Why you don't see motorcycles on the road

[Zwartie]

Saw this on Facebook this evening. Definitely worth sharing.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28306/why-you-dont-see-motorcycles-on-the-road/

Stay safe out there!

Zwartie

[Yamahammer1200]

Great article.  Getting drivers to see you is difficult.   I could have a flashing Vegas neon sign on my helmet, but if they're not paying attention it don't matter.
The best way I know how to survive a commute is to look at every clue offered, whether you're riding AM or PM.
Look at the drivers around you, are they in the moment, or just a hazard?  Sometimes, they are both.
On a bike, it's easier to get input concerning the flow of traffic.  I try to stay in a sweet spot and not race up to the traffic ahead.  Traffic ebbs and flows like a river.  Think about where you want to be in that river.
Just remember, no matter what, they can't see you.  If they do, bonus!

[TexasDave]

Yes a great article. Bikes are hard to see especially when most people are conditioned to only look for cars. I think lights help and always ride with my high beam on. The best advice I got when I started riding was to "ride like you are invisible". This advice was given to me when I was young by an older experienced rider.   Dave

[PaulG]

We've all had our close calls probably dozens/hundreds of times.  An aside to this article is also the time of year.  Just last week we had temps around +15 degC around Toronto when it's normally -15 degC in February.

On my way to work about 6pm, with the sun almost set I see some racerboy on his sportbike riding up the 404 expressway north of Toronto like he thought he was at Laguna Seca.  Weaving in and out of rush hour traffic, no signalling, just being a real dickhead.     I thought if he keeps that up he'll be roadpaint before spring.

The main reason (other than being a dickhead) is that nobody expects to see a bike on the road in February.  Factor in the items listed in the article and his mortality rate has just gone up ten-fold at least.

Even in the spring when it "officially" becomes biking season, there are over a dozen motorcycle deaths in the GTA before people realize "duuuhhhhh... I didn't realize....." - on both sides of the equation.

The level of stress and paranoia while riding ebbs from Mar-Apr-May (at least for me) but it never completely goes away in the metro area.  After some time out in the boonies, only then does the moving mediation sets in.   

So yes, ride like you're invisible to them.  Most people drive looking at the bumper in front of them.  I even bough a safety yellow mesh jacket two years ago, and I constantly wonder if it did any good considering the a-holes I've come accross since then.

So for us with seasonal riding, please be safe in the coming weeks/months.  And for those blessed with the year round riding climate, keep up the good ride.   

I'm starting to lose it so I better stop now, sorry.   

[The General]

Saw this on Facebook this evening. Definitely worth sharing.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28306/why-you-dont-see-motorcycles-on-the-road/

Stay safe out there!

Zwartie

Thanks Zwartie, this should be compulsory reading for all motorcyclist.(including and especially  the cross references).

The reference to eye deception in familiar terrain, supports the fact many accidents occur within a couple of kilometres from home.
It`s the first time I`ve read the physical explanation (Saccadic overload) with such detail on this deadly phenomenon.

Here`s further proof you can`t believe your eyes. (especially when they are focused!). Here they tell you the pink dots disappear as you focus on something. (In this case a black cross)...but they`re there all the time!
http://www.moillusions.com/2006/03/disappearing-dots.html