Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 14:56:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Colby 
Subject: Combat Riding Tips


Hell, I'll probably get flamed for this, but here goes.

I consider myself a fairly respectable motorcyclist.  I'm no racer, though
I ride fairly quickly and have terrorized a few backroads.  I'm no squid,
but hey, little kids love wheelies - I do it for the children.  I'm no
'Winger, though I like touring and finding a little diner in the MoFN
where they learn your name when you sit down to eat.  "Loud pipes (may)
save lives," but it ain't gonna be mine.  I've tried to learn by watching
others' examples, good or bad, and generally try to be an "ambassador for
the sport."

But I also commute.

I think there's very little that raises my hackles more than the stupidity
and inattention I see during my time commuting on the bike, but for
whatever reason, I can't stop doing it.  I learned to ride in San
Francisco with a pack of self-styled Urban Combat Bikers, and I think it
rubbed off on me a bit.  I think a commute is the harshest environment a
motorcyclist will ever face on a regular basis, and have done all I can to
be safer in that environment.  Having spent a lot of time commuting both
in the city and in the 'burbs, I hope someone might find these practices
useful, but you might also find that they'll make you no new friends.

I. Get yourself seen:
1) Spend the money on a headlight modulator.  They're not cheap, but I
can't tell you how many times mine's saved my ass.  I see someone do a
double-take and notice me _at least_ once, every single day.  Note:
drivers _really_ hate when you sit behind them with your modulator on.  If
you're tucked into a line of cars, save someone's eyes, eh?
2) Change your light pattern.  I've got a set of driving lights that are
on whenever the headlight modulator isn't, and sometimes when it is.  I
don't have a taillight modulator, but my GiVi has a brake light, and I
flash the lights when I'm stopping.  If it looks different, cagers'
attention will be drawn to it.
3) Get your loud on.  I bought a set of FIAMM 132dB "Freeway Blaster"
horns from Autozone, but a junkyard should be able to hook you up with a
pair of horns from a Chevy Caprice taxi if you're cheap - call around. 
Put the horns on a relay - having horns fail ON sucks eggs.  Nobody jerks
away from a motorcycle, but _everyone_ jerks away from that Peterbilt they
can't see but could swear they just heard.
4) Buy beefy gear.  Buy a "3-season" full suit like a 'Stich, and get
something ventilated for those murderously steamy days.  Wear good boots,
you may have to use them to "get the attention" of someone merging into
you.
5) Buy bright gear.  This alone won't do it, but I think it helps.  If you
can stomach it, get your next 'Stich in "Godawful Friggin' Lime Yellow."

II. Do NOT be passive:
1) Pick a lane position that gets you into drivers' fields of vision. 
Don't sit in the right tire track, especially in traffic.  Hug the center
line, stick out further than the other cars, but don't be a dick about it.
 Don't edge out oncoming traffic, but don't fade into your lane - a
motorcycle looks a lot like a gap to an impatient commuter.
2) If you see a hole, look around, _then_ go for it.  You can commute much
faster on a bike than you can in a car, but you're also much more exposed.
 You have the advantage of being able to fit into smaller-than-a-car gaps,
but plenty of brain-dead bimbos are going to try to wedge that damn
Excursion into that spot too.  Keep your head up.
3) Look for escape routes.  This is a simple concept, but it's hard to
explain.  Once you get it, you'll know what I mean.  I try to look at
traffic as a bunch of vectors, and look for the paths through the vectors.
 You can't rely on narrow paths, but the farther you get from a vehicle's
direction of travel, the more unlikely it is that they'll take that path. 
Shoot for preferred "green" paths, but identify and update "yellow" or
"red" paths that you may have to take if your ideal path closes.  Be
prepared for sudden stops and turns, and think about how the cars will
swerve or pile up if the fourth guy up from you causes a mess.
4) Let people in.  It's better to make a show of slowing down and waving
somebody into traffic than having them take the shot anyway, through you. 
Be a nice guy/gal, it might just come back to you....or not.  With that, I
give you:

III. Learn to split lanes:
I consider this a critical part of motorcycle commuting, and not just
because it's "faster."  Sitting between a pair of cars at a light is much
safer than being behind either of them.  Splitting in moving traffic is
inherently really friggin' detrimental to your health, but can be done in
a respectful and decisive manner that makes it much less dangerous.

Having no experience with riding in Europe, I can't comment on public
perception there.  However, here in the states, motorcycles are considered
toys, not primary vehicles, and I doubt that will ever change.  Splitting
is only legal in California, but I've never had a problem with it in any
other state in which I've practiced (though I do it much less now that I
live in upstate NY, usually only through gridlocked traffic).  You're
going to piss people off though.  You've got mobility that cages don't,
and are basically flaunting it.  I've had doors opened into me, been
cursed out at 40 mph, watched cars hit each other trying to block me, and
been followed.  If you're willing to put up with any/all of that, go for
it.  There is going to be a day when an adrenaline-crazed soccermom or
fed-up testosterbone _will_ chase your ass down with five thousand pounds
of steel and rage, and you've got to be prepared to get the hell away from
them.

That's what I've got as a short list.  I'm sure those who've spent more
time riding and/or commuting can add to it, but it struck me as something
I should write down after reading a "Riding Tips" thread on another list. 
Please, feel free to add to it or flame away.

Colby
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