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Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:35 am
by jrmints
Hey all.
As everyone knows, visibility in traffic is the greatest enemy of anything on two wheels. With most Sprees only getting 45mph at full throttle, and being the dainty things they are, they rarely get seen in a sea of minivans and SUVs.
I ask (foremost in curiosity) because I'm gearing up to have a working Spree soon enough, and my city's really good about killing people with Ford Expeditions. I'm thinking some sort of lights, high visibility, something like that.
So what kind of safety/visibility/HEY EVERYONE LOOK AT ME do you guys use to keep yourselves alive in good ol' American traffic?
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:05 am
by Red_Red_Groovy
I was (seriously) considering getting one of those BMX bike flag things. I also am not planning on going over like 25-30 mph, and I can't really imagine mixing in with traffic any faster than that
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 2:26 pm
by Bear45-70
I always ride like everyone else on the road is out to get me. Paranoia is a good thing when riding scooters and motorcycles. The only thing to ever get me on the street is a deer. Never saw the deer until it was 10 feet in front of me. It exploded out of the brush in the ditch along the road, inside the city limits of Olympia, Washington.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 7:53 pm
by ALOW1
jrmints wrote:
With most Sprees only getting 45mph at full throttle,
jrmints wrote:
I ask (foremost in curiosity) because I'm gearing up to have a working Spree soon
I am guessing that you have never rode your Spree before, or anyones Spree before?
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:15 am
by jrmints
ALOW1 wrote:jrmints wrote:
With most Sprees only getting 45mph at full throttle,
jrmints wrote:
I ask (foremost in curiosity) because I'm gearing up to have a working Spree soon
I am guessing that you have never rode your Spree before, or anyones Spree before?
I guess I'm an optimist. If they don't get even that, how do you guys manage in traffic?
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:18 am
by killerpancake
i always left people the room to pass me if they felt the need by staying far to the right, but i really never had a problem dealing with traffic.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:41 am
by motormike
Your concern is valid.......with 10,000 scooter miles in the last 2 years, I feel qualified to suggest a few things:
A. Do NOT hold to the right and give traffic room to pass in YOUR lane!!!........IT IS YOUR LANE.......as soon as you give others room to squeeze beside you, they will do so and care NOT how much of your lane they take, which usually ends up to be all of it. I'm all for courtesy, but experience says BE FIRM.
B. Always expect every vehicle to totally ignore you.
C. Never take your eye off of the front wheel of any vehicle waiting to pull out in front of you......when that wheel starts to rotate, REACT.
D. Leave yourself an OUT....a plan of direction you intend to take when that vehicle does the bully move on you. This requires constant revision in your head.
E. NEVER take direction from another operator to turn in front of them......they dont see the Miata coming around them trying to make the light and totally oblivious to you on a scooter blind to oncoming traffic. Multiple lanes means multiple hazards.
F. Lights, lights, lights........cant have too many.
G. Make yourself visible with bright colored jacket, reflective tape, neon jock-strap, anything that saves your life is worth chancing some ridicule.
H. When approaching vehicles waiting to enter from the side street, subtle movement left and right to make yourself stand out and increase your chance of being seen.
I. Be aware of vehicles following too closely and give them indication to go around or suffer the consequence of what might happen when you toss that 10 inch monkey wrench through their windshield. (Dont do that)
J. You can never let down your guard.......constantly expecting the worst to happen will prepare you to react when it does. It is a DEFENSIVE style of riding that will best equip you to survive.
Okay, there are a few hints to help you along the jungles of the city. Have fun, be smart, Speed kills........ 
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:33 pm
by Bear45-70
Wow! You covered it all. And yes they are all out to get you.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:46 pm
by noiseguy
That's a great list. We should Wiki that.
I have issue with expecting drivers are all "out to get you." Will make you extremely paranoid in a bad way. Better to consider yourself invisible, b/c you are; this will put you in a better frame of mind. More zen-like calm, less likely to smash a windshield with a wrench.
Same actually goes for bicycling; I found much the same experience on MC as for pedal bikes... cars just don't see you. Pedal bikes are actaully worse; harder to judge speed, no lights, and no sound.
