Staying Visible

HERE'S a question: as a PTW rider, how do you fancy becoming an LBFTSY or an SMDSY?

Don't fancy either? Don't blame you: both acronyms mean, in a roundabout way, that you've probably taken a nasty tumble from your moped or scooter.

LBFTSY - Looked But Failed To Spot You - or it's chum, SMDSY - Sorry Mate, Didn't See You - are the biggest single reasons behind PTW crashes.

Car and van drivers sometimes have a blind spot over PTWs; we slip into the roof pillars of their cars, or are masked by street furniture or other vehicles. We're hard to spot - and it might get harder.

At the moment PTWs use Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), which make them more visible to other road users. But that advantage will be lost in 2011 when all new cars will be fitted with DRLs, too.

Now PTW lights will just melt into those around them - indeed, some experts believe a PTW with a car or van close behind them using DRLs may become even less visible in daylight than if no-one was running lights.

So how best to make sure you are seen? A report in 2004 into motorcycle crash statistics  found that riders wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of motorcycle-crash-related injury, compared with other riders. It's better if the colours are in a single block rather than patterns.

Keep vigilant: allow yourself a lot of time and space on the roads to manoeuvre should another road user fail to spot you.

And never gamble, particularly at junctions or roundabouts. Never assume another road user has seen you: if you are in any doubt, wait. Better to be pipped by an impatient car behind than hit by an LBFTSY or an SMDSY!

Roads and Tyres

GET A GRIP on your riding - and you'll be making sure you come home safely.
It's never been more important to make sure your tyres are in good nick than when the weather starts to turn cold, wet and windy.

It's a scary fact but a moped's tyres have only the area of the sole of a shoe in touch with the road at any one time, so it's a no-brainer to keep them in top condition.
Check them thoroughly every week to make sure there are no bulges or cuts, and keep an eye on the tread. You need at least 2mm of tread - but even at that level, tyres riding through 2mm of water will produce little more stopping friction than a bald tyre, so replace them if the tread looks like its wearing down.

Assuming your tyres are good to go, what should you watch out for on the roads? It's autumn, so steer clear of fallen leaves. They can be slippery when wet, will lose you traction and can be as bad as riding over sheet ice.

Heavy rain is a menace, too: if the rain is so hard it leaves water flowing freely on the road aquaplaning becomes a real possibility and it's been a cause of many a PTWs slide and crash.

And if it gets windy, watch out for solid debris which might have been blown into your path. Tree branches and roof tiles can easily end up in the road when it is blowing a gale, and though they may not cause cars and vans any problems to a moped they're a real obstacle that can leave the most experienced rider struggling to avoid safely.

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Bus Lane Safety

IN a bid to make the best use of the capital's road space, powered two wheelers have been able to use many of London's bus lanes as part of an extended 18-month trial since June 2010.
 
So far, the bus lane trial is proving successful - but while using them is quick and convenient, PTW riders have to remember that safety always has to come first.
 
The problem comes when car and lorry drivers simply don't think to look for a PTW in a bus lane. Dr Graham Hole, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Sussex said: "Research shows that drivers are less likely to notice vehicles in positions where they don't expect to see them. Motorcycles in bus lanes will be a prime candidate for this problem."
 
In short, a PTW in a bus lane can become invisible to a car driver just because he doesn't expect to see you there.
 
So what can the PTW rider do? The advice is, if riding in a bus lane, don't just look ahead. Check out what all cars are doing as they overtake you: watch for cars slowing down, check out who is indicating. It makes sense, as you approach any left-hand junction, to take extra care and make sure no car is going to cut across the front of you to make their turn without having seen you.

One last thing: check out the road signs before you enter the bus lane. PTWs can use most of them around the capital – but not all (for example in Lambeth where bus lanes are closed to riders as they are not convinced this improves their safety). Make sure you’re okay to use the bus lane before you enter; the clear roadside signs will guide you.

Lambeth Council is offering a free BikeSafe rider skills day to any rider who lives, works or studies in Lambeth.  Please contact roadsafety@lambeth.gov.uk for more details.

Bike Maintenance

A little preventative maintenance work on your scooter and moped will go a long way to making sure you don't have major problems in the future.

Try following these simple maintenance tips; they are easy to follow, affordable and will keep your PTW reliable and safe for years!

Perhaps the most important item of mechanical maintenance is to regularly check the oil level, and change the oil at frequent intervals. Changing the oil at least every 1,000 miles is a good idea. The oil capacity on most PTWs is under a litre and so an oil change costs about £3 and takes about five minutes. It's cheap insurance to keep your engine running for as long as possible. It is also recommended to change the transmission oil every 2,000 miles or six months. 

Check all joints, hinges and quick releases to ensure the scooter is properly assembled. Stop using the product immediately if any joint, hinge, or quick release becomes loose.

Follow  the guide in your owner manual. It will give you a  maintenance schedule in regards to changing filters, spark plugs and other scooter parts.

In winter it's easy for your PTW to become caked in fallen leaves and mud from the road. Check no debris is interfering with the brakes, and that your headlights and indicators are not coated in dirt which may obscure them.

Finally, perhaps the easiest item of scooter maintenance – and in many ways the most important – is to check tyre pressure regularly. While you're doing it look for wear in the tyres, particularly cracks or splits.

A little maintenance will go a long way in avoiding repair expenses and keep you enjoying the ride for many years to come!