Where to ride on the road?

**MarkDv** · 2nd December 2007, 16:33

The wife and i were having a discussion on riding lines after riding with friends recently. Our mate tends to ride on the side of the road away from oncoming traffic, where i tend to ride right of centre in my lane.

I guess it comes down to personal comfort but my view is i have more outs if we have to stop suddenly for any reason, but it does expose us to oncoming cages more, God knows after this weekends tragedies we don't need to be anymore exposed than we are already.

What about everyone else, left right or middle?

**Mom** · 2nd December 2007, 16:42

All of those options mate! I own my bit of road for sure. I tend to be a right wheel track rider in a straight line, or in traffic, as in my experience it lets following traffic know I am there.

Open road riding totally different, I take the best line through I can manage. I dont ride fast and am always aware of others behind me, will pull left to let faster riders past if I am holding them up.

One thing I am very aware of though is right hand corners, it is very easy to lean into one and have your head in the lane or oncoming traffic, so I will take a wider entry to the left of the lane and lean in from there.

**merv** · 2nd December 2007, 16:44

Depends if I'm following someone, then I'll ride stagger but close behind them. If I'm in front I tend to stay to the left in the left wheel track of the cages unless the road surface is broken up from the pounding. Stay off the centre of the lane if it looks a bit oil covered otherwise no worries to ride there if you are on your own but do the stagger when in groups.

**Steam** · 2nd December 2007, 16:46

http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/position.html

"Lanes are 12 ft. wide. Motorcyclists should divide the lane into three four-foot sections. Lane positioning is an important safety concern when riding a motorcycle. Most traffic Lets take a lane and look at what a right, middle, and left position offers.

Right of the lane - In general the right third of the lane is the best position for a motorcyclist. The right third gives the rider the best view. You can see what's happening in your lane, other lanes, and this position allows other motorists to see you. The right side of the lane also keeps you away from oil and other potentially hazardous fluids. Lastly, the right third also offers numerous escape routes because there is paved road on each side of you.

Middle of the lane - The middle of the lane provides adequate visibility but not as well as the right. The middle of the lane does present a hazard because that's where oil and fluids that leak out of cars accumulate. For this reason you should stay out of the middle but if you ride in the middle stay on the right side of the middle.

Left of lane - The left side of the lane provides protection from fluids on the road but it does not provide adequate visibility of on coming traffic and it puts you in a position where you might not be seen."

**NotaGoth** · 2nd December 2007, 16:57

Straight pieces of road, I ride in the right hand wheel track... This is dependant on whats oncoming though... Or what condition the road is in... If I see an oncoming truck etc, I'll shift and position myself in the left hand wheel track so that I don't get blown round to much... Can get quite scary at times... I try to avoid positioning myself fully in the centre of the lane... My old lady drilled it into me about "oil" specially on hills.. With trucks, and heavy vehicles dumping oil on down gear shifts...

When cornering to the right, I will shift myself into the left hand wheel track, so I have plenty of room to take the corner without ending up leaning over with my head hanging over into the oncoming lane...

Cornering to the left, I'll shift into the right hand wheel track, so I have plenty of room and don't end up leaving myself tucked far to tight into the corner..

I'm really still learning.... So its all a bit confusing for me.. But based on what I have seen following the rider who was teaching me... Questions I have asked... And the two and two I have put together in my head.. I find this is what seems best...

Each to their own though... People can correct me on how I do things... As I know for myself that there is alot I can improve on... There are people out there who unlike myself have years of riding experience under their belt...

**MarkDv** · 2nd December 2007, 16:59

Originally Posted by Steam

http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/position.html

"Lanes are 12 ft. wide. Motorcyclists should divide the lane into three four-foot sections. Lane positioning is an important safety concern when riding a motorcycle. Most traffic Lets take a lane and look at what a right, middle, and left position offers.

Right of the lane - In general the right third of the lane is the best position for a motorcyclist. The right third gives the rider the best view. You can see what's happening in your lane, other lanes, and this position allows other motorists to see you. The right side of the lane also keeps you away from oil and other potentially hazardous fluids. Lastly, the right third also offers numerous escape routes because there is paved road on each side of you.

Middle of the lane - The middle of the lane provides adequate visibility but not as well as the right. The middle of the lane does present a hazard because that's where oil and fluids that leak out of cars accumulate. For this reason you should stay out of the middle but if you ride in the middle stay on the right side of the middle.

Left of lane - The left side of the lane provides protection from fluids on the road but it does not provide adequate visibility of on coming traffic and it puts you in a position where you might not be seen."

Hey Steam, thanks for that, it is nice to know I am in the right section of the road and it helped explain to the wife why I am there. The link is helpful also.

**pritch** · 2nd December 2007, 17:00

Originally Posted by MarkDv

Our mate tends to ride on the side of the road away from oncoming traffic, where i tend to ride right of centre in my lane.

On that basis you're probably both wrong.

Conventional wisdom states that normally you should ride in the outer wheel track. This gives you a better chance to avoid small furry objects launching themselves out of the scenery. This also works for balls, small children, and large furry objects.

Of course, if there are threatening objects (like Mack trucks) approaching from the opposite direction you should move to the left of the lane.

