other of the car ahead of you. It gives you somewhere to go if you must make a quick exit.
  • If you're in California, lanesplit. The drunk coming up from behind can't hit you if you're between two other cars. (But even then, still pay attention to items # 1 & 2 and get the heck out of Dodge before any impact.)
  • Run yellow lights (usually). This will help avoid being rammed from the back, but you'll still have to watch out for people making last-second decisions to enter the intersection and turning in front of you.
  • Work on developing your situational awareness: Know exactly where all the traffic around you is located, and constantly update your mental map of where they will (or MIGHT) be in the next few seconds. The only real defense a biker has in a bike-vs-cage collision is not to be there when it happens.
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