Road Positioning

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Sean_C

My argument is I'm doing this to improve my safety.

Can you go back and speak to a different copper, say that you were left feeling confused and just go over this particular issue ?

I personally feel that learning to read the road and then using your road positioning is a good skill to learn, anything that improves your view of what is coming at you is a benefit. Its when you take straight lining bends or crossing the white line to the extreme that I think you end up putting yourself at risk. But his point about what if a vechicle coming the other way is doing the same thing ( whether its a police car or not is irrelevant, it could just as well be another bike ) I think is a good thing to bear in mind IMHO.

Mind you this is just how I ride. I'm not riding god, and this kind of stuff is always learnt better by doing and watching that talking on a t'internet forum.

[21QUEST]

To be blunt , the guy sounds a c*ck .

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

...
.......
Bearing in mind he can't even use the brakes whilst going into a bend coz he things that is unsafe, an IAM guy is not going to turn round and say its a good idea to ride on the other side of the road is he
....

Haha...

But of course, he'd never get himself into a stuation where he'd need to do that



Ben

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Can you go back and speak to a different copper, say that you were left feeling confused and just go over this particular issue ?

I personally feel that learning to read the road and then using your road positioning is a good skill to learn, anything that improves your view of what is coming at you is a benefit. Its when you take straight lining bends or crossing the white line to the extreme that I think you end up putting yourself at risk. But his point about what if a vechicle coming the other way is doing the same thing ( whether its a police car or not is irrelevant, it could just as well be another bike ) I think is a good thing to bear in mind IMHO.

Mind you this is just how I ride. I'm not riding god, and this kind of stuff is always learnt better by doing and watching that talking on a t'internet forum.

That's a good idea, I'll talk to the other guy next week, he was a nice guy and explained things very well the first week.

I'm not trying to be a racer or the fastest person round a corner, but if I can make a corner easier when its (in my opinion) perfectly safe to do so, it seems sensible to do that. A by-product of easier is faster, but going round the corner faster is not my main concern. I've had my license since October and since my little tumble, I've done 50 miles a day.. I'm really trying to put the miles and effort into becoming a better, safer rider, and as I'm still early on into things, I want to start off right. Hence I'm the youngest person on my bikesafe course, the next youngest is my Dad........

He made a fair point about always having something in reserve, which I admit I don't always have to a certain extent- sometimes my restricted sv will struggle to top 85 in a headwind, but I'll happily take a nice bend at that speed, if I know I can make it safely.

When I'm crossing over to the other side, I'm just trying to get the right line for that corner, to make things smoother, safer, nicer... I wouldn't do this if I thought I was putting myself at risk.

Originally Posted by 21QUEST

To be blunt , the guy sounds a c*ck .



Haha...




Ben

Indeed Which is a shame really.

[Ch00]

Originally Posted by Sean_C

When I'm crossing over to the other side, I'm just trying to get the right line for that corner, to make things smoother, safer, nicer... I wouldn't do this if I thought I was putting myself at risk.

You only cross the white line (for what ever reason) when you can see it to be clear this also means leaving enough time and space to get back to your side should a quick vehicle come the other way.

I was always told to picture a 40 tonne HGV coming the other way, while they not be the fastest thing about they will take up most of of there lane and have few options to avoid a serious PI.

Ch00

Originally Posted by 21QUEST

But of course, he'd never get himself into a stuation where he'd need to do that
Ben

NEED?

I've been stuck behind a couple of people riding the IAM way now (presumably people who have passed IAM and riding to the book .. why do they always ride Pan's?!?! ), they just get in the way.

Bearing in mind they are trained to have total 'awareness' they should see that I am behind trying to get past and move over surely - and let the idiot (me) through??? Oh, no, they are so ignorant/arrogant they just keep riding right in the middle of where it'd be good to overtake and swerving* all over your side of the road picking lines, making you either sit behind them getting frustrated as they are always on the brakes too early (then crawling round the bends at a 'safe' speed) or making a bit of a dodgy move to get past!! They are endangering us both by getting me frustrated to the point I might do something silly!!

That p1sses me off!!

What makes them so important they can't just pull to one side and let you safely past?!?! It'd be all over on 2 seconds and everyone is happy!!

If they want to snigger at you in the ditch 3 turns down the lane after letting you past, then fair enough, but get out of the way you arrogant fu ... <connection terminated>

*probably a better word is swaying?!!?

I don't see the problem as long as I know it's safe and as long as there aren't double white lines. I will happily go onto the right side of the road to get a better view into a left, knowing that I can hop back again pretty quick.

I use the other side of the road technique. A lot.

The biggest problem is vehicles pulling onto that side of the road from a hidden junction or driveway. They will look right but obviously not left as they don't expect a bike to be coming from that direction on "their side" of the road. A bike cop was killed using this technique a while ago and for some time after new bike cops were not taught to go over the centre of the road. However I understand this has now been reassessed.

Er, but they teach you to use road positioning in IAM, ROSPA et al.

I think he was playing CYA (cover your assetts).

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by Ch00

You only cross the white line (for what ever reason) when you can see it to be clear this also means leaving enough time and space to get back to your side should a quick vehicle come the other way.

I was always told to picture a 40 tonne HGV coming the other way, while they not be the fastest thing about they will take up most of of there lane and have few options to avoid a serious PI.

Ch00

Never mind the 40 tonne truck or the Police car - I try to consider the scenario if I was coming the other way. I don't ride that fast but sometimes meeting myself would be a worry