Riding on Expressways

[MiddleAgedBiker]

In my younger days, I used to do what everybody else did, which was to ride between cars, mostly between the middle and right lanes. With a 2B bike which was light and easy to manuever this was easy to do, with bigger class 2 bikes, it gets tricker.

 

Then when I got older, many people told me they hated bikers to ride between cars, and that in other countries, the bikers rode like they were cars, i.e. they took up a space behind a car, and just followed along on the expressway and that we should follow suit.

 

After I got a Harley it was very difficult to ride between cars, because of the wide handlebars, and as the experience almost gave me a heart attack (brakes not powerful, bike heavy, when car in front jam brake, I get near heart attack) I just avoided places like PIE, CTE and ECP during peak hours, instead choosing to go on a longer route.

 

Now, after getting a sports bike again, I tried both, and I think it's actually safer for us to ride between cars, as long as we don't speed excessively faster than the cars.

 

My reason is that riding between cars gives us a buffer to brake, should any of the cars suddenly jam their brakes. If I ride behind the car, I have no choice but to stop or bang into the car in front.

 

So I would like to hear individual rider's tips on a safer ride down crowded expressways during peak hour.

[sibingai]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedBiker@April 23, 2007 04:36 pm

 

Now, after getting a sports bike again, I tried both, and I think it's actually safer for us to ride between cars, as long as we don't speed excessively faster than the cars.

 

My reason is that riding between cars gives us a buffer to brake, should any of the cars suddenly jam their brakes. If I ride behind the car, I have no choice but to stop or bang into the car in front.

 

So I would like to hear individual rider's tips on a safer ride down crowded expressways during peak hour.

i would agree with you thou.........

[Metalfyre]

I do agree that being in the space between cars, we actually maximise the safety cushion by giving ourselves a greater distance to brake. In fact, my brand of riding involves squeezing in between cars and trying to clear traffic as quickly as possible so as to minimise the amount of time spent in the spot between cars. When the road ahead is finally clear, I'll take the middle of a lane and slow to my cruising speed again.

[Akarui Siren]

lols, it depends on the distance that you are travelling behind a vehicle. I don't give a 100% trust on the car infront that he/she will NOT jam brake. Unless your brake are superb and you have fast reaction... den i nothing to say liao lars....

 

usually my riding style will be riding within a lane. My distance from the vehicle infront (esp on high speed) is usually 2.5 car length away... And I will always take note of any vehicles behind so that I have enough time to change lane in case the vehicles infront acted funny.

 

I only go in between cars if it is a jam at low speed... roughly about 30 ~ 50km/hr and ride through slowly. Coz cant have a 100% trust on vehicles that may suddenly swirve out - which DOES happens before. Lucky me, I have time to brake. And also coz my vehicle's not 'slim' enough to squeeze through like kapkias do. Again, I will notice for any motorcyclists behind me. I will go into the lane and let them bypass me. They can afford to speed, I can't~ lols.

 

It depends on each riding individuals though... If they think it is safe to ride it that way so that they can control better, it's up to them.

 

Welp, there are weird drivers that think motorcyclists cannot occupy one full lane, must be in between lane... Actually, there is also a danger to it. Blur drivers go overlane too.

[chinggu]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedBiker@April 23, 2007 04:36 pm

In my younger days, I used to do what everybody else did, which was to ride between cars, mostly between the middle and right lanes. With a 2B bike which was light and easy to manuever this was easy to do, with bigger class 2 bikes, it gets tricker.

 

Then when I got older, many people told me they hated bikers to ride between cars, and that in other countries, the bikers rode like they were cars, i.e. they took up a space behind a car, and just followed along on the expressway and that we should follow suit.

 

After I got a Harley it was very difficult to ride between cars, because of the wide handlebars, and as the experience almost gave me a heart attack (brakes not powerful, bike heavy, when car in front jam brake, I get near heart attack) I just avoided places like PIE, CTE and ECP during peak hours, instead choosing to go on a longer route.

 

Now, after getting a sports bike again, I tried both, and I think it's actually safer for us to ride between cars, as long as we don't speed excessively faster than the cars.

 

My reason is that riding between cars gives us a buffer to brake, should any of the cars suddenly jam their brakes. If I ride behind the car, I have no choice but to stop or bang into the car in front.

 

So I would like to hear individual rider's tips on a safer ride down crowded expressways during peak hour.

wad u say make sense, for mi is ride between cars but haf to be careful of drivers dun give way or suddenly turn without signal or at high speed..

 

can u imagine during peak hours at expressway all the bikers stay in the center of the lane and follow the car in front..

[keratsini]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedBiker@April 23, 2007 04:36 pm

 

My reason is that riding between cars gives us a buffer to brake, should any of the cars suddenly jam their brakes. If I ride behind the car, I have no choice but to stop or bang into the car in front.

 

That's the reason we sould keep a safe distance. However, in reality that's very hard to apply. I personaly dislike to ride between cars but with such massive traffic jumps I have no alternative and on top of it is too tempting to resist lane spliting.

