Ride the RIGHT wheel track (not the left)

[slofox]

Hard evidence of why it is better to ride in the right hand wheel track instead of the left...

Today I was in the CBD, in the cage, carting cases of booze all over the place. Came to a regular four way intersection, and was waiting to turn right. There is traffic coming at me from the opposite direction so I am waiting for a chance to turn across. Spot what appears to be a gap in the traffic approaching and think "Here's the go"...But as the car in front of the gap comes past and I prepare to dart across in front of the following car, I see that the "gap" is occupied by a scooter, which is pootling along in the left wheel track of the traffic (as they so often do). Which meant that I did not see him until I was just about to rip across the intersection. Had he been in the right hand wheel track I would have seen him way earlier. Luckily I looked again before moving...
Stay visible, hey..?

[Patch]

must be a Hamilton thing - some old fool tried passing me up the inside as I was preparing to enter a driveway.

idiots never learn

[Tubbsy]

The learners theory test says to ride in the track normally occupied by the right wheels of a car too.

[Oakie]

I ride in the right third of the lane for other reasons but the one you mentioned is certainly a valid one and one I hadn't considered.

[grusomhat]

The learners theory test says to ride in the track normally occupied by the right wheels of a car too.

Indeed it does. There's a few very good reason for it too. It provides a nice buffer zone against cars pulling out of sidestreets, driveways, etc. Gives you those few extra precious seconds to move if someone pulls out on you. And another good reason is, people are more likely to see you in their right mirror rather than their left as it is right next to them.

[slofox]

I ride in the right third of the lane for other reasons but the one you mentioned is certainly a valid one and one I hadn't considered.

I hadn't thought of it before either...but it was a clear illustration of a good reason to do so...

[boostin]

Just to play the devils advocate the car turning left out of the side street into that steam of traffic won't see them until last minute if they are in the right wheel track.

[Gubb]

The learners theory test says to ride in the track normally occupied by the right wheels of a car too.

'tis a pity that Scooter riders don't need to take that test.

[Blackshear]

You think THAT'S bad!

I had just started pulling to the right of a T-section with lights, when a scooter comes ZIPPING past from my left... Helmet straps flaling in the breeze...
So I pull up next to him at the lights and give him the 'left-to-right' motion by my jaw... He fiddles around and AS IF BY SHEER COINCIDENCE! Notices it's undone, and rectifies this issue.
"Hey man, sweet bike you've got! What'cha up to today?"
Me being all raised on politeness, had no option but to converse with this madman...
'Hunting around for a job, actually. What about you?'
"Just on my way to work. You should swing by, we might actually have a spot for another youngin like me. Dad owns the business, Auto Transmission stuff."
So I follow. Very carefully.
Back tyre on half PSI, no numberplate, leg fully out on every corner in the wet... No indicating and almost crashes 2 times headon, because he can't slow down for a goddamn left-turn... So I back it way, way off, just in case I was egging him on by just being a noisy 250.
Get to where he was headed but noone home.

So I depart, headed back the way we came. When I hear this strange noise and a breeze passes me...
Fully overtook me, WAY out on the oncomming lane!!!

Up until this day, I thought you were all grumpy old men with an axe in the back from scooter attacks!

So I blew right past him anyway. Cause, he was a scooter after all.

My story for the week. Fucking nutter. At least he had a leather jacket...?

[Oakie]

Yeah, although even riding on the right side is no guarantee as I had re-affirmed yesterday. It was the same scenario as you described but in a 70kph zone and the stationary car was indicating to turn right (across my path) into a gas station. As I approached I thought he wouldn't turn because I was too close but I kept an eye on him in case he did turn (as you do) and lo and behold he did go. Unfortunately he got to the station entrance and discovered a truck blocking his way so stopped with the car still blocking a fair proportion of my lane. I managed to get around him with enough poise to be able to give him a cheery wave with the left hand as i passed and bless my soul if I didn't hear other motorists honking their horns at him on my behalf.

[the mouse]

I glance in the rear view saved a close call recently when indicating and ready to turn right off a main drag onto a side road that runs alongside a rail line.
When positioned inside the middle of the white line as slowing to turn right (nothing coming up on the otherside luckily) some dick in a tin top from behind passed on the outside (illegally across a yellow) then across the rail crossing ahead. Give you the shits that does.


