STREET SMART

[zod]

Don't go too fast in backlanes?

There's lots of debris lying about.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Pickup08M_resize.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Pickup02Mcopy_resize.jpg

 

Much Activities goes on @ Back Lane Pick up Zones...

 

But it is the Inactive we have to be careful of.

 

See a pile of Junk...

There will be stuff u don't wanna ride over...

Eg. nails, screws, pieces of metal...

 

And quite invisible to us on our bike...

Especially in the evening.

 

Zones Best Avoided!

Make a U... & go back the way u came in.

[Alvin.Y]

Originally posted by zod@Mar 23 2006, 03:26 AM

Don't go too fast in backlanes?

There's lots of debris lying about.

best example is regina/LAB backlane?

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Pickup03M_resize.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Pickup05M_resize.jpg

 

Metal stuff lodged in cracks will cause a puncture.

So These are Areas we should Avoid.

 

In my Tyre repair kit are souvenirs of things

I have pulled out.

4 repairs... 1 is mine...

One of them is a key...

 

Just a note:

Tubeless tires should not blow out if the puncture is small.

Air will leak gradually & a regular check on tyre pressure will indicate

and excessive lost of pressure.

So have a look at your tires...

 

For Tires with Tube:

Expect a blow out...

Hold the steering firm & let the speed die down.

My understanding is that spoke wheels are usually

Has tube in their tyres.

 

A Sport tyre cost $175 (there about)

A puncture patch up cost $20-30

A puncture kit cost $30

 

It is safer & less costly to avoid trouble zones...

[bigwhizkid3]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Mar 23 2006, 10:59 PM

Metal stuff lodged in cracks will cause a puncture.

So These are Areas we should Avoid.

 

In my Tyre repair kit are souvenirs of things

I have pulled out.

4 repairs... 1 is mine...

One of them is a key...

 

Just a note:

Tubeless tires should not blow out if the puncture is small.

Air will leak gradually & a regular check on tyre pressure will indicate

and excessive lost of pressure.

So have a look at your tires...

 

For Tires with Tube:

Expect a blow out...

Hold the steering firm & let the speed die down.

My understanding is that spoke wheels are usually

Has tube in their tyres.

 

A Sport tyre cost $175 (there about)

A puncture patch up cost $20-30

A puncture kit cost $30

 

It is safer & less costly to avoid trouble zones...

Just like the one puncture i kanna not long ago....

 

:cry:

[Spectrum]

Read your post yesterday...

Interesting...

 

Glad it was your tyre not your feet... ha ha..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v710/bigwhizkid3/mini-DSC00563.jpg

[bigwhizkid3]

LOL..... thanks for the reply....

It was freaking hard to pull that damn thing out...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Ramp01m_resize.jpg

 

This ramp is common with many of

our multi storey carparks in our HDB.

The gaps are great for grip but stuff that are

bad for our tyres will also be in position.

 

Avoidance is best, next would be minimal use.

Look for alternate parking location.

 

And if u have to use it...

Have a look thru the ramp before picking up your bike.

 

It's kind of like looking for FOD (Foreign Objects)

on apron, taxiways & runways.

A common practice on all airports.

 

Not only debris punctures aircraft tyres... it will will also

damage engines if they get suck into them.

And thats what keeping the aircraft up...

No engines... plane comes down.

 

As for other exclusive pickup zones..

Check with Whizkid story...Click here for story...

[Spectrum]

STREET SMART

Celebrates

20 000 Hits!

Enjoy your rides... but come home safe.

[zod]

treat for all readers by threadstarter? :drink:

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/StreetSmart20000_resize.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction01_resize.jpg

 

If u see the word Junction too well...

Neither can the drivers see you...

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction02m_resize.jpg

 

THE JUNCTION

 

Click for Biker Story

 

Don't add to the Statistics... Be Aware... Be Smart!

[endlessloop]

Based on research studies done in US and UK, the most common occurance of accidents for motorcycles happen at junctions and turns. The number is as high as 70-80%.

 

Every year, there are approx 100 deaths and 2,000 injuries (reported only) to motorcyclists in Sg. If motorcyclists are aware of the danger of junctions and turns, and reduce accidents at these places, think about how many lives would have been saved?

 

 

When approaching or navigating through a junction and turn, always keep in mind of the following dangers:

 

1. Beware that vehicle drivers of all types (lorries, bus, cars, motorcycles), and road users (pedestrians and cyclists), may fail to notice you.

 

Even when they appear to look at you, even when you are riding with full headlights on, even when you are riding a decently big bike, as amazing as it is, people may not notice your presence. This is part of human cognitive recognition/disrecognition. People just notice big and dangerous objects more easily then smaller lower threat objects. And if people do not notice you, they would proceed on their paths as if you were not there.

