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A Motorcyclist's Guide To Survival
Motorcyclists are a minority on the road, and older motorcyclists even more so. Undoubtedly, this is because at some point, many either decide "it's not worth risking my life anymore", or they have that one-too-many accident that they don't survive. I've been driving a motorcycle for many years, and I've learned a few important tips: * Drive like you're invisible, because in a lot of ways, you are. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, and other drivers aren't looking for something that small most of the time. * Be visible as much as possible by always driving with your headlights on (most new bikes have this hard-wired already because it's such a good idea). * Be predictable by following the same rules as the other drivers. Splitting lanes (driving in the same lane as a car) may get you through traffic faster sometimes, but it also has a tendency to startle and/or upset other drivers, and you don't need to complicate your life with startled or upset drivers around you. * Drive for the other guy - you need to keep your attention spread 20 yards for every 10 miles per hour you are traveling, paying attention to what situations every other driver in that radius is encountering and responding to it - or at least be ready to respond. That sub-compact ahead about to get cut off by a truck? That could very well affect you indirectly, so you must be aware of that situation and what results. * Wear your protective gear, just like everyone else recommends. I had a startling epiphany of this fact one morning when I got on my motorcycle and went around a corner in the parking lot at about 2 mph. I found my head bouncing off the pavement hard because I hadn't noticed I had a flat rear tire. Had I not been wearing a helmet, I would have been severely injured by this very stupid low-speed incident. * Know your vehicle by taking one or more of the very excellent courses provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. You'll be surprised at how much you can learn even if you are a very experienced rider. * Understand that car drivers are "spoiled", as they are used to having a nice metal wrapper around them, with many creature comforts that are there to distract them. This goes along with "driving for the other guy" as mentioned above, but speaks to an entire viewpoint that may not at first be understood or appreciated. Hopefully these tips that have kept me alive for this long will be helpful to others as well! If it sounds like it's a lot of work and requires a lot of attention to ride a motorcycle, then my work here is done!
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Contributor's Note
I have no affiliation with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, other than being a very satisfied customer of their advanced motorcycle classes.
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Another rule I use as someone who's done multi-day trips, admittedly on a push-bike, is just assume that everyone else on the road is either a homicidal maniac or completely lulu ... it isn't true, but it helps with keeping out of their way
Never ever consider that a car driver will see or adhere to your needs. Cars have four wheels and motorbikes have two, meaning that they have different trajectories and in no way do they compare. Cars seem to totally ignore these realities and it is wise never give them a chance to discover this reality because between the two it’s most likely to be the car that comes away unruffled. Leave cars to their own air-conditioned leather seated radio private weather-safe environment, because when they reach destination well after the motorbike, they will need all those cocoon creature-comforts to alleviate themselves from the frustrating hours of finding themselves even a paying parking spot.
I remember my brother used to ride his Harley with his helmet strapped to his knee. He claimed he was wearing it. I assume that everyone else on the road is either a homicidal maniac or completely lulu when I drive in my truck. I'm not so convinced it isn't true.
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