Another day, another crash.

I tend to hug the shoulder side of the road when driving on a highway. I am noticing that there are a significant number of vehicles that do not. With motorcyclists I often see that when there are two bikes following each other the one in front hugs the entre road line and the one behind stays near the shoulder line.

Not sure why that is, but I would think that rather than hugging the center line that staying in the center of the lane would be safer.

Perhaps a biker on here could give a reason why some ride in that configuration.

The idea is the center of the road is where you’re likely to find spilled oil from vehicles and parts that have fallen off. Probably true a few decades ago, but today’s vehicles don’t drip oil like they use to, so I tend to stay nearer the center. I know what you mean though. I think if you drive a certain brand of bike you can’t be killed and that’s why they do it, because they know the car will have to move over just out of pure fear and intimidation. Myself, I prefer to be a cautious coward.

Point Guard?

That staggered position is actually the regulations. It’s on the ICBC bike test. The front rider stays in the “Dominant” or left lane position and the second bike is in the right lane position. Here’s a little ICBC lane position blurb for bikes.

http://apps.icbc.com/rs-tips/lanepositionwhenridingamotorcycle/lanepositionwhenridingamotorcycle.html

That staggered position is actually the regulations. It’s on the ICBC bike test. The front rider stays in the “Dominant” or left lane position and the second bike is in the right lane position. Here’s a little ICBC lane position blurb for bikes.

http://apps.icbc.com/rs-tips/lanepositionwhenridingamotorcycle/lanepositionwhenridingamotorcycle.html

Great, thanks. I actually learned something. I am not sure whether I agree with all of that, but I am not a rider, although I drive the same roads.

They did not mention one of the key weather conditions that affects all vehicles – constant rain on sections of highways which have created ruts from heavy vehicles and heavy traffic, thus leading to higher likelihood of hydro planning when driving at normal posted speeds. All that is, of course, dependent on tire design as well as speed.

I figure I would not want to ride either left or right in that situation, but stay in the middle where hydroplaning possibilities are reduced.

Everyone was so good on my first question, any opinions on hydroplaning with a bike and the probable greater caution a bike rider would have to take on that than a more stable four wheeled vehicle?

” I think if you drive a certain brand of bike you can’t be killed and that’s why they do it, because they know the car will have to move over just out of pure fear and intimidation.” … huh? That statement makes no sense to me.

It’s sarcasm. I’ve ridden literally over 100 kms on a bike, and I’ve noticed the louder the bike, the more aggressive the rider, and for some reason they just love to ride near the center line, especially on corners because they’re going too fast and making corrections once in a lean is not impossible, but not ideal either. Generally it’s supersport bikes and certain harley types. I don’t know what it is, but it’s what too many of them do.

Riding in heavy rain in a bike always made me wish I wore my yellow rain pants. It’s a bad situation. You definitely have to slow down – slower than the cars can go, you’ve got poor viability – myself – I pull over at the first safe spot and wait for it to pass. But you’re right, better the center of the road in heavy rain to avoid the gathering water in the ruts. Also better to wait about 10 minutes before riding in rain, to allow the oil slick that forms on the road to wash away.

Riding on the center line is a lane guarding thing. Many many drivers wii think that you are on the outside of the lane they can use up The rest of what you aren’t on the bike. By riding the center line there is no amount of lane visible for another driver to use to over take the bike rider.

I understand the lane gaurding thing, but going south a few weekends ago I was following a bike that was doing that. Would have been fine but he was going about 90, I tried to pass him in an actual passing lane, but with the constant oncoming traffic and him riding the line it was somewhat sketchy for me in my truck. I was terrified that he would swerve only a couple inches and I’d take him out – you would think that when he saw that someone was coming up behind in he would have moved over a little bit at least. And it was completely dry, no water in the ruts to worry about.

I ride one of those loud bikes. I am not a biker. I take the dominant position so some goofball doesn’t run me off the road. Although cars are better at not leaking oil, there is still the chance of a slippery centre section especially if we’ve had a little rain to get it started.
Remember…..not everyone that rides a loud American made motorcycle is a “biker”. For every true harda$$ biker our there, there are literally 100’s of us 50+ old farts “livin’ the dream”.

peegee that is exactly why bikes are taught to ride bear the centerline so people passing don’t run you off the road but have to pass you like they would pass a car in front of them, also why truckers are taught to swing right then left before turning right to keep idiots from trying to squeeze past on the inside.

The reason the second bike uses the other side of the lane from the first is in case the first bike has to slow quickly and they don’t run into each other. Back in the late 80s and early 90s we used to have 20 or 30 bikes show up every non rainy night in PG for a cruise through town each staggering from the bike in front, used to love those rides, not sure if people still do it in PG

near the centerline…guess I should have proofread