‘I really love to ride my motorcycle. When I want to just get away and be by myself and clear my head, that’s what I do.’
– Kyle Chandler, American actor.
“I’m going for a ride,” I excitedly told my wife one night in early November. It had been a tough week at work, and I was longing for some throttle therapy. As I prepared to leave, she lovingly handed me a scarf, gloves, and a skullcap to wear under my helmet – her way of saying “Stay safe”.
Her concern for my well-being never fades, especially when she keeps reminding me about the dangers of lane splitting in traffic. I’m no expert – far from it – but my confidence in manoeuvring between cars has grown from nearly terrifying myself to a point where I feel more comfortable handling my bike’s torque.
It’s a topic that sparks debates, without a doubt, and from my own experiences, it seems to generate a fair amount of animosity from other drivers.
I believe much of this hostility stems from the fact that cars in traffic naturally move slowly or not at all, while riders – thanks to our machines – can continue on our journey with little disruption, bypassing the increasing frustration felt by those stuck in traffic.
However, it works both ways. Some riders intentionally display aggression, lack consideration, behave dangerously, or remain oblivious to anyone else on the road, which understandably attracts this kind of ‘hate’ from fellow road users. I must admit, the hate is somewhat justified.
Undeniably, motorcycles are much faster compared to most cars. That means we can reach higher speeds and arrive in your rearview mirror much quicker, easily sliding into gaps and overtaking swiftly.
What became immediately clear, especially for a new rider like me, is just how aggressively even the slightest actions from car drivers are perceived. A slight wobble of their steering wheel or a small swerve in my direction feels magnified when you’re on a bike. Trust me, when you’re on a bike, you feel incredibly vulnerable. You’re essentially exposed!
Another aspect I’ve noticed is the level of assertiveness required on the road to maintain your presence and sanity while riding.
The most dangerous moments for me on my bike are when I’m alongside another car. Naturally, I want to complete this manoeuvre as quickly as possible to return to a safer part of the road. Why is it dangerous? Well, I would estimate that about 50 per cent of drivers fail to check their blind spots. And because motorcycles have a smaller road footprint, we practically live in your blind spot.
It’s our choice to split lanes, and therefore it’s our responsibility to remain visible and not recklessly speed through traffic at twice the average speed. Doing that is just foolish, and riders who engage in such behaviour invite not only middle fingers but also animosity from fellow road users.
A rider who respectfully navigates through traffic, swiftly when necessary, and goes relatively unnoticed shouldn’t be seen as intentionally provoking other drivers.
Another misconception I’ve noticed from some drivers who have never ridden a motorcycle is that riders are intentionally rude because they never express gratitude for a given gap or when allowing others to overtake. However, I can assure you that in certain situations, it’s simply not possible to say thank you.
As far as I know, the universal ‘thank you’ sign on the road is a simple lift of an open hand. A quick flash of your high beams or hazard lights is also acceptable. But waving a hand is universally understood, yet in many instances on a bike, it’s just not feasible.
Consider this for a moment: on a bike, my left hand could be preparing to clutch in traffic, my left foot is poised to change gears, my right hand is lightly gripping the throttle, and my right foot is ready to engage the rear brake. How can I say thank you? I can’t.
Instead, I often dip my helmet or nod exaggeratedly toward the car that has made room or allowed me to pass, but if you’re not a rider, this gesture will likely go unnoticed. Tilting the helmet or extending a leg out is a universal greeting among riders, but as I mentioned, if you’re unaware of this, it will easily be overlooked. Well, now you know!
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
