Tips and tricks for commuting

[broke]

My new tip:

Do not ride by Nike World Headquarters during lunch hour on a nice day. (There are too many attractive "distractions" to keep focused on your ride!)

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Nike headquarters been there I know what you mean. WOW

[Kaos]

My new tip:

Do not ride by Nike World Headquarters during lunch hour on a nice day. (There are too many attractive "distractions" to keep focused on your ride!)

Heh, I try to avoid that part of Beaverton like the plague.

[Tenchi]

When I am approaching a vehicle that's making a left hand turn in front of me, I stare right at them as I approach, and if they appear to acknowledge that I exist, as I pass by I give them a little wave of gratitude. To my surprise, a lot of them wave back. Especially young folks. Guess an old guy on a scooter is entertainment these days.

[Old Geezer]

In traffic at busy intersections, I place myself in the center lane with a cager on either side. When the light changes, I stay with them through the intersection. That way if anyone runs the opposing red, I have a couple of tons of armor on either side. Clear of the intersection, I can easily leave them behind.

[Skootz Kabootz]

In traffic at busy intersections, I place myself in the center lane with a cager on either side. When the light changes, I stay with them through the intersection. That way if anyone runs the opposing red, I have a couple of tons of armor on either side. Clear of the intersection, I can easily leave them behind.

Careful with that. You could also get sandwiched in between.

[sunshinen]

In traffic at busy intersections, I place myself in the center lane with a cager on either side. When the light changes, I stay with them through the intersection. That way if anyone runs the opposing red, I have a couple of tons of armor on either side. Clear of the intersection, I can easily leave them behind.

Careful with that. You could also get sandwiched in between.

+1

While I stay near-ish to other vehicles at lights to help from getting hit by the guy who just doesn't "see" motorcycles/scooters and thinks it's clear to turn across/onto the road I'm on, you should always try to ride where other vehicles are best able to see you. (If someone is turning left from the head-on lane, ride in the left-hand side of the lane where they can easily see you, etc.)

I NEVER ride directly adjacent to anyone, if I can help it.

• 1. People often change lanes w/o warning (e.g., the old "O-shit, I was supposed to turn left there" yank-the-steering-wheel maneuver, etc.)
  2. When pulling away from a stop, they may just assume they are faster than you and have left you in the dust, changing lanes w/o looking (This happened to me a few times before I started either getting ahead or lagging behind those next to me at lights.)
  3. Today's cars aren't designed well for seeing objects next to or slightly behind the car. Riding right next to a cager makes it really hard for them to see you. (They may diligently look and still just not see you.)

[sunshinen]

Other tips:

• Be prepared for bad weather at all times.
  * Waterproof, windproof gear to cover you head to foot either worn or under the seat.
  * At the end of summer (ie, well before the first big chill) add an extra layer to your underseat storage. Hypothermia can set in much faster than you realize. And the first cold snap can come before you expect it.
  
  Let go of the ego.
  * Just because you have the RIGHT of way, doesn't mean you should take it or fight for it.
  * Ride uber courteous and friendly -- Inspire goodwill, not road rage.
  * Realize, it's not always a diss on your scooter that someone wants to pass you going 90mph in a 25mph zone. Some people just have to be faster than every other vehicle on the road. Some people actually have real emergencies that have pushed them to an edge.
  * Be secure enough in your scooter-inity that you remain unfazed even when it IS a vile, unfair diss on your scooter.
  
  Be visible. (These are all repeats, but worth the repetition, since after a fatal crash, we so often hear: "I didn't even see him/her." Drivers are distracted to the point of stupidity and complete blindness, do what you can to get their attention.)
  * Wear bright, reflective gear. Triple that advice for bad weather.
  * Move around in your lane, so you get a better picture of things that may be coming up and so others from all directions are more likely to see you around other vehicles and other obstacles.
  * Aggressively put yourself where potential danger can see you. (If there's someone on another road about to turn into or across your lane, move to that side of the lane. But as others have noted, do keep your hands on the horn and brakes. If you shy away to the other side of the lane, you're essentially hiding, and they may not be able to see you around other cars, trees, signs, etc.)
  
  
  Always know your escape route.
  * Aim for it as you come to a stop, so a panic acceleration will take you out of danger and not into oncoming traffic or into a bumper.
  * When stopped, watch all directions for the car coming at you (whether they are cutting the corner too tight, not seeing that you -- or anyone else -- has stopped, backing up without looking, or whatever.)
  
  Routinely check your ride.
  * Lights
  * Brakes
  * Tire pressure
  * Tires
  * Etc.
  It's easy to overlook when you ride everyday. But you can prevent some really stupid scenarios... like getting stuck out at night with a really dim/practically useless headlight, or no running tail light, or a flat tire from temperature fluctuation. And realize (at least on the 06 model) both your headlight and tail/brake lights have 2 wires that can burn out, meaning just because the highbeam works doesn't mean the lowbeam works or just cause the brake light works doesn't mean the running tail light works, etc.