How to Ride Your Motorcycle Safely in the City

Motorcycles are great for city riding because they’re fast and compact, so you can easily complete errands or tackle your morning commute. However, cities tend to be crowded and busy, with many obstacles to watch for. Not only are you at risk from the vehicles around you, but you’ll also need to be mindful of pedestrians, public transportation, bicyclists, and anything else that might end up on a busy one-way street. Here are our tips to improve the safety of your city rides.

Stay Visible

One of the most important things you can do as a city motorcycle rider is ensure that you are very clearly visible in all weather conditions. Wearing black gear while riding on a cloudy day over gray asphalt means that you’re practically invisible to the drivers around you. So, invest in reflective gear or apply reflective tape to your bike and helmet, and use your lights. A bright-orange safety vest can be tossed over your standard jacket for more visibility.

Remain in the Open

If you find yourself in a traffic jam, it’s important to not crowd amongst other drivers or bikes. Try to give yourself as much space as possible so that everyone can see you. This makes it less likely that someone will run into you.

Watch the Road Ahead

Finally, keep your eye on the road ahead and be prepared to react to things like construction, congestion, or stalled vehicles. If you can seek out some escape routes to your left or right, you can also avoid skidding out if you have to get out of the way of a swerving vehicle.

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