Another thing is all the gear all the time. Alway wear a helmet (even short trips) and I think scooter riders in general would benefit from wearing more protective gear (actaully, most MC riders I see could.) No shorts and flip-flops. No half-helmets; helmet should protect your chin b/c it's the most likely place you'll land:
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:48 am
by Spreetard
motormike wrote:Your concern is valid.......with 10,000 scooter miles in the last 2 years, I feel qualified to suggest a few things:
A. Do NOT hold to the right and give traffic room to pass in YOUR lane!!!........IT IS YOUR LANE.......as soon as you give others room to squeeze beside you, they will do so and care NOT how much of your lane they take, which usually ends up to be all of it. I'm all for courtesy, but experience says BE FIRM.
B. Always expect every vehicle to totally ignore you.
C. Never take your eye off of the front wheel of any vehicle waiting to pull out in front of you......when that wheel starts to rotate, REACT.
D. Leave yourself an OUT....a plan of direction you intend to take when that vehicle does the bully move on you. This requires constant revision in your head.
E. NEVER take direction from another operator to turn in front of them......they dont see the Miata coming around them trying to make the light and totally oblivious to you on a scooter blind to oncoming traffic. Multiple lanes means multiple hazards.
F. Lights, lights, lights........cant have too many.
G. Make yourself visible with bright colored jacket, reflective tape, neon jock-strap, anything that saves your life is worth chancing some ridicule.
H. When approaching vehicles waiting to enter from the side street, subtle movement left and right to make yourself stand out and increase your chance of being seen.
I. Be aware of vehicles following too closely and give them indication to go around or suffer the consequence of what might happen when you toss that 10 inch monkey wrench through their windshield. (Dont do that)
J. You can never let down your guard.......constantly expecting the worst to happen will prepare you to react when it does. It is a DEFENSIVE style of riding that will best equip you to survive.
Okay, there are a few hints to help you along the jungles of the city. Have fun, be smart, Speed kills........
This is a good list. Reason A is a great point- I hog up the road because people will try to pass you in the same lane if you hold right. I've had people pass me with literaly less than a foot between me and them. I once kicked a pickup truck that was passing me WITHOUT CHANGING LANES. His mirror was inches away from me, so I kicked him in the door, Whilst flipping the bird(though I don't recomend such behavior). I was speeding at the time(42 in a 35), and approaching a stop sign. There was no reason for him to want to pass me. At all. This year I'ma carry a brick to put through windows(Again, prolly a bad idea)...People in general are complete morons.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:59 pm
by patthesoundguy
I agree with the tip of keeping your lane as your lane. here in Nova Scotia my spree is registered as a motorcycle which entitles me to a full lane and a full parking spot so I do so unless I am holding up more than few cars for a longer stretch of road that has a speed limit faster than my spree can go. Then I pull off and let the line of cars go and continue on my merry way. Two weeks ago i pulled up to an intersection and was in the middle of the lane and a car came up and made a right hand turn in my lane! I almost got the mirror up my *. most of the time I get lots of respect when im out on my spree though.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:42 pm
by mr pibbs
You know it's funny - I find it easier to ride during rush hour in the traffic than mid day when folks are in a hurry and driving too fast. The scooter seems equipped perfectly for the stop and go and other drivers are a little more cautious during heavy traffic.
My sentiment echos what has been said previously. If you ride like you don't deserve to be on the rode in your lane then people will treat you like you don't belong on the road.
One must always ride defensively.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:04 pm
by Wheelman-111
Greetings:
I agree with all the foregoing. Rider's Edge and MSF classes teach all this stuff, formally.
One additional thing: Big mirrors, well adjusted, and check them often. Know who's around you and see how they're driving. Sometimes danger comes from behind.
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:06 pm
by Trafficjamz
noiseguy wrote:
The similarities are disturbing...
Re: Surviving on the road--how do you do it?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:19 am
by jrmints
Trafficjamz wrote:noiseguy wrote:
The similarities are disturbing...
Aw, come on, the relevant parts aren't even labeled!
Thanks to everyone giving their input!