Another n00b question

[JustMark]

During the BRC, the instructor told us to break the lane your in down to 3 separate parts and pick one to ride in, with #1 being closest to the center and 3 being against the shoulder. Is there a "better" area of a lane to ride in, or is it whatever makes you comfortable?

[ceemes]

When riding solo, I generally alternate between lane 1 & 3 (as you broke them up) and avoid lane 2 or the centre part of my lane. I find that switching between 1 & 3 tends to alert cagers to your presence since movement tends to catch the eye of a driver. The centre part of the lane is where you will find all manner of nasty things, namely oil, grease and fuel. Nasty slippery stuff, especially if its just rained after a long dry spell.

When riding in a group, I use the Ack-Ack or staggered formation, lead bike picks either lane 1 or 3 and following bike rides in the other lane behind the lead, so it should look like this 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3 etc. If the lead bike switches lanes, hopefully signaling his intentions before hand with either a hand signal or sticking out his leg on the side he or she is switching to, then the rest of the pack needs to do the same and switch over to the other lane.

When I was younger and bit more foolish, I use to ride side by side in a group, but not now. Never know when you may have to switch to the other side of your lane due to some garbage on the road.

[JustMark]

Thanks for the reply. Thats more or less what i was doing (going between 1 & 3), but it did seem odd going back and forth between "lanes". Nice to know im doing something right..LOL

[fireguzzi]

What ever lane is going to make you be seen the most.

[storysunfolding]

What ever lane is going to make you be seen the most.

I agree.

Sometimes being in the middle part of your lane gives you the most visibility. Especially in the middle lanes on the DC Beltway.

You also want to be in an area that provides the safest place to ride given conditions. As ceemes mentioned, there are places where the motorcycle encounters hazards. Sometimes it's the middle, sometimes it's in both lanes 1&3 simultaneously.

One of the coolest things about the BRC is how well it introduces you to riding a motorcycle. However, it's a first step and doesn't teach you nearly everything about riding. Practice, experience and hopefully further classes are going to help you develop into a true and safe rider. For instance, while an outside inside outside path of travel is the best way to take a turn by increasing the radius of the turn and furthering your site line, conditions such as gravel at the inside may necessitate taking an outside middle outside path, and so on and so forth.

Glad to have you on the site and I hope you find the answers to all of your questions. We have good people here always willing to lend a hand.

[jaskc78]

i tend to find myself moving around a lot in the lane here in Tucson, but i'm usually out on the roads either on my way to or from work, so there's fairly heavy traffic. then there's the road grime and debris to worry about, too. lots of fun.

i'll also stay in 1 if i'm behind someone on a two-lane road with opposing traffic that may be looking to pass so they'll see me sooner. or switch to 3 if i'm coming up on an intersection so that the opposing traffic waiting to turn left and cross in front of me can see me around the people that are waiting to turn left the same way i'm going. a lot of it is more situational, though, and i'll even change full traffic lanes frequently if i'm the only person on my side of the road and it'll help me be seen earlier or more clearly by opposing traffic.

[jstark47]

If I have a "default setting" it would be slot #1. But like fireguzzi said, I move freely in order to be in the best position to be seen. Despite slot #2 being where oil, etc, tends to collect most, sometimes at stops I'll move into #2 to avoid an unintended invitation for cars to share the lane with me.

[Wrider]

You tend to attract the most attention if you're doing a Standup Wheelie down the road, but if you can't do that well then follow the advice above... haha No I'm JK on the wheelie part, definitely do the 1 and 3 unless you're riding in the rain and it's been raining for long enough to start accumulating in the ruts. Then I tend to switch to the middle of the lane because most of the loose slippery stuff has already been washed off into the ruts.

[Lion_Lady]

I'll generally ride in the position that allows me the best view of traffic ahead and behind me. It varies by situation and conditions. Generally, I travel in the left most lane, in the #3 line. On a two lane, I'll pick #1.

Regardless, I avoid that #2 position like the plague, especially in moving or heavy traffic. Debris in the road that is in that spot will pass underneath a car without the driver having to do anything... then YIKES! There is is in your path of travel with no warning swerve from the vehicle in front of you... I know a GoldWing rider who hit a bathtub that way. High clearance truck in front of him straddled it, then BAM! Wrecked the bike's suspension.

I won't stay behind any vehicle I can't see through or around.

P