What Is The AMA Thinking

[D_Klein]

Originally Posted by Louis

I ride everyday too, rain or shine.

I agree that riding on weekends and commuting is a different battlefield.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Though it helps knowing your commute inside and out, including where the riskier areas are.

[DeRiggi]

Originally Posted by D_Klein

I couldn't have said it better myself. Though it helps knowing your commute inside and out, including where the riskier areas are.

When i decided to start commuting with my bike, i did a couple trips in each lane in my truck to determine any potential hazards before i started taking the bike. I wanted to be as prepared as possible, and know to "stay out of this lane, it gets sandy around this bend, and theirs a massive pothoile here in this lane, etc.."

My commute is 50 miles each way, almost all highway...Now i know my route well, and its the (as i like to call them) Make-up queens and groggy blackberry news-paper coffee drinkers that i am always on the look-out for.

[drgibson]

Originally Posted by DeRiggi

When i decided to start commuting with my bike, i did a couple trips in each lane in my truck to determine any potential hazards before i started taking the bike. I wanted to be as prepared as possible, and know to "stay out of this lane, it gets sandy around this bend, and theirs a massive pothoile here in this lane, etc.."

My commute is 50 miles each way, almost all highway...Now i know my route well, and its the (as i like to call them) Make-up queens and groggy blackberry news-paper coffee drinkers that i am always on the look-out for.

I did the same thing. Right now there is a lot of construction going on for the southbound traffic lanes on one of the highways I commute on so I always try to see where they are at on the trip into work so I can judge where they may be at for the trip home.
Another thing, this am on the way in the Highway was shut down, I could have tried to negotiate back roads to get to work faster but I felt it wouldn't be wise to try to find my way to work on unfamiliar roads, knowing the area I new I would have to do a lot of street swapping since there isn't any one street that would carry me in the direction I needed to go. As soon as I get a chance I’ll drive through that area to see if I can find a safe route to use incase I need to alter my normal route.

[inspiron]

The main difference is that your average weekend trip is a ZEN experience. The journey is the destination.

Commuting is a different story altogether. Many of the cagers aren't even awake yet, and they are focusing on the destination and not on the journey. Getting to work is automated - their brains are set to "autopilot". This has been proven scientifically - if you drive the same route every day, after a while, it becomes automated. You don't think about the drive anymore - and you don't even remember it by the time you get to work.

There was a report on TV a few months ago about a guy who smashed into the back of an 18 wheeler on his way home from work. When the police asked him why he didn't even hit the brakes, he couldn't explain it. He didn't even remember getting in the car. Scientists showed that he had been driving that route every day for more than 10 years, and there was never a truck in the way. At some point, his commute home had simply become "automatic", so he wasn't able to react anymore when something along the route suddenly changed.

Because of this reason, I vary the routes I take to and from work. Sometimes I take the direct route up the Autobahn, sometimes I take side streets, and sometimes I take one of the roundabout ways (crossing into Germany and France before returning to Switzerland) or, if I'm on my bike, taking some of the local twisties just south of the city before heading east towards home.

[peter-reebok]

You need ALL of your attention on a commute ride.
But there is plenty to enjoy too!

Had to drive the cage in on Wednesday, and it was a PITA to WAIT in traffic.

Don't know how people do it!.

I have fun riding every day, testing myself in the worlds deadliest slow riding competition when slowing for lights you just know are gunna change, and the low speed manouvring test between cages, missing mirrors by millimetres at 40kmh.
Then there is the green light dragstrip test, Where in the dry the goal is the fastest time, and in the wet, the longest fishtail up to speed. Every speed demon is trying you on.
Then you get to pace yourself against other riders.
And then you get to be courteous to the people that you see every day, who actually make way for you after you have proven you are not a threat to them. Wonder how many people I can make notice me (in a nice way) today.
And then there is the ETA test, which is the result of all the above.

The biggest test of all is to ensure that you actually ARRIVE home.
That one is one to make sure you pass!

[ChicsterMG]

Well, all I can say is, I am thoroughly discusted with all of you.


Not one persone paid homage to me yesterday.