 

2. Beware that vehicle drivers and road users may misjudge your closure rate.

 

Motorcycles are small. From a distance, we appear even smaller. So it is hard to judge our closure rate. Worse, we can really be fast.

 

An example of this error would be that people thought they can proceed without getting into your way. But when the judgement is wrong, they end up cutting across your path.

 

 

3. Beware that vehicle drivers and road users may unknowingly make mistakes and do not follow traffic rules.

 

Drivers and road users are human. They make mistakes.

 

Drivers and pedestran can day dream. When it is red light, they can fail to notice it and continue as if it is green light. I know of encounters when people not only fail to notice the wrong colour of lights, they did not even notice there was a traffic light at all!

 

The list of errors as a result can be quite long. For example, it is a common design in Sg that the road lanes increased at traffic light and after that, the road lanes decrease and merge. It is common for drivers to read the wrong lane and instead of merging into the correct lane, cut into another vehicle's path in the other lane.

 

And the catch all: Blur drivers and pedestrians who make inexplicable and unexplainable and illogical behaviour. Yes, but they do exist and we have to live with them.

 

 

4. Beware that vehicle drivers and road users may knowingly violet traffic rules.

 

The list is also quite long. I would just quote a few examples, vehicles making illegal U-turn; pedestrian want to save walking another 10 metres to the traffic light and instead, jaywalks a short distance away from the traffic light.

 

I want to single out a major one: Vehicles beating traffic light.

This is getting worse and worse as Singaporeans lead a more rushed life and gets more and more impatient.

They cannot wait an extra 2 minutes if they missed a green light. So they try their very best, and I mean their very best, to beat it.

 

If there are no traffic camera and no cops around, then it is really up to the conscious of the person.

Even if there are traffic cameras, there is plenty of time for a vehicle driver to see that there is a chance to beat the lights.

First, green turned to amber. There is 3 seconds of amber time. So better quickly accelerate. Then it turns to red. But wait, there is another 3 seconds before the other direction turns green. So still can beat. And then there some more chance to beat the light again because vehicles will take a couple of seconds to move off.

 

 

 

 

The above handful of essence of causes would lead to quite a number of scenarios that can go wrong depending on when you are approaching the junction, light green or light red; navigating through the junction, left turn or right turn; as you exit the junction.

 

 

And bear in mind that the above does not include our own rider error. We are also human and not infallible. We may knowingly or unknowingly not follow traffic rule. We ourselves can be impatient. We ourselves can also make riding mistakes.

 

 

No wonder all these combined to give us the 70-80% number.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction01M_resize.jpg

 

GIVE ME A SIGN

 

You are on the left lane... approaching this junction.

 

Have a look at the Driver exiting the minor road...

The Million dollar Question...

Will he drive his Merc into your lane?

 

Let's see...

He is looking at our direction...

Cos if he's movin' out, he would look forward.

 

So - continue ride as norm...

Think again...

 

There is a 10% chance that he is look but not see.

And... Surprise! Wham!

So Slow Down to a speed that allows u to Stop

And avoid hitting his car if he do turn out!

 

Remember Endless Point 1...

He is lookin'... just looking...

Maybe.. Talking on his handsfree handphone...

etc...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction02M_resize.jpg

 

Taking Positon...

 

You are crossing this Junction...

Lights being green for a while.

Both lanes are available.

 

Question:

Which lane should u use?

 

Left or Center...

Why?

[gohjohan]

Centre so that rider and bike can be seen. Wear bright clothings and tapping the brakes a couple of times to blink the brake light will make rider and bike more visible.

[Dino Bravo]

IMO... I'd choose the Left lane. The taxi in front might turn, choosing left lane gives me "extra" time to avoid a collision if the taxi happens to turn. dun forget, the light is in ur favour, and so is the taxi's. he might or might not see you, so choosing the left lane would be the safest bet.

 

If you choose the centre lane, making urself seen, its a good move, but if he still does not see you, wham! chances are greater, cos ur somehow "nearer" to the object of collision. gives you lesser time to react. or in other cases, no time to react.

 

IMO, making ourselves seen to others is imortant. but whats more important is that we shall not assume that by doing so... he/she has seen us. the left lane would be my bet.

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, cos i've been doing this all the while. Might be a mistake.

[Spectrum]

Thks for your view gentlmen.

 

Point to note also is that u are coming out of the Shadows...

That makes u even more invisible!

 

Centre Lane Means Better Visibiliy to the Turning Taxi...

And as Dino Said... Less room to escape.

 

Left lane... Not so visible... But Flashing of High Beam may Help.

