Newbie Riding question

[IDevil]

Do all bikee ride in the centre of the lane?

When I learn from the school, it says to ride at the centre of the lane.

But I experience many drivers driving at a fairly fast speed...

Would I be blocking them If I drive in the centre?

As a new driver, I ride fairly slow..

 

I seen many bikee riding on the divider. Wouldn't it be dangerous?

[IDevil]

I always try not to exceed the speed limit... But the vehicles behind are driving so fast, I got no choice but to speed up too.. Stressed feeling having a car follow so closely behind me...

[contrarian]

You need to keep up with the speed of the general traffic. Don't go so slowly that you hold up everyone else behind you and encourage them to overtake you.

 

If you find yourself holding up others, move over to the slower lane and let them pass, then go back to that lane. Eventually you'll find someone driving at the speed limit but not too fast - then you can follow this guy at a reasonably safe distance.

 

If the road is wet, try to keep following the tires of the cars instead of the centre of the lane. This will be drier and keep you away from the rubbish in the middle of the lane.

[kurarensu]

try to ride on the left side of the lane.. so cars/other bikers can pass u on the right.. but dun be afraid if a car is too close to u.. tats my advice.. =)

[IDevil]

Thank you very much for the advices

 

I will ride on the left of the lane unless I am overtaking.

[endlessloop]

Welcomed to the wonderful world of riding.

 

I suggest you read from beginning till end of Street Smart

 

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index....0entry3715921

 

You are not alone with this problem. Many new riders have faced similar problems as yours.

 

Go there and you shall find many useful survival tips.

 

 

 

[nickcstan]

i think riding in the centre is a good practice. we learn at the riding centres and i've also learned it at riding centres overseas and they all tell you to ride in the centre. there must be a good reason for doing that. i would say riding in the centre is safer as you are taking the whole lane and if a car tries to cut you, you have a little more time to react. i've had a few close call with drivers not checking blind spots but fortunately i was in the centre of the lane and i had a little more time to react. if you ride to the side, a slight veering of a car might hit you (you know la, those trying to answer handphone, quarelling or changing lane without checking blindspot, yeah, it may be their fault and they get charged, but you lose alot of skin along the way. as for your speed,as long as you are riding within your legal limit, you are fine. but don't road hog. if you really want to ride slowly, keep left. nobody there will tailgate you. i've witness 2 accidents with riders riding inbetween cars, crashing in front of me and all because they were riding close to the dividers and both times, it was the cars that crashed into them. whose fault? driver, who suffer? rider.

[IDevil]

school teach and outside road so different...

 

I guess I will try to keep with the speed of the road.

 

But isn't that known as speeding???

 

Very stress... ride within speed limit will road hog, ride fast will be counted as speeding..

[kurarensu]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 10:21 pm

school teach and outside road so different...

 

I guess I will try to keep with the speed of the road.

 

But isn't that known as speeding???

 

Very stress... ride within speed limit will road hog, ride fast will be counted as speeding..

wana ride slow just keep left loh.. dun think anyone will bother whether u r slow anot.. cos the extreme left is for slow motorist.. hah.. like those 50-70km/h vehicle..

 

btw i talking abt e'way..

[IDevil]

How about normal road?

 

Its the same right? Keep with the speed of traffic?

[paul mai]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 09:34 pm

Do all bikee ride in the centre of the lane?

When I learn from the school, it says to ride at the centre of the lane.

But I experience many drivers driving at a fairly fast speed...

Would I be blocking them If I drive in the centre?

As a new driver, I ride fairly slow..

 

I seen many bikee riding on the divider. Wouldn't it be dangerous?

When it rains, the dividers get slippery. Do watch out and take care

[IDevil]

Originally posted by paul mai@February 22, 2007 10:27 pm

When it rains, the dividers get slippery. Do watch out and take care

Thanks! All Bikee take care too.

 

I better start racking up my experience on the road.

[paul mai]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 10:27 pm

How about normal road?

 

Its the same right? Keep with the speed of traffic?

All roads are at 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by a speed limit sign.

 

If a car tailgates you, then keep left, give way and let him pass lor.

 

Try to practice and get used to the bike fast. There's nothing else much you can do about the singapore traffic except learn through experience.

 

I wish you a safe ride always... take care.

[IDevil]

Originally posted by paul mai@February 22, 2007 10:39 pm

All roads are at 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by a speed limit sign.

 

If a car tailgates you, then keep left, give way and let him pass lor.

 

Try to practice and get used to the bike fast. There's nothing else much you can do about the singapore traffic except learn through experience.

 

I wish you a safe ride always... take care.

Keep left as in still remain in the same lane, but more to the left? To allow the car more space the overtake me?

 

Thanks alot for the advices.

 

After riding for a day today, I notice nobody ride at 50km/h in normal road...

[Tourer]

Originally posted by kurarensu@February 22, 2007 09:51 pm

try to ride on the left side of the lane.. so cars/other bikers can pass u on the right.. but dun be afraid if a car is too close to u.. tats my advice.. =)

That is a very dangerous move to do in my opinion. You should just ride in the most strategic position of the road.

 

To some people they will choose to ride like a car, hog the centre of the lane, or move to the safest spot. If you think the lane beside you has too many vehicles, you may choose to ride further away from them on your own lane. But try to never allow cars to squeeze you or provide them enough comfort to zoom past you by sandwiching you.

