Country Mouse in the Big City

[vacationer]

I'm moving to [REDACTED] in a week and a half, and I'm nervous as I've never lived in a real live city. I asked a friend how the drivers in [REDACTED] compared to the drivers in [REDACTED], which is a college town, and she told me, "Um overall maybe worse? But more experienced at being bad. Fewer students but more aggression."

Do you guys have any advice for staying alive in these hostile conditions when a scoot is your sole mode of transport? I know I need to pay more attention to staying out of blind spots and remembering to turn off my blinker. I could use some new tires as well as the tread is like a baby's bottom.

I'll also be living just outside of the worst 1/4 of the city, and [REDACTED] is famous in every corner of the globe for its moderate to high level of crime. As far as security goes, I have a deafening brake disc alarm, a bike lock just for my helmet, two u-locks, a bulky chain with potentially nothing outside my apartment to chain the scooter to, and an easily accessible thrusting weapon.

What've I missed?

[aeroxbud]

After living in a city for years now. You get a sixth sense for erratic drivers. If they keep swapping lanes, not signalling, increasing and decreasing speed. Stay well back.
If moving in slow moving traffic keep an eye on the direction of cars front wheels. Often that is the first sign they are turning.
Don't stop close behind other vehicles in traffic. Give yourself room to manoeuvre.
One of it the worse things I see is cars pulling out of side roads without looking. I will move to the opposite edge of the road giving myself as much room as possible from them.

[90GTVert]

Assume that most people only care about themselves and how quickly they can get somewhere and think about what they may do under those circumstances. The "big city" for me is only a population of something like 320,000-350,000 and they're mostly vacationers because it's a beach town with a lot of attractions, but it still seems to apply. Sometimes when I see someone that does turn a signal on to get into my lane, I'll back off a bit and even flash my high beam to let them in. You have to judge it but it seems safer to me to let them in than worry about if they're going to force their way in.

Increase visibility by lane position when possible. That's detailed in any motorcycle handbook for getting a license I think, but basically just think about where people in areas of concern can see you best. You may also consider where you can see best and as Paul said, who you need to give room to... not just for terrible drivers but also doors coming open from parked cars.

If traffic is stopped, DON'T just blow through without slowing down if you can go (lane splitting or using special lanes). Learned this from experience because there's a lane for scoots, bikes and buses at the beach. When the other traffic is stopped from congestion, it's hard to see and cars may be taking advantage of this by coming across stopped traffic in gaps or there may be pedestrians. You don't want to find out that it's not clear for you at the last second doing cruise speed.

This applies anywhere really, but also try to stay calm. Getting mad at what someone does and confronting them... yelling, hand gestures... whatever... never solves much. Sooner or later you'll piss off the wrong one and regret it so try to chill and life goes on.

[vacationer]

aeroxbud That last is one I definitely need to internalize.

@90gtvert I'll forgive you this time for slandering vacationers. I'll forgive you every time actually. We have more bad apples than good.

As for scooting, I've definitely taken to heart that we have to take on some humility since we're invariably the little fish. It's sounding to me like the left third of the rightmost lane is the goldilocks zone.

It also occurs to me that maybe just improving my maneuverability skills may be a good idea. I've been practicing riding hands-free for a few seconds at a time in order to focus more on what I can do with my hips. Or standing up on my foot pegs just to get out of my comfort zone. Things like that. Any thoughts?

[90GTVert]

Jul 19, 2024 11:27:38 GMT -5 vacationer said:

It also occurs to me that maybe just improving my maneuverability skills may be a good idea. I've been practicing riding hands-free for a few seconds at a time in order to focus more on what I can do with my hips. Or standing up on my foot pegs just to get out of my comfort zone. Things like that. Any thoughts?

A few cheap soccer cones and a parking lot can create all sorts of drills. Start turning in a circle in and see how tight you can get, then go in the opposite direction. Ride as slow as you can in a straight line without putting your feet down. That one's quite practical in traffic.

[aeroxbud]

Yes it's actually a lot harder riding slow, than it is fast. Especially on a scooter without a clutch.

[90GTVert]

Jul 24, 2024 2:45:57 GMT -5 aeroxbud said:

Yes it's actually a lot harder riding slow, than it is fast. Especially on a scooter without a clutch.

It is funny going into a turn at 100 without a care and then doing a tight U-turn and getting a little nervous.

Some of my scoots kind of let me use the clutch. It depends how it comes in. The ones that suddenly pop in aren't great, but you can at least learn how fast you can go to just barely be moving. Trying to do tight circles, you can quickly get a feel for what you need to be doing. For me, I'd think it should be easier slower, but a little more speed and having the drivetrain engaged feels better.

Try gently applying the rear brake during slow speed maneuvers and see if that helps at all.

Another thing that I learned on a trip to TN by heading toward the side of a mountain on a very tight turn is that incline and decline matter. Being a flatlander, I was having to brake just to keep speed low enough for the tightest turn I've ever been around and I panicked and used both brakes and then couldn't make the turn so just had to stop. Should have probably tried more rear brake because the front won't let you turn if you're applying much force there, but when there's a turn and a cliff it's hard to think. That's why practice is necessary, so if you will ride in an area with hills, try to go out and practice on hills. Prepare for the environment if possible.

If you're out and see an empty parking lot, go in and do a few circles or whatever if you've got 2-3 minutes to spare and then head out. Not rigorous training for sure, but I think it helps to do these things somewhat regularly.

[jackrides]

When stopped at an intersection, Keep an eye on your Mirror!! Be ready to squirt sideways.

[sinfull]

I ride it like I am riding a harley and am king of the road. Don't be intimidated or ride scared. Remember you are a registered vehicle and if you want to do 30 mph in the left lane then do it. They will move if they want to go faster. Stupid little scooter yeah but your woman likes it 😏

Maybe why I was hit from behind and thrown on the curb before but hey keep riding. 🙃

[aeroxbud]

I'm the same, I ride in the centre of the road.
I see too many scooters hugging the edge of the road. It gives cars the idea they can squeeze by you. And if they do, you have nowhere to go.

[vacationer]

@90gtvert One of my worst accidents was at 2mph in a gravel driveway. That was humbling. Also got nearly flattened by a garbage truck while making a right turn onto a two lane road over some leaves.

jackrides That's a good point. I've gotten my share of injuries from slow speed fender benders. Don't even wanna know what that feels like on a scooter.

sinfull I love when girls call it a "motorcycle"

aeroxbud That boggles the mind but I guess it doesn't surprise me either.