Often there are tin toppers sitting at lights with a cell phone rammed into the side of their head, but get this. The other day i saw this moron in a van who was typing away on a computer ...unbelievable.

meanwhile back to topic Slofox has valid point ...be seen.

[varminter]

Auto gearbox, doncha hate 'em. Remember when you had to drive a car:angry2:

[howdamnhard]

Yep I generally ride in the rh track for improved visibilty. With oncoming traffic I tend to move over to the left.
Had an interesting day today : early morning 5:30 dark wet , see cars in front start braking, can't see why so start braking realise the cars in front have come to complete stop,brake harder ,back locks up and starts sliding sideways, back off brakes regain control, reapply brakes little less back ,progressively more front (don't want to lose front) but need to stop in time. Stop in time,andrenaline start to day.two idiots had stopped on a narrow bridge to examine damage after one rear ended the other almost causing everyone else coming along the road to almost do the same to them.

Going home come up to intersection , truck and trailer which I have been stuck behind stays in rh lane , sweet I indicate and overtake in the left hand lane,halfway along truck decides to move into lh lane as the row of cars is shorter on the left,does'nt bother looking ,luckily this is a typical cage manouvre and I was expecting as much so I move over to the next lh lane(for turning left) whilst giving him a good blast on the horn and completing my overtake.

[allycatz]

Roadcode very clearly states scooter is classed as motor vehicle and should be on the road not the side of it or in cycle lanes etc. I cant see how anyone would stay on the left...you end up getting run into parked cars etc

[Supertwin Don]

Left hand side of the right hand wheel track - that way

(a) if you are folowing at a "safe" distance you should be visible on both inside and outside mirrors
(b) you will be directly in front of the driver in the vehicle behind you
(c) your veiw of the road and the surroundings will be pretty much the same as the other drivers' (door pillars/fluffy dice etc notwithstanding)
(d) you will generally be clear of any debris that has been dropped - it should have been shifted by the cars/trucks etc.
(e) as (d) relating to the oil/grease which collects between the wheel tracks.
(f) you are in the best place for overtaking, and there shouldn't be enough space for someone else to push past you.
(g) single lane road - you shouldn't have to change line to avoid cyclists.


yes, I'm at work and bored shxxxxxless:beer:

[twistemotion]

Just to play the devils advocate the car turning left out of the side street into that steam of traffic won't see them until last minute if they are in the right wheel track.

Unless their following distance is correct. If they follow too closely, they might not be seen in that scenario.

[Rhino]

Just to play the devils advocate the car turning left out of the side street into that steam of traffic won't see them until last minute if they are in the right wheel track.
At this point, you need to consider two things;
1. Is any traffic approaching you in the opposite lane(s)?
2. Can you adjust your speed to match the vehicle that has pulled out in front of you without overcooking your braking?

If the answer to 1 is no, I would normally give a fist-full of throttle and pass the car/truck asap before the next driveway/road on the right.:niceone:

If number 1 is Yes, consider your options for number 2. If yes, brake safely. If no, move towards your pre-planned escape route(s.)

You do visualise escape routes when riding? :whistle:

[slowpoke]

At this point, you need to consider two things;
1. Is any traffic approaching you in the opposite lane(s)?
2. Can you adjust your speed to match the vehicle that has pulled out in front of you without overcooking your braking?

If the answer to 1 is no, I would normally give a fist-full of throttle and pass the car/truck asap before the next driveway/road on the right.:niceone:

If number 1 is Yes, consider your options for number 2. If yes, brake safely. If no, move towards your pre-planned escape route(s.)

You do visualise escape routes when riding? :whistle:

Fuggin' hell that explanation is worse than a tax return!

As for escape routes, there are simply too many rapidly evolving dangers to ride and compute plans A thru Z to counteract them. You'd end up crawling along at a snails pace or sitting under a hedge in the feotal position sucking your thumb, as you hummed and rocked yourself into a mental ward.

Talking to a professional instructor in Oz he simply stressed the importance of maintaining a "Safety Envelope". Just maintain a buffer zone around you such that you have time to react to any given situation. This included riding in the LEFT HAND wheel track because the most severe hazard is the oncoming traffic. You may survive a collision with a car that pulls in front of you but ain't no way you are staying on this Earth after a head on. Also from the left hand wheel track you can swing wide in your lane or take to the verge, whereas from the right hand track you only have one safe monouever without heading into oncoming traffic.

It's something to think about anyway.

