Bicycle commuting - Skills applied to Riding

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flummox

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Any other cycle commuters out there? (the 2 wheel things with pedals that get in everyones way...)

I'm a new (motorcycle) rider but a long time off and on bicycle commuter. Two of the biggest surprises for me since I've started riding something with a engine is how immensely applicable the traffic / awareness skills you are forced to learn as a cycle commuter are for riding a bike. That and how many more options you have as a moto rider in terms of how you deal with traffic.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say you should drop the engine for a week or two to hone your road skills but coming the other way has been a much easier transition than I expected.

Essentially - I am used (and expect at all times) every other vehicle out there actively or passively trying to kill me or run me off the road. But now I can take up the "full" lane proactively and defensively, I can eliminate the speed differential or move ahead of problems and I'm more visible. What's not to like?

Curious if others have had this experience and if there are others that regularly or occasionally ditch the motor to do it yourself.
 
Since I am a newb, I like to think this as well but ask again after a full season. :)

A Venn diagram would have a very small overlap that included, "2-wheels, invisible, everyone else insane", but that's about it. It's the difference between playing at the $5 table, and the $5000 table. When the stakes are that high, some principles are the same, but it really is a different game.
 
I still like to pull out my bicycle every now and then but the two are different types of riding.

Ill definitely say it does make you more compassionate toward cyclists.
 
Agree! I used to commute to school by bicycle in all 4 seasons. Sometimes a motorcycle just feels like cycling, except more lazy because the engine can do the work for you. Also on a bicycle you cant accelerate to get out of the way quickly so you're completely at the mercy of cagers passing by. If you think you're hard to spot on a motorcycle, you're completely invisible on a bicycle.

Been waiting for a thread like this to come up.. Definitely lots of transferable road awareness skills from cycling.

flummox said:
Any other cycle commuters out there? (the 2 wheel things with pedals that get in everyones way...)

I'm a new (motorcycle) rider but a long time off and on bicycle commuter. Two of the biggest surprises for me since I've started riding something with a engine is how immensely applicable the traffic / awareness skills you are forced to learn as a cycle commuter are for riding a bike. That and how many more options you have as a moto rider in terms of how you deal with traffic.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say you should drop the engine for a week or two to hone your road skills but coming the other way has been a much easier transition than I expected.

Essentially - I am used (and expect at all times) every other vehicle out there actively or passively trying to kill me or run me off the road. But now I can take up the "full" lane proactively and defensively, I can eliminate the speed differential or move ahead of problems and I'm more visible. What's not to like?

Curious if others have had this experience and if there are others that regularly or occasionally ditch the motor to do it yourself.
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Not a skill, but cycling develops strength in quads, which helps a lot on roads where you keep moving your butt left and right.
 
I've actually done it reverse. I've commuted by motorcycle for a few years and this year I've been commuting by bicycle. The exact same survival skills apply i.e. scanning traffic, identifying potential hazards, anticipating driver's next move, etc. It's already saved my bacon a few times on the bike this year.

I'm sure those skills are interchangeable between the two.
 
I just witnessed my friend riding her 185 Exciter like a bicycle. Curbsplitting on College St. and blowing through a flashing crosswalk. Good thing the pedestrians were still on the other side of the street.
 
The cyclists who don't stop at stop signs give the good ones a bad name. I hate those cyclists. I assume they are riding their bicycle because they want to work out. Well, they should make a full stop and start riding again.
 
Alvito said:
The cyclists who don't stop at stop signs give the good ones a bad name. I hate those cyclists. I assume they are riding their bicycle because they want to work out. Well, they should make a full stop and start riding again.
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I've been thinking about that as I tend to do rolling stops with the pedal bike. What bugs me more are the sidewalk riders, especially with E-bikes.
Should one get caught doing a rolling stop (Or other evil crime) on a bike, does it affect your D/L or vehicle insurance?
BTW, which cyclists have a good names????
 
nobbie48 said:
I've been thinking about that as I tend to do rolling stops with the pedal bike. What bugs me more are the sidewalk riders, especially with E-bikes.
Should one get caught doing a rolling stop (Or other evil crime) on a bike, does it affect your D/L or vehicle insurance?
BTW, which cyclists have a good names????
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Depends if the cop cares enough. My brother is a competitive cyclist and does 50/60 km/h in 40 zones, you technically can also get caught for speeding lol
 
I ride BMX/street, i don't ride on the road but side walks, i've had too many douschebags having a bad day pull up beside me ****** as hell, saying stuff like "are you fking stupid i almost ran over your a55s, motherfker what are you doing on the road, bikes are not for the road a55shole" while i stare at them then back off because i've had some almost run me over on purpose while yelling, each time i was just in the slow lane in a school zone cruising home at around 30kmh. eventually i did get hit by a truck in a lot, i almost died, critally injured air lifted. so yea forget cycles i don't like them anymore, i just do my bmx in a park or around the neighbourhood on side walks. what did i learn, it dosen't matter if you're on a cycle or motorbike, people will try to kill you on purpose because most people think they are untuochable in cars, but its funny when you stop, get off and approach them, they lock their doors and run away in their cage. read the news just yesterday a girl caused $100,000 + damges in a car accident, she was playing with her dog, texting and driving. I don't understand people who take their whole house with them on the bike or in the car. You should always pray you don't end up infront, behind or on the side of anyone other then a driver whos just concentrating on driving, with a motor bike its the same dangers but amplyfied but the options the motrbike gives, like higher speeds, longer distances, and able to move left or right on the roads etc.
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