Great info for great riding

Taking the long way is often the best way to stay safe and sane

I'll explain…

I live in the New York metropolitan area where traffic is often heavy and always unpredictable.

When I head out for a day of riding, I must deal with at least 50 miles of big, busy roads and potentially dangerous traffic merges to get away from the city. And when I return, I face the same 50 nuisance miles in the other direction.

Major accidents, minor fender benders or excessive volume can bring traffic to a standstill at any time, day or night -- especially on the perpetually congested Cross Bronx Expressway.

Coming and going, drivers' tempers are short when they're jockeying to get onto various parkways, highways and routes across the Long Island Sound, East River and Hudson River.

On at least two occasions, drivers forced me off the road when they barged into lines of merging traffic.

And the possibility of stop-and-go traffic always threatens to overheat my motorcycle's air-cooled engine.

Just about anything can cause a traffic problem…

I've been stuck in traffic jams due to parades, ethnic holidays and post-game caravans.

Detours and other traffic diversions caused by bicycle- and foot-races are not uncommon.

And the police often close roads when the president or some other VIP's motorcade is on the move.

Sometime I'll take a chance on lane splitting…

Whenever possible I take advantage of my motorcycle's size and maneuverability to work my way through slow-moving traffic and around tie-ups.

But because unmarked police cars are virtually everywhere and lane splitting is illegal in New York -- even though many motorcycle riders do it -- I'm not very aggressive when it comes to riding in the break-down lane or between lines of cars.

My best defense…

My best defense when facing routine and extreme traffic problems is to take the long way around.

Over time and after experimenting with many alternate routes, I've learned where and when to anticipate recurring traffic problems and how to avoid them.

And -- without the aid of a GPS -- I've gotten reasonably adept at jumping onto side roads to wend my way through neighborhoods to get around accidents.

Whatever the circumstances, I find it much more appealing to keep moving than to sit in traffic or take my chances with frustrated drivers cutting in front of me and each other.

By staying on the move -- even if I take a very indirect route -- I can remain calm and focused on the road and my surroundings.

Heavy traffic is not everyone's problem…

I realize many motorcycle riders don't face heavy metro-area traffic and the related dangers that I do. Chances are, when you decide to go for a ride on nice open roads, you can get out of town fast.

But I'm sure you must deal with certain nuisance roads or intersections you'd rather avoid.

So come up with an easy detour or an entirely different route that enables you to avoid the problem.

By taking the long way, you can save your sanity, stay safe and enjoy your ride.

They're compact, easy to use and work great in emergencies. And what flat tire isn't an emergency?

They're all made in the USA.

Click here to learn more…

Please join me on my trips to popular destinations and rides down roads less traveled...

I recently launched a three-book series containing motorcycle travel and adventure stories and observations drawn from my jaunts throughout the United States and Canada.

Click here for a complete description of these books along with the road tales they contain...

Or click on any of the following book covers to go directly to them at Amazon…

I've taken all the information in my website describing riding techniques for dangerous situations and added to it in the book "High Risk Motorcycle Riding."

Here's information you can put to good use to ride smart and well prepared when you're on the road and the going gets tough.

Click here for a complete description of this book along with the high risk riding tips it contains for riding at night, in the rain, in cold weather and across long distances...and more...

Or click on the following book cover to go directly to the book at Amazon…

For a wealth of information to help you…

• Ride more safely and comfortably…

• Select gear that best suits you, your motorcycle and riding style…

• Get the most enjoyment every time you ride…

Or if you'd like a free subscription to Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine…

Visit my website at...

www.Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com

You can syndicate and/or republish any of this and other issues of the Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine for free.

All you have to do is include author attribution (byline/name of author) and the following statement...

"This information appears courtesy of Brian R. Salisbury's Savvy Motorcyclist E-zine."

with a backlink to...

www.Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com

Copyright 2015 and Ever After

Motorcycle-Gear-and-Riding-Info.com