Is it smart to wanna ride only in the left lane on multi-lane roads and highways?

[FL Vulcan Rider]

May I ask, why would anyone want to ride in the right hand lane on a multi-lane road?

In my opinion, this is EXTREMELY dangerous. I don't know where everyone else is from, but in Florida, we have like the 3rd larger population state in the US with tons of crazy traffic and old people.

If you are in the right hand lane:

1. The biggest change to clip a car trying to peek out into the road.
2. Have a bigger chance to get hit by a car that didn't look.
3. People are pulling out all the time onto the roads.
4. In addition people are always stopping abruptly to turn into a business or restaurant.
5. On freeways, the off and on ramps are there and are dangerous to be around even in a car.

I always try to be in the left lane on every road because:

1. There is a divided median on most roads protecting you.
2. Cars in the very right lane may chang to the middle lane because of a car stopping to turn.
3. There is no one pulling out from a business.

[Vulcanrider86]

I agree I have ridden in FL and it is nutz I found it to be most comfy in the left lane. I live in chicago and I awlays ride in the left lane also

[Z-In-Jax]

I found that down in the Miami area on I95 it's best to NOT be on I95 in the Miami area... Right lane, left lane, middle lane it just doesn't matter... they are all out to kill you...!!!

[jbsmd]

Most riders around here ride the left lane, then the right, then middle, then right, then left....they're all over the friggin road.

[azwiley1]

Fl. see my reply to you in the other thread for my reasons, however, in that thread unlike here, we were specifically talking about when it is raining.

Though I understand your points and the safety concerns, I find it slightly ammusing that I would be questioned about my comment, when most states laws tell you to stay in the right lane unless passing, or other very similar verbage.

[Druid]

Try the M1 or M25 in the UK in the rush hour. The only thing to do is get away from the crowd and get yourself some space.



Remember this lot are doing 70mph like this.

[NCDave]

Are you talking specifically about city streets? If so, I generally try to stay in the middle lane so that I can find escapes in either direction. I hate to be blocked in on either side.

If you are talking about freeways, then I have to jump in with both feet here, because it's a pet peeve of mine when people drive along in the passing lanes instead of staying to the right. When I was taught to drive, the left lane was for PASSING, and was taught to always move back over to the right afterward!

[rosslato]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Are you talking specifically about city streets? If so, I generally try to stay in the middle lane so that I can find escapes in either direction. I hate to be blocked in on either side.

If you are talking about freeways, then I have to jump in with both feet here, because it's a pet peeve of mine when people drive along in the passing lanes instead of staying to the right. When I was taught to drive, the left lane was for PASSING, and was taught to always move back over to the right afterward!

rite on! i do move over to the left lane when i see vehicles coming down the on ramp.

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by NCDave

Are you talking specifically about city streets? If so, I generally try to stay in the middle lane so that I can find escapes in either direction. I hate to be blocked in on either side.

If you are talking about freeways, then I have to jump in with both feet here, because it's a pet peeve of mine when people drive along in the passing lanes instead of staying to the right. When I was taught to drive, the left lane was for PASSING, and was taught to always move back over to the right afterward!

Well, yeah for city streets.

On the highway, I always stay on the right because there are no people coming in from little streets, only on ramps and off ramps.

On ramps and off ramps, I go to the left like ur supposed to do and then go right back into the right.

But for city streets, I think it's wise to get away from the right lane do to crazy people that dont look before they pull out onto the road.

[Vulcanrider86]

Originally Posted by Z-In-Jax

I found that down in the Miami area on I95 it's best to NOT be on I95 in the Miami area... Right lane, left lane, middle lane it just doesn't matter... they are all out to kill you...!!!

i second that i spend alot of time in FL and i95 is terrible its a death zone LOL

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Druid

Try the M1 or M25 in the UK in the rush hour. The only thing to do is get away from the crowd and get yourself some space.



Remember this lot are doing 70mph like this.

Multiply that by 3 and you have I95. LoL I-95 has like 10 lanes on each side.

[flanman]

I tend to drive in the left lane on surface streets. However, when nearing a busy intersection I will ofter get into the right lane to give left hand turners from the other side a better chance of seeing me.

[TRun10]

+1 for the FL Rider.

[Box]

You should be riding in the place that gives you, the most visibility, the most options to be seen, the most escape routes, the best chance of avoiding any sort of incident and also were you are in control of the space around you.
The left lane can be as dangerous as the right.
I think an even better question would be, what part of the lane should I ride in and when?

[cmptrmn.1]

Yes and no to your question. If you feel safer in the left lane, by all means, do that. I tend to use all three depending on traffic and if there is a shoulder. Whichever one gives me the best chance of avoiding trouble at the time is the one I'm in. Just remember, if there is a wall to either side of you, you have NO chance for escape in that direction.

[Cousin Muley]

Originally Posted by Box

You should be riding in the place that gives you, the most visibility, the most options to be seen, the most escape routes, the best chance of avoiding any sort of incident and also were you are in control of the space around you.
The left lane can be as dangerous as the right.
I think an even better question would be, what part of the lane should I ride in and when?

Yeah, this is to broad a question to be able to give a definate answer. Lane position depends on the situation at the time and is always changing. I have a 4 lane road i ride home on and there's places where you have a median and spots that dont, side roads coming in, grass or open fields to the right lane. I would say that i try to stay in my pocket of comfort. I'm not an overly aggressive driver but i will when needed to get out of a pack and around here and on that specific stretch of hwy cagers are notorious for doin that

[RichLockyer]

On a multilane (3+ in my direction) highway I'll stay in the #2 lane... next one to the right of the left lane.
On a 2-lane highway, I'll grab the left lane, BUT I keep an eye on my mirrors (as always) and move to the right if someone is coming up behind me.

I avoid the right lane at all costs unless there is a need to go slower than the flow of traffic (such as a 900 getting hot in the desert). The right lane is particularly dangerous for groups.

[Pokey]

Originally Posted by Druid

Try the M1 or M25 in the UK in the rush hour. The only thing to do is get away from the crowd and get yourself some space.



Remember this lot are doing 70mph like this.

GEEZ...and they're all going the wrong way!!!!!!!!!!

[barry5k]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

On a multilane (3+ in my direction) highway I'll stay in the #2 lane... next one to the right of the left lane.
On a 2-lane highway, I'll grab the left lane, BUT I keep an eye on my mirrors (as always) and move to the right if someone is coming up behind me.

I avoid the right lane at all costs unless there is a need to go slower than the flow of traffic (such as a 900 getting hot in the desert). The right lane is particularly dangerous for groups.

Even thought the fast, or number one, lane seems the safest and you only have the lane on your right to worry about, there is ALWAYS someone flying down the left lane going way faster than I care to. The no. 2 lane works for me, occasionally jumping into the no. 1 lane!

[Box Call]

Originally Posted by Box

You should be riding in the place that gives you, the most visibility, the most options to be seen, the most escape routes, the best chance of avoiding any sort of incident and also were you are in control of the space around you.
The left lane can be as dangerous as the right.
I think an even better question would be, what part of the lane should I ride in and when?

Got to agree with being where you get the best visibility for you to see and to place yourself as visible to each potential danger. Search, evaluate, execute....SEE. That stuff was beat into me at MSF school and I still use it on every ride.