BonnevilleAmerica.com: Riding position on th road

Periodically I will see another rider going down the road riding in the right hand side of the lane, which to me is the last place you would want to be riding as far as position on the road. I am not talking about where you would be prior to entering a turn, or coming out of a turn, but just heading down a two lane road. Under normal conditions I like to be in the left side of the lane as close to the center of the road as I am comfortable. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. I can see oncoming traffic better. I can generally see around the car in front.
2. I can see traffic behind me better. I can generally see around the car behind me.
3. Oncoming traffic will see me better.
4. Traffic behind me will see me better.
5. Merging traffic will have a better chance of seeing me. Riding on the right hand side is asking not to be seen. Cars are looking for other cars and generally they are looking down the middle of the road, not along the side of the road.
6. I will have 2/3 of my lane still available to me in an emergency. Riding on the right hand side I will have no lane available in an emergency.
7. When I pass a slower moving vehicle I only have to shift the bikes position about half a lane, so that I am in the right side of the left lane. Again near the center line.

There are several other reasons, but I don't remember them all.

Sometimes I want to pull up to the guy riding the right hand lane and explain this to them, but I just have this feeling that they will look at me like I am the idiot.

Tom

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In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular.
Laurence J. Peter
US educator & writer (1919 - 1988)

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