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

[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