A thought I’ve been having a lot while driving. Why do motorcyclists always ride right on the yellow line? Personally it scares me when they go by that close to the line, wouldn’t it be scarier for the person on the bike to be that close to cars, especially on a highway? I’m not complaining, just randomly curious.
Hmmm, not sure, but my husband rides and I've never once seen him do that, and any of the other people riding around here I've not seen do it either. But yes, I could see how that would be scarey!
i think there's a law, at least in california, where they have to ride in the part of the lane that makes them most vissible to other traffic. but then a lot of bikers, it's one of those guy things, about being an all balls idiot. i know, when i was too little to actually be there or see it, and the roads were all two lanes and bumper to bumper in both directions and my dad was still a 30 something, (back in the VERY early 50s) he did that on an old kind of scoot called an indian, that had a wierd kind of stick shift arraingement. =^^= .../\...
I suppose that makes sense Jon, but when a car goes by going the other direction, don't you get kind of a wind push? I get blown around quite a bit, especially by trucks, and I drive a small car. I think I'm just a nervous person.. lol
Yeah... drafts are also a reason. I don't have a license. I was riding motorcycles and driving tractors around BFE before I could ever drive a car. Nobody really bothered back then. That was when they were still using Caprices and shit around here.
I think motorcycles are just scary in general, IF I ever rode or drove one, there would no way in hell I'd be by the yellow line. I value my life.
I was unfortunatly behind a Motorcyclist the other day who was on the line.... I watched him get hit head on by a SUV and I stopped took one look and realized he most likely never felt it... he had to have been killed instantly (its a shame he wasnt wearing a helmet)
Wow, I wouldn't have know what to think about that. It's dangerous enough riding a motorcycle because of the fact it is easier to get hurt compared to the cars and things around you, there's no way I wouldn't wear a helmet, that's just stupidity.
I must say, I was terrified the first time I went for a ride with my husband on his motorcycle. Normally I'm a pretty chatty person, my husband would probably tell you that I never shut up. But I was completely silent, not a single solitary word came out of my mouth, I was panic stricken, my face was probably as white as a sheet and my hands were sooo clammy. But, once I was able to relax a little and feel more secure, it was a blast, I really enjoyed it. As long as he didn't drive too fast! And believe me, I watched that speedometer and made sure he knew I noticed when he was going over. Anyway, lots of fun, but that's not to say that I don't feel nervous on the cycle because I do!
There's a lot more car there to get hit by the wind from passing vehicles than there is motorcycle. The aerodynamics prevents the wind, even from large trucks to have much of an effect. I rarely have ever even noticed the wind from other vehicles....this may be because the bike that I mostly ride is one of those rediculously fast and aerodynamic Ninjas for I don't have one of my own. Those bikes are damn fun to ride, but I would never buy one. I'd get too brave if it wasn't someone elses.
I've been riding for almost 30 years and I love it. I had one accident at highway speed in 1980 and I walked away from it. It's something you have to be good at, be VERY defensive and very aware. Motorcycle classes teach you to ride in the center of your lane, but that's dangerous for two important reasons: Car engines drip oil in the center of the lane, and since you don't have 4 wheels to hold you up, it's almost certain that you will go down if you get oil on your tires. Also, during the first 15 minutes of a rainstorm, all the oil that has soaked into the road rises up. Now you have standing water with an oil slick on top. Recipe for disaster. And, screws, bolts, brake pads, rocks and other debris collect in the center of the lane. Run over the brake pad from a semi truck driving a motorcycle at 65 miles per hour and see what happens. Hugging the center line is dangerous, though.
