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Another perspective: Riding in the left mini-lane

Thursday, May 2, 2019   (10 Comments)
Posted by: David Haedt #207938

Having recently purchased Jim Ford’s book The Art of Riding Smooth, his article “Squeezing Satisfaction and Fun Out of Straight Roads” (Owners News, March 2019) caught my attention. While many of Jim’s recommendations are shared between the two publications, I have a different view on the four advantages he mentions in both.

Advantage 1, Clearest View of the Vanishing Point

A vanishing point is the point at which receding parallel lines, when viewed in perspective, appear to converge at some point in the distance.

Jim Ford describes mini lanes by saying, “Visualize your side of a two-lane road as being divided into three longitudinal mini-lanes—like bowling lanes. Your left mini-lane is located just to the right of the center of the entire road. The middle mini-lane is located in the center, along the crown, of your side of the road, and the right mini-lane is located to the right, parallel to the road’s right shoulder. As an example, assume Jim is riding in the left-mini lane. I’m in my preferred right-mini and we’re riding on a flat, single-lane road about 12-feet wide approaching a crest of a hill a quarter-mile away. We’re both focused on the disappearing yellow centerline upon which a dead skunk lies just under the horizon. Though we each see a different vanishing point, how different are they?

If we were both to take photographs from our positions the moment Jim sees the skunk and then compare the images, the skunk wouldn’t be in my image because I’m a fraction of an inch further from the skunk than Jim and my sight distance doesn’t yet extend to that level of the horizon. Even so, I will still have virtually the same stopping opportunity (distance) once I see the hazard.

With this experiment it should be clear that no position within our 12-foot lane on a straight road provides a clearer view of the vanishing point, only a vanishing point with an imperceptible difference.

Lane shifting simply changes one’s perspective of objects ahead. While a rider in the left mini-lane can more easily see how many vehicles are ahead of him, a rider in the right mini-lane can more easily see the profile of approaching traffic.

Lane-shifting to gain perspective is an element in delayed-apex cornering, but the move’s key objective is to increase line of sight, which is different from a vanishing point.

In fairness to this example of vanishing points, they are used by autonomous-vehicle sensors for trajectory determination, while object recognition or avoidance is performed by systems using cameras, radar or lidar. It is this combination of sensory input, which Jim correctly identifies in his writings, that each rider must employ. Tree lines, power lines, slope, and guard-rail orientations are all elements surrounding a vanishing point and provide vital clues to the road ahead.

Advantage 2, Assert Yourself to Oncoming Traffic

Though I’m a relative newcomer to motorcycles, I’ve got decades of riding road bicycles and have two views of assertion. When teaching my kids about riding road bicycles, I always emphasized “riding like you’re driving.” Get yourself in the middle of the right-hand lane, wear appropriate reflective gear and use a review mirror. By using this position, you force drivers to recognize your presence. By comparison, riding on the shoulder gives drivers the sense they can pass you at will against oncoming traffic and is an invitation for a trip to the ditch.

But when riding a motorcycle, I have a different view of assertion. Let’s face it, some drivers view motorcyclists in a dim light. If you wear a Pickelhaube helmet and snug the centerline, you may receive the attention you don’t want.

Matadors wave muletas in front of the colorblind bull not to get his attention, but to provoke a response. Most importantly, distracting the oncoming motorist, who most likely already has me in sight, only increases my risk as that driver will not be focused on his own set of driving tasks.

As for Jim’s headlight flashing recommendation, the California Driver Handbook lists unnecessary flashing as aggressive driving. The practice can also be confusing to some drivers. How many times have you seen good-intentioned motorists at intersections flashing their headlights to signal an opposing driver to make a left turn in front of them?

On the front end of my motorcycle I have five lights. They are multicolored and very bright, and in most states it is legal to use the high-beam during daylight hours. Add some good reflective gear, ride the right mini-land and I believe you lessen risk.

Another reason I never ride the left mini-lane is to avoid multi-tasking drivers. Cell phones, in-dash displays and perhaps even driver-reliance systems on autonomous vehicles all create opportunities for centerline drift. At highway speeds the closing distance between you and an oncoming teenage-texter is incredibly short and potentially deadly. Two vehicles approaching each other at 60 mph do so at 176 feet per second. Personally, I’m not prepared to take evasive action at this rate.

Advantage 3, Equidistant from Wildcard Threats

We’ve all approached erratically moving chipmunks whose movements seem programmed by a random-number generator. At least deer, dogs and coyotes seem to have an objective when they first hit the road (which is to get to the other side) even though, as Jim notes they may not be graceful in their execution. These crossings have several key components including your speed, your distance when the animal first comes into view and the speed of the critter. An overlooked variable is oncoming traffic as you have no control over the evasive action an approaching driver may take in response to a common threat.

