Tricks for beating traffic

[Rob MacLennan]

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Fair enough. Though my instinct tells me I should be keeping a closer look to the brakelights in front of me, much rather than serving justice to violators.. Also, I think longer on-ramps would be difficult to keep an eye on the way you describe it (100m+).

Peripheral vision is a wonderful thing. I don't have to glue my eyes to the mirrors, in order to know what is going on behind me.

Hmm...I thought the outcome of this thread was going towards the conclusion that bikes and cars should be equal in traffic. Then, would you mind sharing the tricks you do that result in this 10 minute gain?

It's really quite simple. Superior acceleration allows me to take advantage of openings in traffic, that a car can't get to before they close. I can fit into spaces, between slow moving vehicles, that a car driver would generally interpret as being to small for him to make use of. Those things, alone, result in the improvement that I mentioned.

 

[rmemedic]

Op is one of those people I purposely block when they pull that stunt... Go ahead and flip me off, you're NOT getting in front of me.
Now, if it's someone who is actually entering the highway, I'll slow down a touch and let them in or move to the left lane if I can for them... That's just courtesy.

My truck/trailer combo really sucks to drive with through toronto because I'm forced to tailgate.

Zipper effect would be great if people were taught it.
In Petawawa, we have about 3000 people let out of work at the same time and we are given one main intersection to all filter through. We have no choice but to zipper in, and it works well because everyone does it.

 

[Corsara]

Op is one of those people I purposely block when they pull that stunt... Go ahead and flip me off, you're NOT getting in front of me.
Now, if it's someone who is actually entering the highway, I'll slow down a touch and let them in or move to the left lane if I can for them... That's just courtesy.

Alright already, as I said few posts back: I will not jump traffic by using the on/off ramps anymore, I'm convinced, it is both dangerous and somewhat illegal. So please, stop with the "OP this, OP that"... It was already established that I've only started riding recently, that's why I post here: I need to learn as much as possible, and I do. Hope that's useful for somebody in the future, who find themselves in my n00b shoes looking for answers. But please, stop with the attacks, it's not contributing at all.

"Some impatient drivers are using highway on-ramp acceleration lanes and off-ramp deceleration lanes to advance their position in heavy traffic, much to the chagrin of other motorists." read more here:

http://www.wheels.ca/columns/article/795510

Thank you for this link. I think the article/interview/some of the comments have something useful for everybody, who posted in this thread.

 

[Baggsy]

Even google maps has a picture of the current traffic. Look for the red & yellow streets and avoid them.

I've been on the Gardiner or Lake Shore when the Gardiner was crawling in stop and go at 20-30 kph hour and the Lakeshore was flying at 80 kph.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&cp...esult&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Even google maps has a picture of the current traffic. Look for the red & yellow streets and avoid them.

I've been on the Gardiner or Lake Shore when the Gardiner was crawling in stop and go at 20-30 kph hour and the Lakeshore was flying at 80 kph.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&cp...esult&ct=title&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA

I use both The Gardiner and Lakeshore. Unless there is a lane closure, it's pretty much a wash as to which one will get you out of downtown faster. Sections of Lakeshore do, in fact, move at 60Kmh+, but the stoplights and sections where it grinds to a halt balance that out.

 

[mxs]

A little side note: one thing that defines Canadians is that we hate it when other people get ahead of us. Canadians will do almost anything to prevent someone else from getting ahead of them. You have to do what the crowd does and if you do something to get ahead the mindset is that you should be smacked down.

Why is that? I'd pay gold to figure this one out. Do you have a theory?

Canadians behave like that, yet they are perfectly OK to commute from , let say Brampton to downtown TO, daily, using 410 and 401 or Gardiner. Why do you get upset that somebody passes you, yet you are wasting your life in lengthy tedious traffic every day ..... doesn't make any sense to me, I guess there's a reason why I am not Canadian, I will never understand that ....

 

[TimDTT]

There are no tricks specific to riding a motorcycle. We're governed by the same laws as cars, ergo there's nothing you can do legally on a bike to 'beat' traffic that you can't also do in a car.

If you're willing to accept that premise, then do you want to hear general tips on reducing your commute time (as have been offered, like leaving earlier, moving closer to work, adhering to proper driving techniques to maintain a consistent flow of traffic)? Things that apply to everyone on the highway?

Because as I say, we have to operate under the same laws as everyone else on the road, so there are no tricks.

Traffic in the GTA sucks sweaty balls. Nothing you can do about it aside from avoiding it altogether.

