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PAINTING BY NUMBERS Restricting our position to the so called position two in a 30 MPH zone may be the policy of whichever umbrella we ride under, and while providing training under such umbrellas, let it be so we ride in position two.
However most of these training organisation cannot resist quoting content from Motorcycle Roadcraft whether it is part of their course or not. So maybe the thinking rider should read it as well. Although later versions are at risk of painting by numbers just like the up to date courses.
I came to this view by listening to people who know this subject better than I ever will. It was their careers and it is a shame they are retiring. So back to painting by numbers
Way back in the sixties road craft implied that our road position should be dictated by the dangers we see and the potential dangers that we have identified, so why the modern insistence on riding in position two because we are in a 30 mph zone? Maybe we will confuse other road users right. So we stay in position two and they will not be confused will they?
We had the same approach to learning to fly light aircraft everything by numbers some numbers a lot more important than others. I guess we all have to start somewhere. But at every flight test for the rest of your career, back to flying by numbers. Get the runway piano keys at 45 degrees to your track young man, even if the runway is two and a half miles long! and I can land in 250 meters. The examiner is watching now.
But as the thinking rider progresses, toward test standard, they should surely be looking always, for a safest place to be regardless of where they are or their speed. So why not take safety stability and view priorities into the restricted zones. Why not actively look for a good reason to move our motorcycles to a safer place? A building with a hard edge onto a side road, why not move out if safe to do so? A sharp right hander where a bus may appear with five feet overhang at the front? Would it be better to allow extra space just in case? On that mile and a bit straight coming out of some towns where the restriction goes on and on all the way to just beyond the speed camera. Why not ride slightly toward the center of the road if safe to do so, and discourage overtaking after all your bang on thirty are you not. You may even give the impatient driver behind a good view of the camera.
Should we encourage our intelligent thinking riders to find the safest place to be? At all times.
However most of these training organisation cannot resist quoting content from Motorcycle Roadcraft whether it is part of their course or not. So maybe the thinking rider should read it as well. Although later versions are at risk of painting by numbers just like the up to date courses.
I came to this view by listening to people who know this subject better than I ever will. It was their careers and it is a shame they are retiring. So back to painting by numbers
Way back in the sixties road craft implied that our road position should be dictated by the dangers we see and the potential dangers that we have identified, so why the modern insistence on riding in position two because we are in a 30 mph zone? Maybe we will confuse other road users right. So we stay in position two and they will not be confused will they?
We had the same approach to learning to fly light aircraft everything by numbers some numbers a lot more important than others. I guess we all have to start somewhere. But at every flight test for the rest of your career, back to flying by numbers. Get the runway piano keys at 45 degrees to your track young man, even if the runway is two and a half miles long! and I can land in 250 meters. The examiner is watching now.
But as the thinking rider progresses, toward test standard, they should surely be looking always, for a safest place to be regardless of where they are or their speed. So why not take safety stability and view priorities into the restricted zones. Why not actively look for a good reason to move our motorcycles to a safer place? A building with a hard edge onto a side road, why not move out if safe to do so? A sharp right hander where a bus may appear with five feet overhang at the front? Would it be better to allow extra space just in case? On that mile and a bit straight coming out of some towns where the restriction goes on and on all the way to just beyond the speed camera. Why not ride slightly toward the center of the road if safe to do so, and discourage overtaking after all your bang on thirty are you not. You may even give the impatient driver behind a good view of the camera.
Should we encourage our intelligent thinking riders to find the safest place to be? At all times.
