Where do you ride [the position on road]

This might be interesting Poll.

As i recall when going for the licence in youth the dude/instuctor took points off for not riding enough left [out here RH drive] or close enough to the curb.

[think in the reverse riders below can ada]

of course my style has never changed , even when i lost the bike licence as i accrued to many points [speeding] for 6 months , i redid the licence and this was 10 years later that charactor said the same thing?.

I really do not know [or care] what they are on about as i sit where i know its safer.

Imagine the curb then white line , 1 lane , i frequently sit half way or mostly just to the right of that ie: where a car driver would be , nearly.

as i have seen plenty of other riders and had done once to me a few scenarios like this . sitting over to the left car passes in my lane 1 foot away [only once] , but plenty to other riders , i feel if you give them the space they dangerously take it! greedy people.

many atime i seen newbies on the road and all i can think as i pass is "they"ll learn i hope".. without getting hurt.

so what does and happens at this rider training stuff these days , where they tell you to sit? is it still the same?...

Behind a big rig i never sit inline with its wheels , behind cars i look in their rear vision mirror until i get past and keep the pillars out of the way..heeps more habits i do , with oncoming vehicles [stationary or moving] i look at front wheels , steering wheel and what the hands are doing and eyes ..

And you?

 

Sno or someone can you turn this into a poll? please, i thought i did but looks like not....

 

In Canada we drive on the right hand lane. On a two lane road (one each way) I ride in the tire track next to the center line. I move away from the centerline when I'm going around a turn or cresting a blind hill.

 

Typically right in the middle of the lane, towards the left side. That way I am right in the line of sight for any cages coming up behind me. Plus, I'm blocking the lane, so there's no funny business trying to pass me in the same lane.

 

I generally ride in the right lane unless passing. My position depends on the road. Here in the Philadelphia area, some of the roads leave a bit to be desired. I like the left half of the lane, but sometimes the conditions dictate that I stay in the middle or the right.

Greg

 

I chose the path with the best traction the road surface has to offer. There are a million agriculture semi's out here and they tend to be very harsh on the pavement, leaving big ol' potholes where the tires run. I like to be on the left-hand side of the lane so I can see well ahead of the vehicle in front of me and give oncoming vehicles a better chance to see I'm there, but I move over to the right side of the lane as the oncoming vehicles pass to give myself more time to react if they pull a boo-boo. If there is no-one in front of me, I hang out on the right side of the lane between the tire rut and the side of the lane (pot-holes to the left of me, gravel to my right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you...). Of course I pull to the furthest side of the lane to give myself maximum view when approaching and riding through turns, especially crowned curves where you can't see over them.

 

Well we could do it as numbers...

1 is tight to the center line
2 is in the wheel rut
3 is in the center of the lane
4 is in the wheel rut
5 is tight to the curb/shoulder

I'm a 1.5 to 2.5 area rider.

 

Yep, that is the best method in North America on two lane roads.

Center is where all the oil from cars collects, and since car tires do not frequent the center, can be very slick.

Right side (or closest to curb) is where all the water from car A/C falls.
Has more sand or off road debris than rest of the lane.
Is more probable to have chuck holes or broken pavement.
You are less visible to oncoming traffic.
You may be closer to blind spot of car ahead of you.

On divided highways, I normally ride in the tire groove closest to traffic, so right groove in left lane, or left grove in right lane, and avoid the center lane when available.

 

Illinois Rider's handbook put out by the DOT (and I think pretty much written by the MSF) teach that there are 3 positions in one lane. As Robert and a few others said, which 'one' is 'best' depends entirely on the situation at hand. So our gubment seems to have a more open mind about things than your guy does, HooNz.

I typically ride where HooNz, does - about where a cage driver would be, though likely a little closer to lane center - road conditions allowing. But that changes constantly. I float left or right to avoid wind blast of passing trucks, set up an 'out' in case the cage at the light turns in front of me, stake my claim to the lane if people are starting to crowd, back off if they continue to crowd, etc. Setting up for turns, of course, is a whole different ball game.

Lane positioning is a very zen thing - you've got to go with the flow. . . .