 

[Baggsy]

I use both The Gardiner and Lakeshore. Unless there is a lane closure, it's pretty much a wash as to which one will get you out of downtown faster. Sections of Lakeshore do, in fact, move at 60Kmh+, but the stoplights and sections where it grinds to a halt balance that out.

Coming home is always a mess if you leave too late.
When going home I used to take Fort York Blvd, then through the ex, Lakeshore, then switch to the Queensway at St Joseph's hospital. At the time there was very little traffic through there. Even just taking the Lakeshore, you get the traffic broken up into manageble pieces by the lights. In the morning going east when the British Columbia onramp was closed, the Lakeshore would fly and the Gardiner would be stopped.

I've ridden out to Hamilton in the QEW stop and go and it was definitely no fun. I did stay in the right hand lane, but you're sharing with many, many trucks at that time, so you really need to be on your toes, since there are lots of blind spots and you're tiny.

A better and more relaxing way would have been to take side roads, or the 407.

 

[V-Tom]

I usually move to the right lane and block to the right, so that I can keep people who use the off-ramps as passing lanes from slowing down traffic.

Ironically, you are breaking the law when you do that.

edit: I misunderstood. I thought you were saying you moved to the ramp on the right to block traffic. I also block on the right side of my lane in this situation, not worried about actually blocking people but rather so that they don't think that my position is an empty spot they can jump into and run me over.

..Tom

 

[V-Tom]

Why is that? I'd pay gold to figure this one out. Do you have a theory?
...

My half baked theory is that it's a side effect of socialism, (although perhaps I'm wrong in this.) We have become a very socialist society were people think that being "equal" is the same as being the same; and when one person gets ahead it becomes a personal affront to us since we are acting "like everyone else". We punish those that want to get ahead by taxing them and throwing other roadblocks in their way, and subsidize others that decide to fall behind. It permeates our society and few here see that.

..Tom

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Ironically, you are breaking the law when you do that.

edit: I misunderstood. I thought you were saying you moved to the ramp on the right to block traffic. I also block on the right side of my lane in this situation, not worried about actually blocking people but rather so that they don't think that my position is an empty spot they can jump into and run me over.

..Tom

It's primarily so that I'm more visible to the traffic, that's trying to merge into the right lane from the on-ramp. It also lets me see the legit mergers, so that I can let them in. Blocking selfish idiots is just a bonus.

My half baked theory is that it's a side effect of socialism, (although perhaps I'm wrong in this.) We have become a very socialist society were people think that being "equal" is the same as being the same; and when one person gets ahead it becomes a personal affront to us since we are acting "like everyone else". We punish those that want to get ahead by taxing them and throwing other roadblocks in their way, and subsidize others that decide to fall behind. It permeates our society and few here see that.

..Tom

We penalize those who we perceive as getting ahead, by refusing to follow both the written, and unwritten rules. It has nothing to do with socialism. It has everything to do with maintaining a polite society.

 

[06ravenS]

First of all it is NOT illegal to merg onto a ramp lane. If u do it before they become parallel and the doted line starts that is a different story. I bet more than half of u are the same ones that were on that other thread about lane filtering saying it's rude, impolite and not far lol. I do this weather I'm in my car or on my bike. For those of you that choose not to it for what ever reason you have that's fine. And for u smart ***** that get pleaser out of TRYING to block us from getting in I love it cause once my bumper is in front of u and u can't do **** but stop and let me in and see u freaking in my rearview that's the pleaser I get.

Op don't listen to these people if u can do this without endangering anyone and you feel comfortable doing so then that's it. If they don't want to cause they can't, are to scared or feel they are being rude and it's just not fare(Bo f in hoo) then that's better for us. Besides if everone did it there would be no space for us

 

[V-Tom]

It's primarily so that I'm more visible to the traffic, that's trying to merge into the right lane from the on-ramp. It also lets me see the legit mergers, so that I can let them in. Blocking selfish idiots is just a bonus.



We penalize those who we perceive as getting ahead, by refusing to follow both the written, and unwritten rules. It has nothing to do with socialism. It has everything to do with maintaining a polite society.

I drive on roads that have two lanes each way when I commute to work. Almost every day there are cars driving side by side that are travelling at speeds below the common speed that traffic normally travels at. They do this for many kilometres in a row and as a result traffic backs up behind them. Yet if someone tries to get by them you will often see one car that is slightly lagging speed up to close what might become a gap big enough for others to pass.

This is a common everyday occurrence and causes road rage, yet I bet these drivers feel they are polite drivers in every respect.