More Escape Room.

Do also observe the The Body Language of the Taxi...

Both Driver & Car... to have an indication if he has seen U.

 

More of that in the next post...

 

IF There is some other larger vehicles...

It will be best to cross the junction with them...

Kind of like cross in formation... Taxi sees vehicle better.

 

But the name of the game is...

 

If for some whatever reason... the taxi turns into your path!

U must be at a speed that enable u to stop and avoid hitting him

or slow enough to swerve (escape path)

 

Otherwise... U Lose!

Game Over!

[ReBornBikeR]

In my opinion choosing left lane or centre lane is not the most important factor in this situation,

 

The most important thing is to SLOW DOWN whenever we reach a traffic junction regardless whether the traffic lights if green or red.

This is to allow us to stop easilly and quickly if the taxi turn into our path.

 

Also one very useful tactic as pointed out by Spectrum is to cross the junction with another vehicle, drivers on the road don't SEE bikes, they only sees cars and lorrys and buses.

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction03m_resize.jpg

 

The Most of drivers involve in Accidents with

Bikes says they did not see bike!

Point to Note...

We are near to being invisible!

 

So... Flash-flash... Toot-toot... Be Noticed!

[ermintham]

sumtimes i horn then i get into a staring incident...

 

i was doing despatch

wating at the traffic light...right lane....which is a turn rite lane only..the car beside me (on a go str8 only lane) inched diagonally as if tryint to cut me...

 

i sounded my horn to warn him i was there..he stared at me...

later he tailgated me all the way...

 

he looks like a softee.....

 

pity i din noted his plate no...otherwise i will give it a new paintwork...ccb

[Spectrum]

HI Ermin...

 

Let it be...

More important is that u had alerted

the driver that he is cutting into your lane...

 

Let him keep his paint work...

Just ride on & continue with the rest of your day...

Gd u kept your composure...

[Spectrum]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/1m_resize.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/3m_resize.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/4m_resize.jpg

 

STREET SMART #121

 

BODY LANGUAGE...

 

"A picture paints a 1000 words..."

Here I took pic of riders to illustrate that we can read the body language if someone is gonna ride off his line.

Drivers in cars may not be that visible

(less she is driving a convertable)

but head movements are good indications.

 

So do look for signs less the vehicle moves right into your path!

 

It's kind of like crossing a Zebra Crossing...

(Not many around.. these days)

U would wait to see if the car driver sees u waiting and

is stopping before u cross...

We tell this to children.

 

Similarly, do slow down...

if for any reason u suspect

the motorist at the junction

is gonna move into your path!

 

Not looking your direction or erratic in his behaviour...

 

A moment of caution is all it takes to

save a lot of unnecessary injury!

[Spectrum]

BELOW THE WAIST

Street Smart #122

http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/66398_2.jpg

Of all the normal pants we wear for riding...

Jeans does offer the best protection & comfort.

 

But whenever a biker takes a spill...

Thru my many observations.

Jeans will tear &

With much Abrasion to the legs especially around the knees.

 

We can reduce that kind of injury to a high degree.

Wear a pair of touring pants or leathers.

 

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g15526.jpg

 

Our last form of defence is our protective clothings.

 

If we fall... and not hit anything...

We can get away with light injuries...

eg. look at our GP Moto riders freq walk away after dropping at high spd.

 

A Gd Helmet worn correctly will protect your head.

A Full Face Helmet will protect your lovely chin.

(If u have the misfortune of seeing a biker with a broken jaw after an accident by the rd... am sure u will seriously consider getting use to wearing a full face)

 

An Armour Jacket: In most cases...

The Shoulder and elbow area gets torn.

That's where a biker normally lands.

But I am glad to say that the armour padding protects the body well.

In most cases... very little damage on the upper body as compared to the legs.

 

Gloves: When someone falls... hands will be 1st on the rd to break the fall.

Have a gd pair of glove to take the Initial Impact.

 

Boots: Riding boots will be best... but army boots is fine.

Recent incident... rider legs scrap the highway side protector.

(Metal strips placed along highways to prevent motorist from fall out into the cliffs)

Yes... leg was between his machine & metal protector.

He remembers clearly scraping all the reflectors!

He had a high end pair of riding boots!

Ended with a broken lower leg bone & a minor fracture on the foot.

Don't think there be much of his leg if he had on a pair of tennis shoe or slippers.

 

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/photos/300/g16977.jpg

 

But Today emphasis is on our legs...

 

Protect Them!

 

The Cost: A pair of Touring pants will cost about $150

It should have padding at the right places

and armour around the knee.

 

U Should want to get a pair that's slightly larger

as wearing a tight cotton track pants

Will be more comfortable as touring pants are mostly synthetic.

