Where do you ride your motorcycle in relation to the road? There are no hard and fast rules, but there are several things you should consider.
First, consider most other vehicles are two wheels wide. This means their tyres are cleaning the left and right sides of the lane but not the middle. The middle is where any oil they are leaking can drop on the road, as well as condensation from the air conditioner.
Next, think about where the driver can best see you if you are behind them. Ideally you should be able to see the driver’s eyes in the rear vision mirror through the back window as well as the side mirror. This used to be easy, but modern cars with tinted windows make it hard to see the driver, but you get the idea.
If you are on a multi-lane road consider where you are in relation to the vehicles travelling beside you. Can they see you? Don’t rely on a driver doing a head check before changing lanes. Are you in danger if they have to take evasive action?
What about cars trying to enter from a side street? If you are close to the kerb you are going to be hard to see until you get much closer to the side street. It is better to be closer to the outside of the lane to improve the angle and let you be seen sooner.
If you are close to the middle of the road, have you considered oncoming traffic?
I like to ride in the clean section of the road, behind where a vehicle’s driver would be. This means I’m on the clean line and have a better view of side streets on my side of the road. If, however, there is a car approaching from the other way I will move away from it (towards the kerb) and return to my favoured position after it has past.
As I approach an intersection with traffic I will move slightly towards the kerb to give me a better view of traffic that will be turning across the direction I’m travelling. The sideways movement can also help the driver see you, particularly if you have running lights or have your headlights turned on.
We’ve all been warned about slippery painted lines. When you are pulling up, try and avoid them. When you stop try to avoid putting your feet down on them, motorcycle footware has comparatively slippery soles. Also look out for spilled oil or air conditioner overflow (which will be in the middle of your lane) as it can be very slippery. The risk is increased when the roads are wet.
There is no hard and fast answer, and on any journey you will find yourself adopting different strategies. Think about what is happening and adopt the best strategy to keep you safe at the time.