If the next corner is to the right you should be to the left of your lane; better line, better visibility. If the next corner is to the left use the right side of the lane (same reasons).

The books all seem to say avoid the middle of your lane because all the oil drippings go there. Then again the guys that wrote most of those books don't live in NZ and they don't have to ride on our crap roads. It is my belief (however ill founded) that the oil and other detritus runs down between the chips and the high part remains relatively clean.

The middle of the lane is also generally free of the shiny tar patches which tend to be where the wheel tracks of the cars are. When you have had the excitement of a few involuntary two-wheel slides in the wet due to those shiny patches you may well come to agree with me.

In town if there is a vehicle waiting to turn on to the road you are using from your left you should move to the right of your lane. Vice versa. You just never know...

By now I hope you have the impression that there is no set position in the lane that works for all seasons. As you ride you should be constantly adjusting your position on the road to allow for whatever the current circumstances may be.

Complicated isn't it?

I hope that if I haven't been able to enhance your understanding, I have at least added breadth and depth to your incomprehension.

**MarkDv** · 2nd December 2007, 17:10

Just to edit my statement slightly, as you guys have a better word for it, I ride in the right wheel track, my mate rides in the left.

**Boob Johnson** · 2nd December 2007, 17:29

Originally Posted by MarkDv

Just to edit my statement slightly, as you guys have a better word for it, I ride in the right wheel track, my mate rides in the left.

Listen to Pritch, he know's what he's on about

Couldn't agree more Pritch

**dipshit** · 2nd December 2007, 17:35

Yep, as others have explained, you should be using every part of your side of the centre line as you see fit for a multitude of different reasons.

I would like to add that if you are riding with a friend or on a group ride... then do not allow anyone to invade your space too much forcing you to stay in a particular spot. Keep using the whole lane as you normally would on your own, to keep other riders back.

**martybabe** · 2nd December 2007, 20:07

1 third left of the center line on a straight road and well back form the vehicle in front ,for best view of the road ahead,oncomming traffic and to be seen in the rear view mirror of the Toyota in front cause they won't use them side ones.
left handers, enter from far right of lane,not touching slippy white lines, again best view of hazards around bend.
right handers is the hardest, best position is right over to the left,best view round bend but that's where all the shite do be, loose gravel,drains,greasy gutters and should you have to brake hard the bike will stand up and go straight on, too far to the right and you loose your head as someone said, so about 1 third right of the verge, good view and room for maneuver. so,wide into bends,slow in fast out but always place yourself in the best place to see and be seen.

Well that was a bit repeaty I know, consider it a back up opinion.

**yungatart** · 2nd December 2007, 20:14

Where to positon yourself in the lane is very well explained on a Ride Right Ride Safe Course.
I recommend that you do one.

**Subike** · 2nd December 2007, 21:12

In my opinion.
I stay in the right hand wheel track for many reasons.
The driver of a vehicle I am approching from the rear, can see me in his side view mirror, I never assume they can see me with the interior mirror.
I can also see the drivers head, its movements give clues as to what he may do, which include irratic right hand turns that catch so many riders out.

Ride in the right hand wheel track, it at the top of the camber of the road, when raining, there is less water in this area, and also because of the camber, in most cases, oil etc is drained away from that wheel track to the road side, Not a rule of thumb, but a a higher degree of road adhesion with your tires will be in that lane in the wet.

Riding in the right hand lane in any area allows truck drivers to see you in
their wing mirrors. Remember if you cannot see their mirror, they cannot see you. An old but very true statement that you should never forget.

Using the left lane in built up areas is suicide , tin tops, exiting parking slots, pedestrians, old ladies with shopping trollies or rideone wheel chairs dont look till they are IN THAT LANE! And you are flying over their heads.

On the open road always position yourself for corners that straighten it out the most. If you think about this, you will see that by always looking for the longest straight line around a corner is often the one that keeps you out of harms way. But stay within you lane and dont cut the right handers! Jousting with tin tops, using your head as the battering rams hurts like hell, you often only feel the first thump and then your a statistic!

When riding in groups on the open road, alway stagger the pack.
This gives eveybody an escape route, allows for easy of single file cornering when needed and allows you to have plenty of viewing room.
The lead bikes should always have their lights on and tail enders should always remember that keeping up is not nesssary, you will get there maybe 30seconds later, but you will get there safley.

On the open road, you should also, where practicable, ease over to the left side when approching trucks. The back draught from a truck can be enough to suck you under the back wheels of a semi or B train. Give your self room.

Treat every other vehicle on the road that is comeing towards you as a potentioal brick wall, and be sure you can avoid it.

As said before the canter of the road also allows you a better chance to avoid furry things that appear out of the grass, kids that appear from between parked cars and those cage drivers that pull out of driveways before looking left.

Never assume that other drivers can always see you. They are your enemy!

**discotex** · 3rd December 2007, 20:39

Something I didn't see mentioned is lane position when in the right most lane on the motorway (and maybe any multi lane road).

Sticking to the left wheel track means cages in the lane to your left can see your headlight in their mirrors - you have your headlight on eh?

If you are in the right wheel track of the right most lane on the motorway you will almost certainly have cages changing lanes onto you.