Riding strategies
Passive riding adapts to traffic; defensive riding preserves room to maneuver; assertive riding more often chooses when to close and pass other vehicles.
Three approaches
Passive riding mainly means adapting to the flow of traffic. Defensive riding preserves following distance and clear space around the motorcycle in advance. Assertive riding means more often choosing when to close on and pass other vehicles yourself. Speed alone does not define the approach.
Passive riding
You travel with the traffic and rarely change position in advance. Other drivers' actions usually prompt you to brake or shift position.
Defensive riding
You preserve space around the motorcycle: choose your lane position, avoid lingering in blind spots, keep a following distance, watch the car behind, and maintain an escape route.
Assertive riding
You ride moderately faster than surrounding traffic, so you more often choose when to close on cars and when to pass them. Change lanes smoothly and only when you have a clear view of the road ahead.
Change your approach with the conditions
If space around you shrinks or your view becomes restricted, first increase your following distance and find a less crowded position. When you can see well ahead again, you can return to an assertive approach.
Why it looks calm
You ride at roughly the same speed as traffic, rarely pass, and make no abrupt movements. Yet the cars around you can gradually leave you without a comfortable following distance or room to maneuver.
Signs of passive riding
- staying beside the same car for a long time
- remaining in a blind spot
- hugging the edge of your lane and leaving yourself less maneuvering room
- the car behind is closing in when you already have little space ahead
Reacting only after someone else acts
A car has already begun changing lanes, moving toward you, or braking before you start to react. A few seconds earlier, you could have reduced speed or changed position smoothly.
When to change position
If space becomes tight, cars draw level with you, or someone starts following too closely, change your position: increase your following distance, pass the group, or let it move ahead.
Leave room to brake and move away
Defensive riding does not require you to be faster than traffic all the time. Keep enough space around the motorcycle to brake or change position smoothly, and maintain a good view.
What to keep track of
- the gap ahead
- cars beside you and the lane changes they might make
- the car behind
- a clear direction to move into
Do not linger alongside
If a car draws level with you or you enter its blind spot, change your position. Let it move a little ahead, pass it if there is enough clear space beside and ahead of it, or adjust your position within your own lane.
When someone follows too closely
Increase the gap ahead so you can slow earlier and more smoothly if necessary. Let the impatient driver pass when you can.
Moderately faster than traffic
Assertive riding means you more often catch up with cars and choose when to pass them. It is not a series of abrupt maneuvers. Change lanes smoothly, without sudden sideways movements.
The speed difference
A speed difference of 20 km/h closes the gap by about 5.6 meters per second; 40 km/h closes it by 11.1 meters per second. With a car 20 meters ahead and both speeds unchanged, you would reach it in about 3.6 or 1.8 seconds respectively.
What this approach offers
- less time beside the same car
- an easier way to leave a dense group behind
- more choice over when to close on other vehicles
- unpredictable drivers end up behind you sooner
When to reduce the speed difference
Reduce the difference in speed in advance of a narrowing road, intersection, roadside entrance with a restricted view, or an area with frequent lane changes. Leave yourself time to slow down or give up the pass.