5 Simple Rules to Apply

[pressman1966]

These are 5 simple easy to understand rules of safer riding. After logging over 50000+ miles on motorcycles and scooters over the last 20 years. I have had only one accident and in the last few years after developing these simple rules, I don't even have close calls anymore.

1. My ass is number 1, and it don't like asphalt.

There are other ways to avoid an accident besides having to lay a bike down to avoid it. 2 wheelers can maneuver better than cagers can. Use it to your advantage.

2. Never, Never, Never tailgate the cager in front of you. Leave more than enough room to be able to avoid anything that the cager goes over or around. If you are to close you might not be able to avoid it or be hit by debris tossed up by them hitting it.

3. Never be in another cagers blind spot, always try to sit near the rear of them in the other lane in case they get stupid and change lanes or use your lane to avoid something in theirs.\

4. Always, always keep looking around you, when you get relaxed and stop looking. It will be in time that by not doing so will get you into trouble. (for example) At semi or blind intersections that you can not see other traffic, roll off the throttle and be ready to maneuver in case a cager runs the light.

5. Never get yourself into a spot while riding that you can not control.

By that, sitting at stop signs or lights, leave the bike in gear or on the throttle read to roll if a cager makes a mistake. Use rules 2 thru 4 and you will find yourself being in safer spots in traffic and enjoying your ride alot more.

[Cookees]

I agree with you in general. But I have had my motorcycle endorsement since 1969, and as the photo in my previous posting (When to lay it down) attests:

SOMETIMES sh!t JUST HAPPENS ;D ;D

[pukame2]

I try to avoid traffic. It can be done if you ride during certain times and waiting till its all clear. Even then, it can get hairy. All you got is your common sense and you gotta watch for that person on that cell phone.

[mortar235]

My horn isn't loud enough so i carry bricks to get the point across to cagers ;D

[indy50]

Good advice. Bricks are too heavy for me to tote, but a pocketfull of pea gravel isn't out of the question.

[Dennis D]

My take on these five points, and a few little additions to them:

1. My ass is number 1, and it don't like asphalt.

There are other ways to avoid an accident besides having to lay a bike down to avoid it. 2 wheelers can maneuver better than cagers can. Use it to your advantage.

They can also brake faster than most 4 wheelers, so don't go into a danger area in a position that might get you run over. And remember:
Laying a bike down to avoid an accident is an oxymoron. If your preparedness going into a situation, and your skill level means you "had to" make the decision to "lay the bike down".... you let yourself get in a position where you had to make a decision to have an accident.

2. Never, Never, Never tailgate the cager in front of you. Leave more than enough room to be able to avoid anything that the cager goes over or around. If you are to close you might not be able to avoid it or be hit by debris tossed up by them hitting it.

To do that requires that you be AT LEAST 1 1/2 to 2 seconds behind the four wheeler in front of you. If you are in a situation where if you do that traffic will just keep cutting in front of you... Patience!! and slow down to maintain that distance anyway, or risk.... SQUISH!!! If something bad happens up ahead.

3. Never be in another cagers blind spot, always try to sit near the rear of them in the other lane in case they get stupid and change lanes or use your lane to avoid something in theirs.

Never pace anyone in a four wheeler or let them pace you. They may forget you're there. (And you "Loud pipes save lives" folks... with your mega-loud pipes, and deafness setting in, how the heck would you know if behind those cranked up windows there wasn't an even louder stereo cranked up, blocking out all your obnoxious noise?)

4. Always, always keep looking around you, when you get relaxed and stop looking. It will be in time that by not doing so will get you into trouble. (for example) At semi or blind intersections that you can not see other traffic, roll off the throttle and be ready to maneuver in case a cager runs the light.

Nobody, but nobody, gives 100% of their attention to 100% of what's around them, 100% of the time. But when you realize that you missed noticing that driver who could have pulled out in front of you, until you were going by..... stop, give yourslf a good kick in the rear, and resolve to do better and pay more attention. You were just damn lucky that wasn't the one who was going to "take you out".

5. Never get yourself into a spot while riding that you can not control.

By that, sitting at stop signs or lights, leave the bike in gear or on the throttle read to roll if a cager makes a mistake. Use rules 2 thru 4 and you will find yourself being in safer spots in traffic and enjoying your ride alot more.

Never sit at lights with your bike aimed squarely at the middle to someone's bumper. Aim toward one side or another, so if you need to suddenly bolt to avoid getting rear ended, you can get around the vehicle ahead instead of becoming the center of a "sandwich". When you find you're not doing such a good job of observing rule #5, go back and check my comment under rule #4.