Why do motorcyclists Hug the yellow centerline?
Would it not be better for them to ride on the right by the white line or in the middle of the lane?
Not quite.
Why Bikers Ride Next To The Centerline?
Motorcycles ride close to the centerline to increase their field of vision and make themselves more visible to the roads users around them.
Here are the main points why we bikers hug the centerline.
- It is where there is the least amount of debris or road hazard
- To increase our ability to see further down the road
- Being more easily seen by other road users
But there is more to it than that.
Here are the ten reasons we bikers like to stay on the left in our lane.
1. Visibility From Being Seen By Other Road Users
The number one cause of accidents for motorcycles is a left-hand turn at an intersection.
More specify when a car what to turn left, but a motorcycle is coming down the road in the oncoming lane.
By hugging the centerline, we riders increase our visibility to avoid such a situation.
It is a strong defense riding technique when following another vehicle.
Staying directly behind a car or on its right might hide us from sight.
2. Visibility To See Further
Hugging the centerline allows us bikers to see farther down the road, especially while following cars.
It allows us a sort of ‘’seeing over the shoulder’’ to know in advance what is coming up.
3. Keeping And Escape Option Open
Motorcycles get rear-ended… a lot.
Staying on the edge of the lane gets a rider in a position to get out of dodge quickly if the biker suspects the car behind him won’t stop.
If that happens, a rider would hit the gas, pass the car in front of him and let it take the hit instead.
By staying stopped right in the middle of the lane in front of a car, getting out of the way in time might not be possible.
Sorry not for the car that took the hit, but cars are way more robust at taking hits from a crash than a motorcycle rider.
4. Road and Lane Ownership
By staying on the centerline, a motorcycle discouraged car drivers from making a dangerous passing maneuver.
It is something that happened to me in my riding debut,
I got distracted and ended up riding on the right part of the lane near the white line on a single-lane highway.
The next thing I knew, this crazy car driver saw it as an opportunity to pass me in my own lane with oncoming traffic on the other side.
That mothe$%?& almost ran me off to the side of the road with no shoulder to escape.
I know it happened to other rider friends, so we stay on the centerline to discourage such behavior.
If I am getting passed by a car doing such a risky maneuver, I would rather be on the left and have some control.
5. Don’t Get Surprised By Surging Animals
A deer or other animal won’t cross the road by appearing ‘’out of nowhere’’ as people claim.
It won’t appear randomly from outer space; the critter will either come from the right or left.
By staying close to the centerline, a rider has the best chances to see the animal in time and take evasive maneuvers.
By staying on the right side of the lane, a rider limits his option to swerve out of the way.
Why Don’t Motorcycles Ride In The Middle Of The Lane Instead?
6. Debris And Oil
Motor vehicles such as cars and trucks leak and drop a ton of liquid on the roads.
- Oil
- Coolant
- Gas
The middle of a lane is where all this nasty and slippery stuff congeal.
It is precisely where we motorcycle riders do not want to put our tires.
A loss of traction from riding in the middle is a real possibility.
Add rain to the mix, and this is now almost a guarantee
There is also an increased possibility of debris in the middle that could make us lose control of our bikes.
That is why hugging the centerline is preferable for motorcycles.
7. To Avoid Getting Rear-Ended
As mentioned, we riders have a talent to get rammed in the back.
By staying in the middle, it increases the chances of such an event.
Instead, the preferable option is to strategically position to the sides to get out of the way if need be.
Why Don’t Motorcycles Ride By The White Line On The Right Instead?
8. Lack Of Vision and Visibility
As covered before, riding on the right side of a lane might be a bad idea for visibility reasons.
A motorcycle riding on the right is less noticeable and might be hidden from view by other vehicles, especially at intersections.
Following a car, while staying on the right side also impairs a field of view issue.
It doesn’t allow a rider to see as much up ahead as if he would ride on the left side instead.
9. This Is Where Road Debris Tend To Get Pushed
The right side of the road is where all the gunk, nails, screws, and other random debris get pushed to the side.
No rider wants a puncture in their tires, so it is one of the reasons we tend to stay clear on that area.
10. Poor Road Quality On The Edge
Have you ever noticed that there can be a lot of cracks and dips in the pavement on the edge of the roads?
Another good reason is that this is not our favorite place to put our tires.
Hugging The Middle Yellow Line Isn’t Perfect.
Our best lane positioning is variable and depends on the situation we have to deal with
Always hugging the centerline is not always our best option for our riders.
It simply is that it is the best choice most of the time.
Yet there are drawbacks and one, in particular, is getting more and more frequent these days.
We are in the age of distracted drivers.
I see more and more cars swerving out of their lane only to quickly get back in the middle as nothing happened.
Cmon guys… driving is not a chore; it is a responsibility and a privilege!
Please do not use your phones or other distraction while driving.
I am not looking forward to the day I will be riding, and an oncoming car falls out of its lane straight into a head-on collision with me.
That freak#$% Text could not wait, does it?
There better be motorcycles in heaven.
Cars drivers swerve out more and more.
At first, it pissed me off; now, it frighten me.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, why do motorcyclists like me ride the centerline?
Because it is our best option for visibility and to avoid potential hazards to us.
Sometimes it is the best lane position we can choose, and sometimes it is not.
But most of the time, staying on the left side of our lane near the centerline is our best option.
I hope I answered your question and you found this post interesting.
Take care.
Drive and Ride Safe.