So very sweaty...

So bring along a pair of tights... when doing your shopping.

 

They are available at most of the Moto Accessory shop.

Moto World @ Ubi, Regina @ Jalan Besar,

Chiap Lee @ Serangoon Rd, Chong Aik @ Desker Rd

Do feel free to add more locations if u know somewhere

selling it at a reasonable price.

 

Leathers: Offers the best protection... cost much more though...

Check out the Dainese shop along Serangoon Rd just before Mah

http://www.dainese.com/commimg/logodainese_pre.gif

Expensive...

 

Draggin Jeans: An Australia product.

Jeans with Kelver protection. Will set u back $200

But it is comfortable & will not tear.

Padding can be added to area around the knee & bums.

But don't see it here in Spore.

So u will have to order it thru the web.

It is a gd consideration as u can wear it everyday.

http://www.dragginjeans.com.au/images/productTesting/matt03_th.jpg

Click for Draggin jeans Web Site

http://www.dragginjeans.com.au/images/productTesting/productResults.jpg

 

As for me...

I wear a pair of jeans riding in Spore

and a pair of Indian Buffalo leathers

with knee padding when I go north.

Maybe I should consider a pair of Dragin...

 

The investment for a pair of touring pants is high...

And some what troublesome to put on...

But if we compare to loosing skin to the road...

It is probably worth it.

[PegScraper]

Originally posted by Spectrum@Apr 23 2006, 10:00 AM

BELOW THE WAIST

Street Smart #122

Of all the normal pants we wear for riding...

Jeans does offer the best protection & comfort.

 

But whenever a biker takes a spill...

Thru my many observations.

Jeans will tear &

With much Abrasion to the legs especially around the knees.

When an abrasion accident occurs, and the jeans are torn with skin being exposed, there is a much greater danger than simply road rash. Jeans are made of cotton, and when you break the skin, there is a greatat risk of tiny cotton fibres entering your open wound.

 

I'm not going on to mention the risks of such an incident. Leather on the other hand rarely tears and by the time it does, I'm pretty sure the biker would have other bigger things to worry about!

[Spectrum]

An Interesting Excerpt from a Leading American Bike Magazine:

(Written by one of their bike journalist)

 

It happened the other morning just as it happens three or four times each week – a way-too-close call with one of our four-wheeled friends.

 

I was riding in to work on a 4 lane street (2 in each direction). Stoplights were well timed to keep things flowing. Traffic was heavy but moving briskly and I was traveling a bit more quickly than the other vehicles, a tactic that allows me to ride mainly in the traffic gaps or open zones that offers space & time to react defensively if the need arises.

 

While riding at the posted limit in a gap that happened to be in the left lane, I approached a car traveling a bit slower than me in the right lane. As I came within about 6 meters of the car it braked suddenly and, wheels screeching, swerved into a petrol station. I missed hitting - or being slashed by - the car’s rear bumper by maybe less than 2 meters. Pretty close.

 

Truth be told, I’d been ready for the bone headed move, having slowed slightly as I’d approached the sedan. Five seconds before the car lurched left I’d looked into the car’s cabin to see the driver’s head moving left to right and back again. Drivers rarely make sudden moves without some sort of head turn, even if it’s is only a slight look to the left to check the side-view mirror, so my antennae were up. The head movement triggered a warning, which translated into a reduction in throttle, which, frankly, saved my butt.

 

It is more than quick reflexes that kept me from crashing into the car.

Good riding skill is Important for street survival but such skills must be unwrapped and ready to use to be useful in a every-second-counts situation like this. Your brain can’t take the time to dig them from your hard drive when a car’s cutting into your space right now.

 

To keep those skills warm and ready to use, I play a game while riding. I call Worst-Case Scenario. It’s pretty simple, really. I every traffic situation I find myself in, I envision the worst-possible things that could happen and come up with a plan to deal with them. Maybe it’s an on coming car turning right in front of me or the “Petrol Station Swerve” or an emergency stop by the car in front of me; or maybe a suddenly appearing deep pothole. Whatever, funny thing is, once in a while even the craziest, stupidest things happen. And when they do, you’ll be ready if you’re playing the game.

 

It is a bitter pill to swallow when you realize just how dangerous street riding can be – that something we love so much can so easily wreak havoc on our bikes, our bodies and our families. Understanding the dangers makes it doubly important to be ready when something ugly does happen. All more reason, then, to play the game when your ride.

 

Be safe out there.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/2100spectrum/Street%20Smart/Junction01M_resize.jpg

 

A Good Awareness of the traffic around you is essential!

And a gd prediction of what they are gonna do is Critical!