..Tom

 

[jc100]

First of all it is NOT illegal to merg onto a ramp lane. If u do it before they become parallel and the doted line starts that is a different story. I bet more than half of u are the same ones that were on that other thread about lane filtering saying it's rude, impolite and not far lol. I do this weather I'm in my car or on my bike. For those of you that choose not to it for what ever reason you have that's fine. And for u smart ***** that get pleaser out of TRYING to block us from getting in I love it cause once my bumper is in front of u and u can't do **** but stop and let me in and see u freaking in my rearview that's the pleaser I get.

Op don't listen to these people if u can do this without endangering anyone and you feel comfortable doing so then that's it. If they don't want to cause they can't, are to scared or feel they are being rude and it's just not fare(Bo f in hoo) then that's better for us. Besides if everone did it there would be no space for us

Upstanding Citizen Post Award. Lol

 

[Acadian1974]

First of all it is NOT illegal to merg onto a ramp lane. If u do it before they become parallel and the doted line starts that is a different story. I bet more than half of u are the same ones that were on that other thread about lane filtering saying it's rude, impolite and not far lol. I do this weather I'm in my car or on my bike. For those of you that choose not to it for what ever reason you have that's fine. And for u smart ***** that get pleaser out of TRYING to block us from getting in I love it cause once my bumper is in front of u and u can't do **** but stop and let me in and see u freaking in my rearview that's the pleaser I get.

Op don't listen to these people if u can do this without endangering anyone and you feel comfortable doing so then that's it. If they don't want to cause they can't, are to scared or feel they are being rude and it's just not fare(Bo f in hoo) then that's better for us. Besides if everone did it there would be no space for us

Ahem... read this before going back and editing your post

Upstanding Citizen Post Award. Lol

more like GTAM's "donkey of day" post award...

 

[Rob MacLennan]

I drive on roads that have two lanes each way when I commute to work. Almost every day there are cars driving side by side that are travelling at speeds below the common speed that traffic normally travels at. They do this for many kilometres in a row and as a result traffic backs up behind them. Yet if someone tries to get by them you will often see one car that is slightly lagging speed up to close what might become a gap big enough for others to pass.

This is a common everyday occurrence and causes road rage, yet I bet these drivers feel they are polite drivers in every respect.

..Tom

Which has very little, if anything to do with this thread. It's also incorrect behaviour as the left lane is for passing, not driving, just as the acceleration lane is for merging, not passing.

 

[06ravenS]

Ahem... read this before going back and editing your post



more like GTAM's "donkey of day" post award...

Ya read that and it tells u exactly what I was saying it is not illegal. So I would have no reason to edit my post. And as for the donkey of the day comment lol it is self explantitory, If that is the most cleaver thing u can come up with then u have more problems then someone merging into ur lane.

 

[mxs]

Which has very little, if anything to do with this thread. It's also incorrect behaviour as the left lane is for passing, not driving, just as the acceleration lane is for merging, not passing.

You are right, it's not really a trick (thus has nothing to do with this thread), it's just a common sense that I am on a bike and there's an unhealthy gap, I pulled the throttle and go and keep moving on.

Yesterday, was just a typical example how people here cannot drive. A bit of rain, nothing crazy just steady where I was, my commute was the fastest (not because my max speed, but rather my average went up avoiding the slow lane blocking cars). So many people not even be able to maintain steady speed on hwy, leaving 70-100 metres between cars. Nuts ....

Although I do agree with you that the canadian mentality "you are not getting ahead of me" has nothing to do with socialism. People here have no clue what socialism really means (they think that the Liberals are socialists because of taxing us). Traffic patterns and behaviors have nothing to do with that. You'd love to drive where I used to grow up ... LOL

 

[Baggsy]

Ya read that and it tells u exactly what I was saying it is not illegal. So I would have no reason to edit my post. And as for the donkey of the day comment lol it is self explantitory, If that is the most cleaver thing u can come up with then u have more problems then someone merging into ur lane.

In order to cut me off like that, you'd have to make a safe lane change without hitting me or the car in front of me.
My car's old enough that they'd write it off at your expense.

 

[V-Tom]

Which has very little, if anything to do with this thread. It's also incorrect behaviour as the left lane is for passing, not driving, just as the acceleration lane is for merging, not passing.

Agreed!

I do feel that not keeping right is a big part of why traffic is so messed up and why the OP and others feel the need to pass in the acceleration lane in the first place.

I understand that much of the time the sheer volume of traffic means there is little in reality you can do to get ahead. My only general strategy other than avoiding these roads where possible is that, in general on the parts of the major highway I commute on, the right lane is often the best flowing lane to drive/ride in. (There are of course exceptions, but in general this is true.) I think also that each piece of road may have a different strategy and even then the best choice can vary from day to day depening on traffic patterns that day.

..Tom

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