How Are Motorcycles Different from Other Motor Vehicles?

A dozen differences:

1. Smaller than other vehicles. They may appear to be traveling slower or be further away than they actually are.

2. No cages to protect the riders. The motorcyclist depends on leather, denim, some man-made materials and helmets for protection.

3. Riders must balance on two wheels (not four), and in most cases, manually use the clutch with the left hand, operate the front brake (70% of stopping power) and throttle (gas) with the right hand, shift gears with the left foot, operate the rear brake with the right foot, while watching gauges, using the horn and turn signals, watching for hazards in the road, watching for other motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

4. Unexpected emergency stops may cause the riders to be ejected, crash and/or be seriously injured or die.

5. Motorcyclists use the entire traffic lane to maneuver. Bikers divide the one traffic lane into three areas (lanes). Bikers will change position within those three lanes to avoid hazards and make themselves more visible to other traffic.

6. Motorcyclists may slow more than other vehicles when going into curves. If the biker enters a curve too fast, he/she may not be able to get the bike to turn and will continue in a straight line into the coming lane.

7. Potholes, wet grass, dead animals, and gravel can be deadly to a biker if he/she is not able to swerve enough to avoid the hazard.

8. Bikers ride single file and staggered when in groups. By riding staggered, the bikers are allowing room to maneuver, incase of road hazards. If they ride abreast (side by side) and encounter a pothole that cannot be missed, they may have no where to go to avoid the hazard and a crash.

9. Bikers must remain constantly alert. Bikers must constantly scan their surroundings to keep aware of possible hazards and to watch for motorists who are not watching for them. A good rider will evaluate for escape routes incase a possible hazard becomes a real one (such as a motorist who does not stop at a stop sign or does not allow an assured clear distance before pulling into a biker's path) and be prepared to act on that escape plan.

10. Bikers will attempt to avoid animals, such as dogs that like to chase them. Expect a biker to slow down and then accelerate to throw the dog's timing off so that a collision with the dog can be averted.

11. A strong wind can seriously affect the way a bike handles. The motorcyclist may be blown from one lane to another, if the wind is strong enough. Be prepared for an emergency situation in strong winds.

12. Motorcyclists have the same rights of other motorists.  You may see a motorcyclist "change positions" in his/her traffic lane to help motorists "see" him/her and/or to discourage other motorists from trying to share the biker's lane. Also, a moving light will be more likely to attract attention than a steady one.