Safely Articles and Riding Tips

Throttle Sense

Monday, 12 March, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 5 minutes.

Today, I’m going to talk about something which carries a lot of benefits – most especially for the scooter rider. Some of these benefits include:

• Better Hazard Avoidance
• Better Visibility
• Increased Fuel Economy
• Less Wear on Your Scooter
• Less Rider Fatigue

Quite an impressive list, wouldn’t you agree?

All of these benefits can be achieved by the cultivation of what I call “Throttle Sense”.

Scanning and Hazard Fixation

Saturday, 3 March, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 4 minutes.

Today, I’m going to talk about about a very important skill that the safe scooter rider practises continually – Vigilant Scanning.

And, on the other side of the coin is a phenomenon that strangely seems to affect those of us on two wheels more than it does drivers of “regular” vehicles – Hazard Fixation.

Limit Point Analysis – The Road is Telling You More Than You Think

Tuesday, 28 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 4 minutes.

Today, I’m going to be talking about an invaluable technique for safe scooter riding called Limit Point Analysis.

I say this technique is invaluable because application of it really can give us a “free” window into the future: What is happening with the road ahead.

It is often telling us things such as how fast we can safely take that corner, or what safe speed should we be doing right now.

It is often telling us how sharp that curve is up ahead, and whether the curve we are on is beginning to get tighter, or straighten out.

All this is available to us – if only we know where to look. Doesn’t that sound interesting? It sure was to me when I first came across it!

Back to Basics – Starting Your Scooter

Monday, 27 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 4 minutes.

It has struck me that, in this blog, I often talk about more advanced techniques for safe scooter riding, but haven’t provided much discussion about some of the most basic things – like actually starting your scooter and taking it off its stand. I’m going to devote a little time to that now.

A System for Safe Scooter Riding – IPSA and TUG

Wednesday, 22 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 6 minutes.

Today, I’m going to get just a little bit technical, and talk about a formal system which we can use to guide every aspect of our riding. It is a system that is flexible, and can be used continually to cover everything we do while out on the road.

Although this may seem a little complicated at first, please bear with me, and you should see how a little study and application of this system will be extremely worth the effort.

Of course, what system worth its salt doesn’t come along with a mnemonic or two, right? Never wishing to disappoint, here are a couple for you:

Positioning – Part Two

Sunday, 19 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 8 minutes.

Today, I’m going to continue on with part two of the series about positioning.

In Positioning – Part 1, I mostly talked about positioning where it affects our view, visibility, and therefore safety, when travelling in a straight line. I purposely avoided talking about cornering because it is deserved a whole post of its own. This is the post!

SMIDSY and SAM

Thursday, 16 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 4 minutes.

Doesn’t that sound like a great title for a kids’ cartoon series?

I’m seeing SMIDSY as a dim-witted, but lovable bunny, while SAM is his solemn and stern friend (a beaver) – ever ready to get SMIDSY out of the endless scrapes he gets himself into.

I know, I know, I need to get out more…

Braking

Monday, 13 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 7 minutes.

Today, I’m going to talk about that all important aspect of scooter riding – effectively bringing our scoot – and ourselves – to a stop (hopefully at the same time).

Now, before we get started, I’d like talk about general stability on a scooter.

It is always worth bearing this in mind: A scooter is at its most stable when travelling at a constant speed in a straight line.

Why is that important to remember? Well, it’s because anything that causes us to deviate from that ideal condition is going to rob us of some stability. It is something we obviously can’t avoid, but it is worth keeping in mind so that as we are riding, we are continuously trying to keep the machine as near to that ideal as possible.

Positioning – Part One

Friday, 10 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 6 minutes.

I have briefly mentioned positioning in previous posts, but have not expanded on the subject. That is because it is a large subject with many facets. Too large, in fact, to be covered in one post. So, I am going to split the subject of positioning into many posts. But first, let me explain what positioning is:

**_Positioning is the art of using all the space available (usually) within your lane to ensure maximum visibility to other road users, provide maximum view for you, and to provide the safest way to negotiate a hazard.

The “What If” game, or “It’s OK to be the Eternal Pessimist”.

Wednesday, 8 February, 2012 by Alan Hearnshaw

Reading time: 5 minutes.

Today, I’m going to talk about a game I like to play while riding.

Now, granted, I may be easily amused, and it may never take the place of the License Plate Game, but this one may just keep you out of some nasty situations, and help keep the rubber side down on your beloved scooter.