[inspiron]

[TFee3]

I have mixed feelings concerning riding to work. I lived in Kansas City for 46 years and had motorcycles that I rode in the traffic. I agree with it being dangerous if you're not alert, but on the other hand, when is one going to learn to be comfortable in traffic if he doesn't get out there? We now live in the Ozarks, and I discovered that riding in the hills is much more dangerous than driving in the Kansas City traffic. Down here, one never knows when some nut isn't going to stop coming from a sideroad.

[Scribbles]

I can see both sides of this. I take my car to work more often than not, because of what I have to take withe me, weather, etc. However, I like to ride to work, too. The ads for ride to work day in Central Ohio were geared toward people who drive more than ride, and the message was to encourage people to ride more than drive. Several of the motorcyle dealerships have been advertising for riding to work, too, touting the fuel economy of most smaller motorcycles and scooters versus cars.

I rode to work today. It was an uneventful ride, but a good one. I got to work safely, the weather was good, and traffic was light. I did not ride the other day, because I had way too much to carry for the bike.

[DeRiggi]

I ride to work as much as possible. Today was the first day this week i was able to due to the weather......Supposed to be fantastic here in Jersey for the next week though!

[Barbarian]

I *always* ride to work. Riding is cheaper than buying a second car, and faster than the metro (which is what I use when there's snow on the ground).

Originally Posted by inspiron

(can't ride to work when I need to wear a suit and tie).

I suit up at work pretty often -- Dress pants and jacket get rolled up and placed in the tailbag, along with my shoes and my lunch.

Never fold your office clothes -- they'll just look bad. Take 'em off the hanger and roll the pants starting at the hem. For a jacket, fold it along the middle of the back, fold the arms in about mid-bicep, then roll loosely from the bottom to the neck.

[CruisingRam]

I ride to work even in the winter- in Alaska. Can't get more dangerous commut then that!

[SoCalCruisin]

There really are a lot of dangers on my commute too. Take today for example. The four miles on Seal Beach Boulevard was a little crowded I guess because it's Saturday. Then I have about 8 miles of Pacific Coast Highway (aka as PCH and Hwy 1) to deal with.

Today it became a little crowded going through Sunset Beach. I managed to get to the front of the lines at a couple red lights tho. Then traffic just about stopped and was crawling. After about 3 miles of slowly splitting lanes, I found the culprit to be the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach was closed due to the lot being full.

I was able to open up for about another 3 miles before I had to slow for the beach crowds in Huntington Beach (aka Surf City USA). It was real tough going there as the "scenery" made it extremely difficult to keep the eyes on the road. You see there's this thing called the US Surf Open going on in HB right now, and it tends to draw a lot of beautiful women wearing very little to the beach.

Did I mention the weather? Clear sunny skies and about 80 along the beaches.

Yes, this commuting stuff is tough.

(I couldn't have asked for a better post to follow!)

[Blade]

Originally Posted by SoCalCruisin

I didn't think much of it since I ride to work almost every day throughout the year anyhow. However, I do think it is a good idea to encourage more bikers to use them more often. As time goes on and more experience is gained, there will be more bikes on the road. I think that can only help in the long run as it can only help enforce greater awareness.

The "ride to work" stuff for a day has been around for years by the way. I personally think it is one great way of getting more motorcycles on the road, and even more importantly, better awareness of motorcycles.

But then again, I'm sure most members of this forum have much more experience and motorcycle knowledge than those folks at the AMA.

+1000 not to mention that I am saving more than $200.00 a month on my gas bill.

[CruisingRam]

I save alot on my fuel bill in the winter by commuting by motorcycle or bicycle- but my gear bill goes up a bit.

I also have stock in the desposable toe and hand warming bags. Even heated boots aren't quite enough sometimes- the pinky toes and fingers get cold at -20f or lower

[SoCalCruisin]

That's some dedicated riding CruisingRam. I have done cold weather riding years ago in Michigan, but it was usually getting caught in it, not commuting or every day riding. That's some impressive stuff.

[CruisingRam]

I have a custom motorcycle shop, I call it marketing LOL

I put some pics of last years riding here in the winter, showed the studs on my buddies KLR and what not- looks like I am going Cagiva Elefant if all goes well soon though!