[Supertwin Don]

I didn't want to copy the whole of the last reply, but "the most severe hazard is oncoming traffic" seems to take a simplistic view.
"The hazard that could result in the most severe injuries" I think is better.

On a "standard" single carriageway road (1 lane each way) the left hand side of the right hand wheel track leaves the largest number of escape options for the largest number of situations. i.e. especially in a tunnel!

[quickbuck]

Roadcode very clearly states scooter is classed as motor vehicle and should be on the road not the side of it or in cycle lanes etc. I cant see how anyone would stay on the left...you end up getting run into parked cars etc

It does.... However, the cage licence part states drive as close to the left of the lane as practicable...
As most Scooter riders have only passed a car licence to ride their two wheel vehicle, then this is all they know.
Further, why read the road code again, they have already passed their test.

I personally think the rules for scooters are BS.
I want to see them pay their portion of Licencing (Rego) as the biggest component is ACC, and they claim their fair share of that!
Also, as we know there are many differences to how to operate a motorcycle on the road compared to a car...
Something that is only discovered int he school of hard knocks, and then motorcycles get a bad rap from the do gooders....

[quickbuck]

As for what actual wheel track to ride in...
Well, for me it is actually the one that makes me obvious to the hazards I detect....
In fact the mare fact I weave over the road makes me more noticeable to the average person who only notices things that are different....

[rosie631]

Hard evidence of why it is better to ride in the right hand wheel track instead of the left...

Today I was in the CBD, in the cage, carting cases of booze all over the place. Came to a regular four way intersection, and was waiting to turn right. There is traffic coming at me from the opposite direction so I am waiting for a chance to turn across. Spot what appears to be a gap in the traffic approaching and think "Here's the go"...But as the car in front of the gap comes past and I prepare to dart across in front of the following car, I see that the "gap" is occupied by a scooter, which is pootling along in the left wheel track of the traffic (as they so often do). Which meant that I did not see him until I was just about to rip across the intersection. Had he been in the right hand wheel track I would have seen him way earlier. Luckily I looked again before moving...
Stay visible, hey..?

Most scooters seem to ride like this and they are a pain in the arse. Either occupy your space on the road or fuck off. :angry2::angry2::mad::mad:

[discotex]

I like the right wheel track unless in the right-most lane of a multi-lane road (such as the motorway). In that case it's better to be in the left wheel track so you are in the mirror of cars in the lane next to you.

Open road I tend to move more to the left of the right wheel track given the likelihood of drunk/asleep drivers crossing the centreline.

[SMOKEU]

I always used to ride as far to the left of the road as possible, in the cycle lane if there was one when I rode my scooter, topped out at around 45kmh and I didn't want to hold up traffic. But on my CBR I ride where the right wheels of a car 'should' be in the lane.

[YellowDog]

I have noticed 'neat 'n' tidy' lady scooter drivers riding in the cycle lanes.

I think they consider it polite by keeping out of the way.

[Jerms]

While riding home the other night, about 7.30, I was in the right hand wheel track to see "around" the car in front. After passing through an intersection approximately 30 metres behind the car in front, two young kids ran out from the left hand side. :eek5: I managed to avoid them...:dodge:...but they hadn't seen me because I was obstructed by the car ahead of me.

We need to be looking for every potential hazard...lots to look for.

[quickbuck]

I have noticed 'neat 'n' tidy' lady scooter drivers riding in the cycle lanes.

I think they consider it polite by keeping out of the way.

Yup.... Shame they get in the way of cyclists, and annoy them in that case...
Yes, my cycle can out accelerate a scooter to 30km/hr.

[Cheshire Cat]

Hard evidence of why it is better to ride in the right hand wheel track instead of the left...

Today I was in the CBD, in the cage, carting cases of booze all over the place. Came to a regular four way intersection, and was waiting to turn right. There is traffic coming at me from the opposite direction so I am waiting for a chance to turn across. Spot what appears to be a gap in the traffic approaching and think "Here's the go"...But as the car in front of the gap comes past and I prepare to dart across in front of the following car, I see that the "gap" is occupied by a scooter, which is pootling along in the left wheel track of the traffic (as they so often do). Which meant that I did not see him until I was just about to rip across the intersection. Had he been in the right hand wheel track I would have seen him way earlier. Luckily I looked again before moving...
Stay visible, hey..?

Hmmm....makes sence! :)

[discotex]

but they hadn't seen me because I was obstructed by the car ahead of me.

They probably didn't see you because you were following too close to the car. If you were further back you wouldn't have been obscured.

