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This is the fifth in a
series of talks regarding Group Riding. For the upcoming BMMC
breakfast meetings, you can expect to get a short message from me
or another Ride Captain.
The BMMC
Riders Guide pamphlet that was created in 2007 is a great
document and I certainly hope that you have a copy, have read it,
and have it available for reference. It covers so much ground,
however, that it can be difficult to keep it all correctly in
mind. Just as airline and corporate pilots must undergo refresher
training regularly – Recurrent Training, it’s called – to be
reminded of information they already know, so also may we benefit
from being reminded of what’s contained within the Guide. You
unlikely will be hearing much, if any, new information, but rather
a revisiting and emphasizing of what you already know.
The topic for today is Entering & Exiting Freeways.
Single file, not staggered, is the desired formation as we enter a
freeway. This allows each and every motorcycle to have additional
maneuvering room and to “claim” their rightful place in the flow
of traffic they are entering. This claiming act is best done from
the left third of the lane, so that a car or truck is not subtly
encouraged to encroach into the motorcycle’s spot…which can happen
if the motorcycle is timidly remaining in the right lane third.
Just as passing is an individual act, even when riding in a group,
likewise merging with the traffic flow must also be an individual
act. Just because the guy or gal ahead is sliding over from the on
ramp into the normal traffic lane, that doesn’t necessarily mean
that it is safe for you to do it also! Instead, make sure that you
are using your mirrors and your swiveling head to ensure it is
safe for you to merge into traffic. When it is – signaling your
intention both with your bike signal and your hand signal – then
go ahead and get into the traffic flow.
Remember that in single file riding, as is being done here, the
desired spacing interval is two-seconds. Thus, the group will be
strung out nearly twice as far now than when riding in staggered
formation. That is one reason why it is so important for the Lead
to accelerate more slowly than if he/she were riding alone and to
keep the final speed down a bit until all group members are on the
freeway, together in the same lane, in staggered formation once
again. Only then should the lead pick up the pace to the safe
limit.
Exiting a freeway is also a single-file maneuver. As the Lead
signals the upcoming turnoff, it’s time to fall back into a
two-second spacing interval from that bike that was just one
second ahead in the other lane third a moment ago. As before, all
should drift into the left lane third to better stake your claim
on the crossroad you are preparing to enter. Usually – not always,
but most of the time – the off ramp will be sufficiently long that
the slowing and repositioning may be done while on the off ramp,
not while still in the flow of traffic on the freeway.
If a full stop needs to be made, before turning onto the
crossroad, each rider is making his/her own, individual, choice as
to when it’s safe to continue onto the new road. Once again, the
Lead needs to be mindful of the reality that the group will
stretch out during this exiting maneuver, and keep the pace down
long enough for the group to reform in staggered formation.
Simple? Sure. But this is just one of the little things that, when
better understood and followed by all group members, makes the
group riding experience just that much more safe and fun.
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