[futsal123]

Peak hours ride in the centre of lane, behind cars...bike will overheat.

 

On my side, i will stick to extreme left lane during peak hours, sometimes squeezing between cars. If there is any situation whereby a blur driver swerve out suddenly, there is still road shoulder that i can siam to...just my own tots.

[Akarui Siren]

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... I got experience with TAXI DRIVERS... changing lane SOOOOOOOOOOO NEARRRRRRRRRRRRRR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..... machim think I a small bike sure can easily cut in by going SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NEAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

[futsal123]

What did you do then?

 

Sometimes those drivers are really tired or forget to check blindspot, and they change lanes without checking blindspot completely, thus compromising bikers safety. Just give them a 5sec HONK...sure to wake them up.

 

-On my side, i will try not to ride into any car's blindspot.

[Akarui Siren]

Me... what to do... Slow down lor... (not jam brake lars... coz got vehicle behind)

 

Usually I'll speed up and not stay by the side of the vehicle on the other lane...... Dunno why for drivers but even my friend a driver say... she sometimes lazy to check blindspot only check mirror and turn....

 

And honk must see if your honk is strong... some people's honk is like a.... tweety bird.

[futsal123]

mine is air horn

Then i think my cable loosen or battery weak.

When i press and hold my horn...It goes like this 'POHHHHHHHHHH.....Puuuuuu.....poooo...then no more' So embarassed.

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Originally posted by Akarui Siren@April 23, 2007 05:03 pm

lols, it depends on the distance that you are travelling behind a vehicle. I don't give a 100% trust on the car infront that he/she will NOT jam brake. Unless your brake are superb and you have fast reaction... den i nothing to say liao lars....

 

usually my riding style will be riding within a lane. My distance from the vehicle infront (esp on high speed) is usually 2.5 car length away... And I will always take note of any vehicles behind so that I have enough time to change lane in case the vehicles infront acted funny.

 

I only go in between cars if it is a jam at low speed... roughly about 30 ~ 50km/hr and ride through slowly. Coz cant have a 100% trust on vehicles that may suddenly swirve out - which DOES happens before. Lucky me, I have time to brake. And also coz my vehicle's not 'slim' enough to squeeze through like kapkias do. Again, I will notice for any motorcyclists behind me. I will go into the lane and let them bypass me. They can afford to speed, I can't~ lols.

 

It depends on each riding individuals though... If they think it is safe to ride it that way so that they can control better, it's up to them.

 

Welp, there are weird drivers that think motorcyclists cannot occupy one full lane, must be in between lane... Actually, there is also a danger to it. Blur drivers go overlane too.

In theory I fully agree with you, I also tried staying far behind the car in front, but as we know this will usually result in either the car behind high-beaming us, or someone cutting into the space in front making it difficult for us to keep the ideal distance. If we pull back again, someone else will cut in.

 

Out of curiousity, what bike are you riding? Asking because if yours is light and brakes powerful it might work well to ride within a lane.

 

I normally will ride in a lane if the traffic is flowing smoothly and fast.

 

A friend once taught me not to ride in the centre of the lane but to ride to one side, so that you can escape in between cars if the cars in front suddenly jam brake. If the car behind gets close, then move towards the centre to prevent him squeezing you out. I found this tip very useful.

 

Also agree with you on some drivers not allowing bikers to take up a lane. Some will try to squeeze you out of the lane, and if you insist on taking the lane (although you're not roadhogging) they'll respond by tailgaiting you to pressure you to move. Aiyah, very sian right, I know, but usually I will just move when I see this type of driver, don't want to risk my life.

 

But not all drivers are like that, some will respect you and give you a lot of space when they see you riding inside the lane, could be these drivers are also ex-bikers, or just nice people.

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Originally posted by chinggu@April 23, 2007 05:04 pm

wad u say make sense, for mi is ride between cars but haf to be careful of drivers dun give way or suddenly turn without signal or at high speed..

 

can u imagine during peak hours at expressway all the bikers stay in the center of the lane and follow the car in front..

Actually hor, I more scared of the Johor kup kia, especially when the cars are slow or stationary, they will switch "lanes" and just suddenly appear in front of you without checking if got bike or not!

 

A lot of biker friends tell me they see other people kena before, the bike travelling at speed, kup kia appear, bike jam brake and fall or crash into car, kup kia just ride away...scary!

 

With cars, usually can tell from their "body language" what they want to do, when you ride long enough. They will usually move very close to the edge of the lane when they want to cut out and change lanes...then have to slow down and be careful.

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Originally posted by futsal123@April 23, 2007 05:16 pm

Peak hours ride in the centre of lane, behind cars...bike will overheat.

 

On my side, i will stick to extreme left lane during peak hours, sometimes squeezing between cars. If there is any situation whereby a blur driver swerve out suddenly, there is still road shoulder that i can siam to...just my own tots.

Hmm,this is an interesting tip, I will try it next time. Thanks!

[hit.man]

I tried to stay at centre of lane behind the row of cars during traffic jams on expressway before. End up all the cars try to eat into my lane cuz they think that mine's a bike and can get out of their way. That's not the worst... The worst is when i am at lane 2 and cars from both lane 1 and 3 tries to cut into my space at the same time~!