Nice save though.

[MSTRS]

I like the right wheel track unless in the right-most lane of a multi-lane road (such as the motorway). In that case it's better to be in the left wheel track so you are in the mirror of cars in the lane next to you.

Correct! It's about being as visible as possible to those who might otherwise believe there was a gap. Plus, it conserves movement when overtaking (I'm not comfortable with dotted line splitting).

[Jerms]

They probably didn't see you because you were following too close to the car. If you were further back you wouldn't have been obscured.

Nice save though.

Yeah it's hard to keep a good distance leaving an intersection. I'm still learning not to pass slow cagers in residential areas...:whistle: I blame the bike really...doesn't like to play nice!

[Brownstoo]

Scooters are always on the extreme left.
They also usually use the bicycle lane instead of the actual road.

And then they blame everyone else for not seeing them... :girlfight:

[chasio]

As for what actual wheel track to ride in...
Well, for me it is actually the one that makes me obvious to the hazards I detect....
In fact the mare fact I weave over the road makes me more noticeable to the average person who only notices things that are different....

+1 on all of this

A regular case in point is the transit lane on Onewa Road on the North Shore, which is the left hand of two lanes towards SH1.

At peak time the right lane is typically full of traffic for a couple of kms, but the transit lane moves freely. The right hand side of the left wheel track is way safer than the right wheel track to see and be seen for oncoming traffic turning through the stopped cars and right across the transit lane, suicidal college students appearing from in front of trucks, etc. And approaching a junction that's on the left, a weave to the middle of the lane and back works wonders at grabbing cager attention.

I've seen several near misses in front of me for riders in the right wheel track that would have been non-events had they been in the left track.

In fact all we need to do now it to get buses banned from that lane and we'll be away laughing.

[swbarnett]

My Father is a perfect example of what you're talking about.

He was travelline in the left wheel track between two cars and was hit by a car turning right whose driver thought there was a gap. He nearly died in hospital when an embolism from his compund leg fracture passed through a vital organ (heart or lung, I can't remember which). The right side of the tank ended up only an inch from the left.


Since this I weave while passing intersections, depending on what traffic is about. If there's traffic to my left I approach in the left wheel track so they will see me (or at least have a better chance of doing so) and then move right as I pass to give me more room to react if they haven't. The reverse applies if there's traffic to my right. If there's traffic in both directions I tend to stay more or less central as I pass after weaving once to allow better visibility from both sides.

[MSTRS]

I've seen several near misses in front of me for riders in the right wheel track that would have been non-events had they been in the left track.
Proof that neither wheel track is 'best' all the time. The trick is to recognise and adapt in any given situation.




He was travelline in the left wheel track between two cars and was hit by a car turning right whose driver thought there was a gap.

With respect to the above, this is why the right wheel track is best GENERALLY.

[chasio]

Proof that neither wheel track is 'best' all the time. The trick is to recognise and adapt in any given situation.


100% agree and that's what I was aiming at... I probably wasn't too clear about it though :)

[skinman]

as one of the hated moped/scooter riders we often ride in the left wheel track or cycle or bus lane because the damm thing wont go fast enough particularly up hill, taking off, or in 70/80km zones. I will ride the right track when up to speed & it is more or less safe to do so. ps that bit between the tracks is sooo slippery when wet. /\/\/\:doh: (smiles arent working :( )

[MarkH]

ps that bit between the tracks is sooo slippery when wet.

In the wet you need to be more aware than normal with your road position and with the many many dangers - paint, metal covers, oil drips at intersections, cats eyes, etc.

Generally you should never 'always ride the right track'. You should always be thinking about your position on the road and be wherever it is safest. Left, right, middle (careful here in the wet) or weaving - whatever gives you the best visibility and/or gives other motorists the best visibility of you.

[Renegade]

a guy i ride regulary with is an ex MOT motorcycle cop and he "mostly" rides the left wheel track, i asked him why?

he said that if the traffic in front suddenly stops and for what ever reason you cant stop in time (he pointed out that nearly all riders tail gate cars) you will naturally swerve and if your in the right wheel track that will be into on coming traffic which = dead.
If in the left chances are it wont be as bad.

also left track you can see left side roads which are closer to you therefore more of a danger, cars from the right you should see first and make yourself known.

Also when going around blind corners if the car coming the other way cuts the corner you are not hit head on.

i thought it made sense.:doh: