Visibility on a Scooter. Z-motion, X-motion, and why cars pull out in front of us.

Monday, 6 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Anybody who has ridden a scooter or motorcycle for any appreciable amount of time  knows the all-too-familiar feeling that we seem to be invisible on the road.

When the umpteenth person pulls across our path or pushes us out of our lane, it’s tempting (and quite natural) to get very annoyed at the distracted and inattentive driver. In this post, I hope to provide an insight into the psychology of visibility, and offer some tips which can help.

Recommended Reading

Saturday, 4 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

A Personal Story

Back in the mid-nineties, I was still living in England, and had been riding motorcycles and scooters daily for about nineteen years. I really thought I knew all there was to know about riding. What could anybody possibly tell me about riding after all these years?

Balance – Or “The Newbie Shuffle”

Saturday, 4 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

I’m sure you’ve all seen it. A hesitant rider waddles their way round a parking lot, or shuffles their way through a slow manoeuvre – all the time pecking at the ground with their toes, or doing a fair impression of a penguin walk.

This is the Newbie Shuffle™ (in certain circles also known as “the Harley Shuffle”, but I won’t go there).

It stems from the rider’s lack of faith in their ability to balance the machine.

But here’s the thing: it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Following Distance

Saturday, 4 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

I considered carefully what should be the first entry in this blog. I didn’t want to make things too difficult to start with, so I’m going to start with one of the most fundamental safety tips – following distance.

What dictates the distance you can see to be clear?

Well, the obvious one is the vehicles in front of you, but there are many other things that can affect how much of the road ahead you can see. Here are some of them:

• Curves in the road.
• Hills.
• Weather.
• Your own eyesight.
•  Foliage (bushes, trees, etc…)

So, how much distance do I need to leave?

This varies due to a lot of circumstances. Different scooters will have various optimum stopping distances due to variations in braking efficiencies. This will also vary according to how well you know your scooter, how efficiently you can bring your scoot to a stop, and your braking techniques (more on this in an upcoming blog).