An Argument for Riding Faster Than The Rest Of Traffic

alaywa

Banned
With all the "rider down"s I have been seeing, I have begun to think over a riding style of mine.

Now I am not advocating speeding or riding beyond one's skill level, but I advocate riding faster than traffic.

Why?

Well generally I prefer to be pro-active, not reactive. I would rather control the situation (as much as possible), as in have cars approach me from the front (as I gain on them), rather than all of traffic approaching me or tail gating me from my poorest visability zone.

I once got a scooter as a loner when the bike was in the shop and it was deeply unnerving in suburban traffic, I was being ridden up on by every single car, and I had no ability to ham fist the throttle and get out of a compromising situation. Even the brakes were soft and I couldn't use them to drop out of a bad situation. I was a slave to the flow, always reacting to whatever cars were doing around me. Though my speeds were slow I found it unsettling.

Back to my bike and I regained my control.

So my point is...as a measure of being seen, noticed, even at the expense of cheesing off cars....I suggest frequent passing and moderate higher speeds as a means of safety.

Of course is te caveat with that, that too much speed reduces reaction time and increases risk as well as impact forces. But like I said, moderately faster (10kph+ ish)

Discuss and or rip / flame accordingly.
 
This applies in any vehicle IMO. It's always safer to be going faster in a way because you are controlling how you deal with the traffic in front of you, where you can see it. The problem lies in when someone cuts in front of you and you're going too fast. Also, if everyone tries to drive faster than everyone else for safeties sake, you just end up with everyone speeding which is probably less safe. Although I still argue all the time that if everyone is obeying all the other rules like right of way, signaling, and checking before turning/lane changes so no one is getting cut off, then speeding is plenty safe. I find traveling at high speed to be plenty safe until someone pulls in front of me.
 
Hardly dumb. I've been riding faster than traffic for as long as I've owned a motorcycle and I've never had an incident. If you're aware of your surroundings and learn to properly anticipate what other drivers may do in front of you, going faster is definitely the safest way to ride.
 
There's a time to go fast, a time to blend in and a time to go slow. The situation can change so fast that I don't think you can adhere to one method and expect to be safe. I see people putting themselves in bad positions all the time..doing 140kmh in the HOV lane when traffic is stopped in the next lane. People doing 100kmh beside a transport truck for 2 mins.. Think people!!!!
 
I'll give an example how a slight increase in speed helps.

I'm going faster than the car in front...I pass to the left, I now he is in my blind spot. Based on my speed I know where that car is positioned 1 second later. The cars poor acceleration doesn't allow him to catch up and fill the void. I also know as I passed said car, even the lane beside then to the right was also slower. By passing thusly I am aware of where the cars are behind me, because I controlled the situation and put them behind me!

But when I am slower or matching traffic, anyone can creep up into my blind spots very easily and it requires much more frequent mirror and shoulder checks, thus taking my attention aware from what's ahead of me.

Slightly increased speed I find increases spacial awareness.

But yes, it depends on situation. At the same time I find on average driving faster than traffic = more awareness.

It also means, NO DAY DREAMING...but then again I don't ride my bike like a one handed, sandwhich eating, chattin to the kids in the back, cager!

Riding a bike is full on seize control of your destiny stuff, heightened senses, quick reflexes stuff. More speed works for me.
 
Good idea, but what would happen if everyone on the road adopted this strategy?
 
That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

He didn't say you're doing 3 times the speed of traffic, just pacing ahead of it.

I agree with OP.
 
One more thing...

We're hunters...eyes on the front of our heads, giving us depth perception.

We are not bunnies and dear with eyes on the side!

Hunt those cages down! Muhuhahahaha
 
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That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

Funny...I read this. Do you have text to voice? Cause that would be so badass.

+1 to the OP within reason. Get/keep yourself out of trouble.
 
There's a time to go fast, a time to blend in and a time to go slow. The situation can change so fast that I don't think you can adhere to one method and expect to be safe. I see people putting themselves in bad positions all the time..doing 140kmh in the HOV lane when traffic is stopped in the next lane. People doing 100kmh beside a transport truck for 2 mins.. Think people!!!!

+1 Use your bike's speed to get out of blind spots and increase visibility. If this means going a little faster than traffic then so be it. Still, when traffic is backed up in one lane you need to slow down and be on your guard. There is no one set rule for all situations. Increased forward speed means increased damaging forces when you hit immobile objects.
 
doing 140kmh in the HOV lane when traffic is stopped in the next lane
Even this wouldn't be an issue unless some idiot changes lanes without checking if there's traffic coming.
 
Every rider should know the best way to stay safe on the road is too keep away from traffic. Always stay ahead, or at least paced in the middle of car blobs on the road. The OPP recognizes this for the most part as well, as most will ask if when you were speeding if you were " Passing any specific vehicle " i.e Transports and the such.
 
In traffic I don't like having people in directly in front of me so I will use speed to get ahead of them if the situation allows for it. If their driving suggests they're an accident waiting to happen then I'd most likely back off until I find for opportunity to shoot ahead.
 
Hardly dumb. I've been riding faster than traffic for as long as I've owned a motorcycle and I've never had an incident. If you're aware of your surroundings and learn to properly anticipate what other drivers may do in front of you, going faster is definitely the safest way to ride.

X2 I have been doing the same thing. 1 because it is safer and 2 my exhaust sounds nicer.:cool:
 
Even this wouldn't be an issue unless some idiot changes lanes without checking if there's traffic coming.

Nevertheless, people do it, and being right and dead means you're still dead.
 
Every rider should know the best way to stay safe on the road is too keep away from traffic. Always stay ahead, or at least paced in the middle of car blobs on the road. The OPP recognizes this for the most part as well, as most will ask if when you were speeding if you were " Passing any specific vehicle " i.e Transports and the such.

Absolutely..most accidents involving cars occur where there are cars.. :-) Speed up to stay ahead of the pack, slow down to stay behind them, pick through them when it's safe.
 
I agree with the guy who wrote it's situational... I think the best riding style is adaptability... being able to do whatever you need to do to stay out of harms way. If that means speeding ahead of congestion, go for it, if it means slowing down and letting the hillbilly in a truck who's been riding your *** for the last 2km's pass, do that. I like to try to just keep myself away from other people as much as possible, then if I go down it's because of something stupid that I did, not someone else.
 
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