 

Big vehicles passing near you at faster speed will create wind and vacuum strong enough to push you away and wobble. That is very very dangerous.

[Tourer]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 09:58 pm

Thank you very much for the advices

 

I will ride on the left of the lane unless I am overtaking.

You shouldn't. If you feel too many vehicles are overtaking you, just ride on the left lane, NOT left side of the lane. Unless you are really like slow, the other vehicles just have to live with it, because left lane is supposed to be slow. But try not to go too slow like others have mentioned, it can be dangerous.

 

If you are not used to speed, I'd advise you to take opportunities to ride on empty roads and get used to the speed. At least keep up with the legal limit. Hope it helps.

[Throttle]

Originally posted by kurarensu@February 22, 2007 09:51 pm

try to ride on the left side of the lane.. so cars/other bikers can pass u on the right.. but dun be afraid if a car is too close to u.. tats my advice.. =)

that is not so good advice in my opinion.

 

Be alert and be aware be afraid so to speak if a car comes too close becos it means the driver is either inconsiderate or oblivious to your presence. Use your horn when you are threatened. Dont wait till it's freaking too late. Ride defensively. Move away appropriately or risk being hit if the driver is a F@#**king blind idiot.

 

Always maintain a safety zone around yourself.

At least 1m side safety zone and maybe 3m front and back safety zone round

When a vehicle intrudes your safety zone, be very alert and ready to manouver yourself to maintain the safety zone.

 

Anticipating and reading your environment and fellow road users will ensure that you dont get a rude shock.

 

follow these rules and you will live to avoid many accidents.

[Throttle]

Originally posted by tourer84@February 22, 2007 10:54 pm

You shouldn't. If you feel too many vehicles are overtaking you, just ride on the left lane, NOT left side of the lane. Unless you are really like slow, the other vehicles just have to live with it, because left lane is supposed to be slow. But try not to go too slow like others have mentioned, it can be dangerous.

 

If you are not used to speed, I'd advise you to take opportunities to ride on empty roads and get used to the speed. At least keep up with the legal limit. Hope it helps.

Well said, Tourer84

[blackiek7]

ride safe ride defensively...

[Tourer]

Originally posted by Throttle@February 22, 2007 11:29 pm

Well said, Tourer84

Thank you.

[contrarian]

Originally posted by IDevil@February 22, 2007 10:45 pm

Keep left as in still remain in the same lane, but more to the left? To allow the car more space the overtake me?

 

Thanks alot for the advices.

 

After riding for a day today, I notice nobody ride at 50km/h in normal road...

Don't encourage anyone to overtake you in the same lane. To prevent this, I ride on the right half of the lane most of the time. Anyone who wants to overtake has to go one lane out.

 

If the traffic is too fast for you, move to the slower lane, let the faster vehicles pass, then move back to the original lane.

 

Watch out for bikes too. They can be dangerously unpredictable because they can pass on your left or right if you ride in the middle of the lane. Just this evening, one idiot accelerated from behind left to pass on the right when I was already changing lanes to the right in front of him. Because I was aware of his presence, I watched out and listened for his move instead of just throttling up and changing lane.

[kurarensu]

cos there's once i on my fren bike.. he pillion.. we quite @ center.. de car like pushing us sia wth.. den we horn him he over take to right lane go infront and purposly ride DAMN SLOW.. idiotic.. might as well keep left and let him pass den go back to slightly center.. some riders dun like bikers.. see onli will think they r road hogging..

[blackiek7]

u r endangering ur life... pls do not do tat once u get ur lic

[IDevil]

Thanks Thanks A lot of thanks to everyone for the advise.

 

What about road with 3 lanes?

 

Supposely I need to turn right, thus I got to ride on the right lane. Will I hog if I go too slowly?

[acid]

if u have to make a right turn, then u just have to stay on the rightmost lane without having to worry about road hogging. u r not trying to purposely hog the road. u have a valid reason.

 

once u get in the right most lane, and turn on your signal light. most motorist will understand that u r slowing down bcos u r turning right soon. so they will start to change lane and overtake u.

 

just maintain your speed or keep a safe following distance. No need to speed up bcos the motorist behind is tailgating u. its very dangerous to do 80km/h to avoid the motorist behind then slow down suddenly just infront of the right turn. u may skidd.

 

some rightmost lanes are "go straight or turn right lanes". u should NOT slow down suddenly to make the right turn. the motorist behind may think that u r going straight and ram into you. u should slow down in advance so that he or she has more time to slow down also.

 

keep a safe following distance from the vehicle infront. if u r too close, u may hit the front vehicle if he / she is making a U-turn instead of a right turn.

 

when u r behind another vehicle waiting in the right turning pocket, if the front vehicle starts to turn right across the junction, u should not follow him / her immediately. firstly, u cant see the oncoming cars because your LOS is blocked by the front vehicle. and if u cant see the oncoming cars, these oncoming cars cannot see u either. secondly, the front vehicle may not be able to make the right turn completely and kenna stuck in the junction. maybe he has to stop for a pedestrian who suddenly cross the road last minute. if he kenna stuck, u also kenna stuck in the middle of the junction and maybe hit by the oncoming cars.... its safer to wait for the vehicle infront to turn right completely, and check for oncoming cars before u turn right also...

 

statistically, most accidents happen at traffic junctions, where vehicles' paths intersect each other. be very careful at traffic junctions. take care, ride safe!