Safety of scooter riders

[rocketman1]

Just about got taken out by a car whilst riding a scooter.
It would not have happened if I was on my road bike.
Heres what happened, being the kind and considerate guy I am I was riding on or near the cycle lane on the left of the road to let the cars overtake me, as alot of scooter riders courteously do.
However on approaching an intersection, (I was on the straight) I made eye contact with the cager that was stopped await to turn right, he was giving way , so far all good, then just as was nearing his car another cager came up inside him to turn left (ie. going the same way I was) he didnt see me, purely because I was a bit close to the side of the road and obscured by the car turning right.
Got it so far? He was stopping but had pulled out a little in front of the car turning right, to give himself a better veiw. Thats where I , In the cycle lane nearly went over his bonnet, it was a close thing but we missed, only just.
Moral of this story if you ride a scooter demand your part of the centre of the road at intersections, DONT get caught out like I did.
If I was in the centre of my part of the road, like on road bike, all would have been sweet.
Cyclist beware the same could happen to them.
Yeah as some of them travel faster than scooters with alot less protection.

[maybe]

Yeah I reckon unless you are in an area with a speed limit higher than 70ks which a small scoot most probably shouldnt be, put your safety first no good being an injured polite scooter rider.

[Sellout]

I know what you mean. With the RZ getting a gearbox rebuild, I am relying on my Nifty to commute to work and as it only hits 50kph when it feels like it, I spend a lot of time in the cycle lane. But I always always always get into the CENTRE of whatever lane I'm using at an intersection.

Mate of mine had a very similar experience to the above, except he was collected by the 4x4 "nosing" out! End result?? Broken pelvis, dislocated shoulder, broken fingers, eye socket, nose and long ugly recovery time!

You gotta OWN the road when scooting! Even more so than when on a road bike IMHO.

[ital916]

my 2c, scooter or bike if you have a motorised two wheeler stay in the right hand side of your lane and OWN it. I hate seeing scooter riders riding down the left hand side of the lane. Its a nice place to ride through all the crap that accumulates on the road, as well as puddles of surface water in the rain leaves etc.

50cc or 2000cc, the lane is yours, if your going way to slow, pull over and let people pass or use a bicycle in the cycle lane, not like you'll be going any slower.

[Pogo2]

I pay registration, WOF etc, etc so will use "my" space on the road. If they (cagers) want to overtake, let em. Being courteous on the road just doesn't cut out there as everyone is out for themselves. Even with a "big" scoot some drivers will try and push you into the gutter. It's been echoed here before " drive like their all out to kill you" and you just might survive.

[CookMySock]

Scroters are dangerous!

[slimjim]

"Demand"..? huh its your right its not a demand....... ride more safely...period..its not a fucking pushbike...

[PrincessBandit]

I agree with Dririder87, courteous riding doesn't mean being a doormat (or ending up as roadkill). YOUR safety must come first, even if it means that the car behind you can't exceed the speed limit but wants to. By all means pull over to let things past if you can see you're creating a cue, but I reckon being Mr. Nice Guy is too easily abused (by all other road users, not just cars). If you are in a 50k zone, then tough shit for others who want to do their usual 65 or whatever.

[FJRider]

my 2c, scooter or bike if you have a motorised two wheeler stay in the right hand side of your lane and OWN it. I hate seeing scooter riders riding down the left hand side of the lane. Its a nice place to ride through all the crap that accumulates on the road, as well as puddles of surface water in the rain leaves etc.

50cc or 2000cc, the lane is yours, if your going way to slow, pull over and let people pass or use a bicycle in the cycle lane, not like you'll be going any slower.

The lane is yours .... in 50 km zones, straight up the middle. stay on the right hand side and some dork will try to pass on your left.

Ride it like you stole it... my 2 cents worth

[pritch]

The replies suggest not all of the writers actually ride mopeds.

There are times when to stay in the middle of the lane would require one to be a totally inconsiderate arsehole. There are enough of those driving around this town already, so there are places where I do keep to the left of the lane, and other places where I use the cycle lane.

Equally there are places where that would just confuse the numbnuts, so I stay in the middle or in yet other places to the right of the lane.

Then there's the places where I use the footpath, pedestrian underpasses, hotel carparks, whatever...

It depends on circumstances.

[CookMySock]

There are times when to stay in the middle of the lane would require one to be a totally inconsiderate arsehole.

Stiff titty. Don't move over if it compromises your safety. Ever. If I'm in the middle of someones(sic) lane, and they want to pass, the LAW is on my side and they can fucking wait their turn. I will let them through when I feel safe doing it, IF and when I feel like it.

there are places where I do keep to the left of the lane, and other places where I use the cycle lane.

Absolutely. Voluntarily share your road when YOU WANT TO, not when someone else wants you to.

Steve

[pritch]

The two places where I normally move left are when there is an uphill start from the lights. With my fat arse on it the moped accelerates very slowly...
When I have enough pace I will move to the middle of the lane.

The other thing you have to watch like a hawk is when passing parked cars make bloody sure there isn't some halfwit preparing to open his car door just as you come along...

[sinned]

Caging into Wellington each day gives me plenty of time to watch the practices and habits of the growing number of scooter riders. I high proportion of them have obviously never considered the risk they pose to themselves. There are three areas of noticeable difference compared to the also large number of motorcyclists:
1) Riding close to the left hand side. Along Thorndon Quay just next to angle parked cars and allowing traffic to pass them!
2) Following too close. Too close to find the front brake - if they know what it is for? I seldom see motorcyclists following close - they must know or have learn t something.
3) Only protective gear being the helmet and many with open face helmets. Nice fashion clothes and wind breakers.

[pritch]

2) Following too close. Too close to find the front brake - if they know what it is for?
3) Only protective gear being the helmet .

Those are pretty much standard observations here as well. Particularly the schoolkids...

[Macros]

I always always always get into the CENTRE of whatever lane I'm using at an intersection.


You gotta OWN the road when scooting! Even more so than when on a road bike IMHO.

Yeah I tried that today. Ended up getting passed 4 times on the left hand side on a one lane road. I even got the fingers =\