So now for me, if the jam is really bad and cars are not exactly moving fast, I will travel in between them... And of course, the trade off is that I gotta to be extremely alert and beware of cars swerving into my way...

[Akarui Siren]

lols, mine's a TA200.... Not tat I cannot ride lane 1.5 lars.... Just that I don't want... coz I got see mad 'drunken' drivers think they bikers also drive on lane 1.5... Got one even more worse... super disturber... Deliberately dun wanna let you cut through and will totally block your way to MAKE YOU STOP! I heard my friend's friend super rich boy.... always love to bully motorcyclists regardless of life at risk... he got into TP cases before and suprisingly STILL CAN DRIVE. Some richios.. abit abusive...

 

I dun ride at the side either... coz the other drivers on the other lane may suddenly cut in and appear beside you... I got that once and always end up braking to stay behind to keep myself safe.

[chinggu]

recently there a lot of accident happen at expressway, sad to say i'm 1 of them..

ride safe guys..

[Echo]

i dont squeeze between cars, even just a small 125cc, i just tail behind. For safety sake. But occasionally only when vehicles in front are in stationary position. Dont want to risk the danger of vehicles swerving out to another lane suddenly.

 

Ride safely, ride wisely.

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Originally posted by chinggu@April 23, 2007 05:56 pm

recently there a lot of accident happen at expressway, sad to say i'm 1 of them..

ride safe guys..

can share what happened? maybe we can all learn from your experience

[binkaz]

i prefer to travel between the cars.. between lane 1 and 2

 

just have to watch out those empty slots in lane 1 and 2 wheres cars might cut in... these empty slots to me are like a pedestrain crossing road... make sure no cars gg thru then i go..

 

for lane 3 and stuff, those lorries and van would block my view from wad is gg to happen ahead, like car wanna cut in the lane or wad..

 

travelling in the lane is too slow and i hate the feeling of having cars all around me.. just too dangerous IMO

[chinggu]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedBiker@April 23, 2007 06:11 pm

can share what happened? maybe we can all learn from your experience

ytd when travellin back hm at pie towards changi airport, it was rainin heavily as i was already wet tt y carry on ridin and nv stop, despite travelling 3rd lane and a lorry at 2nd lane splashin large amount of water at me and i totally canot c the at all, still can escape from accident. sumwhere after lornie exit, the traffic wad congested and i will ridin in between of lane 1 and 2 and pass by a small pool of water, speed ard 40-50 and i tap a bit of my brake and skidded.

 

after sum conclusion, my tyre seem to be abit too slippery and wif tt small pool of water, it's a good combination..

 

ride safe when rainin days and be alert.

[J73]

Originally posted by Akarui Siren@April 23, 2007 05:49 pm

I heard my friend's friend super rich boy.... always love to bully motorcyclists regardless of life at risk... he got into TP cases before and suprisingly STILL CAN DRIVE. Some richios.. abit abusive...

 

can let me knw his no. plate??

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Originally posted by chinggu@April 23, 2007 06:19 pm

ytd when travellin back hm at pie towards changi airport, it was rainin heavily as i was already wet tt y carry on ridin and nv stop, despite travelling 3rd lane and a lorry at 2nd lane splashin large amount of water at me and i totally canot c the at all, still can escape from accident. sumwhere after lornie exit, the traffic wad congested and i will ridin in between of lane 1 and 2 and pass by a small pool of water, speed ard 40-50 and i tap a bit of my brake and skidded.

 

after sum conclusion, my tyre seem to be abit too slippery and wif tt small pool of water, it's a good combination..

 

ride safe when rainin days and be alert.

wah scary! thankfully you're ok! you tap front or rear brake? were you going straight at that time?

 

Glad you are alright.

[chinggu]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedBiker@April 23, 2007 06:59 pm

wah scary! thankfully you're ok! you tap front or rear brake? were you going straight at that time?

 

Glad you are alright.

shd be back ba, canot remember clearly.. ya goin straight..

[Akarui Siren]

if tap back brake = fishtail lor.... if tap front brake = handle will shake left right and BANG! how i know le.... ME SKIDDED ON A STRAIGHT ROAD BEFORE WUAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

 

Anyway, I still prefer keeping in lane.... Usually when the vehicle i see ahead of me is slow and that my speed can go beyond him, I will check the mirror to see if any vehicles behind and change lane and SPEED UP!!! Then change back lane. Usually I stick to lane 3, overtake at lane 4, sometimes lane 2 if some idiots at lane 4 road hogs. Makes no difference to be in lane 3.5 lor... cept to me I feel much safer in terms of speed.

 

Whether you are travelling at 50km/hr, 80km/hr, 100km/hr, 120km/hr or more.... What's the hurry when you'll still reach to your destination lor. Ride safely, ride wisely.

 

Riding becomes dangerous when people are in a rush coz they are late for appointment.

 

 

J73 >>> I dunno lar.... told ye is my friend's friend liaos....