Your options with this wildcard include stopping, swerving right or left or collision. As mentioned earlier, I’m a bit nervous about oncoming traffic, especially with deer in the area. To ease my nerves, I prefer to keep oncoming traffic as far away as possible under any circumstances. I will be riding in the right mini-lane and will take my chances with a swerve onto the shoulder. I will admit that when riding a lonely Great Basin two-lane road with a setting sun, I’m on the centerline, but my speed is reduced.

Advantage 4, Give Yourself Something active to do

Here Jim hits mark. Forget about playing with your cell phone, GPS, radar detector, good-buddy headset or adjusting your heated gear. You should not look like you’re taking an EKG every time you get in the saddle. Just ride the bike! Whatever point you choose to view on a horizon will not make hazards disappear, but your focus will reduce riding risk.

Comments...

Paul R. Austin says...
Posted Thursday, October 15, 2020
Having taken Jim's excellent mountain riding course, I'd offer an addition: we had to memorize the mantra "Anticipate continuously NOW. Precisely pre-position first for safety, then for traction, then for the absolute clearest view of the vanishing point". So safety and traction also adjust position. I'm not as assertive as Jim and will move to the center mini-lane when cresting hills. The vanishing point is far more critical on twisty roads where mini-lane selection can enable the ability to stop/avoid when a sudden hazard appears. Also - don't fixate on the vanishing point - scan from your position to it and back.
David Gross says...
Posted Monday, May 6, 2019
I stay in the right mini lane when there is on coming traffic and I am alone on the road. I move to the left mini lane when behind vehicles or there is open road. I wholeheartedly agree that being in the right mini lane keeps you away from distracted drivers and ensures you are more visible to possible passers coming in the other direction. I always check the road markings and look at where the opposing lane has permission to pass and pay extreme vigilance to vehicles in the opposing lane that are real close to one another - it usually means someone is itchy to pass. I wear hi viz clothing, using amber running lights and headlight always on as well. Of course a Stiebel air horn too.
Jeffrey Bennett says...
Posted Saturday, May 4, 2019
Great advice. However, when traversing mountain twisties, use extreme caution ( as noted) on an uphill climb approaching a blind sweeping left curve. The left mini lane must be avoided as cars/trucks often take downhill turns too fast and wide. I learned the hard way that the right mini lane is where you need to be on any uphill left sweeper.
Mark Ridenhour says...
Posted Saturday, May 4, 2019
I generally use the left mini-lane for 2 reasons: 1) the center mini-lane is exactly where fluids (i.e. oil +) from other vehicles drip and 2) wanting to see as far ahead as possible. Move over near the fog line? You bet, especially when large vehicles are approaching (like dump trucks).
Roger Chaplin says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
Who says you need to plant yourself in one mini lane? I like to ride in the left mini lane until there is oncoming traffic. Once I'm within 200 feet or so I move to the right mini lane. This swerve has been shown to be effective in getting the attention of the oncoming motorists. Paying this kind of attention to the road and oncoming traffic is also a form of entertainment and helps me stay alert.
John Young says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
I generally use the left mini lane because: l occupy the lane preventing 1/2 lane passing. I'm directly in the following driver's line of sight forcing them to stay back a bit further. Better road conditions than the far right mini lane mean less hazard avoidance maneuvers that confuse following drivers. Fewer live animal threats with a little bit more distance between them and me. When I'm extra concerned the middle mini lane seems to be a good compromise. Vehicles not capable of road speeds are "road hazards" and typically required by law to be in the far right mini lane. Occupying the full lane under 25mph requires specific signage. I personally use slow moving bycicles, atvs, farm machinery, and a 30 ton snow plow on public highways. Ok, the snow plow can do up to 55mph but is operated at 35mph. My back ground includes: licensed motorcycle operator since the 60s, MSF instructor, track days of professional development for MSF, European and US heavy trucks. Thanks for reading
Steve Stowell-Virtue says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
If you are meeting multiple vehicles and not trailing a vehicle ahead of you, the mini left lane hides you from the oncoming vehicles further back in string. They can see you much sooner if you are in the mini right lane. Often the driver stuck behind a slower vehicle will pull across the stripe to see if they can pass or in the worst case pull out to pass. If your right against the stripe when this happens you will likely not survive.
Richard E. Koscher says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
Just remember the mini right lane hides you from the view of on coming traffic when trailing a vehicle ahead of you. If you can’t see them, they can’t see you.
Richard E. Koscher says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
Just remember the mini right lane hides you from the view of on coming traffic when trailing a vehicle ahead of you. If you can’t see them, they can’t see you.
David J. Jones says...
Posted Friday, May 3, 2019
Great thoughts. I read his book and enjoyed your rebuttal.


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