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 Post subject: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 2:55 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 3:52 pm
Posts: 29
Location: North east, Yarm
Anyone who has driven or rented a car abroad will know that little butterfly feeling they get as they get given the keys to there hire car or disembark the ferry in a country that drives on the wrong side of the road. For me, my butterflys were such that it accumulated into driving the wrong way down a one way system on the wrong side of the road the moment i pulled out of Bucharest airport hertz rental car park..... Luckily to no unfortunate outcome.

since my first pant wetting expereince i have amounted 25000+ miles of right side driving from portugal to albania all relatively problem free with the aid of my trusty windscreen sticker reminding me how to tackle a backwards round-about!

My question is this, as a motorcyclist with 0 experience of right hand side riding(riden in thailand on the left) how do you go about reminding yourself that you need to be on the right side of the road? are there any handy hints and tips to this?

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Riding since 2002, Fully licensed since 2009. Current bike 2002 XR650R


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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 5:51 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:03 pm
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Location: East Sussex
I used to remove the rh mirror or fold in to start with.

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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:36 pm 
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125cc
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:08 am
Posts: 211
Location: Herts
I make a white Tipex mark on the twist grip housing. Then when I have that sudden situation when I'm confronted with someone coming towards me on "my side of the road" I can glance down and see immediately which one of us is in the wrong.

The worst situation normally occurs a few days into the holiday sometimes after a fuel stop or especially common after pulling into a layby on the other side of the road to take a photo.

I sometimes cycle on the Continent and getting it wrong on two wheels can be very painful.

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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:42 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:53 pm
Posts: 90
As soon as you hit a 38 ton artic head on you remember!!


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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:54 pm 
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650 cc Monster
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Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2012 2:22 pm
Posts: 2439
Location: Romiley
Greetings,

If you've seen me ride it does n't matter, the other road users run for cover anyway :lol:

I know somebody who put a cheap Casio digital watch onto the right hand side of their handlebars, told him the time and which side of the road he should have been on :idea:

I have a Casio digital watch on my trail bike handlebars, but that is only there to tell me which way up the bike should be :roll:

TTFN

Hugh.

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Please note that I am not a National TRF Officer, any views expressed are my own and may not be in accordance with any official policy.


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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 8:36 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 3:52 pm
Posts: 29
Location: North east, Yarm
all good suggestions... big marker pen arrow on the mirror? must be hard as you are just in the centre of the lane, in the car I just remember to be nearest the curb (in a right hand drive car).

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Riding since 2002, Fully licensed since 2009. Current bike 2002 XR650R


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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 2016 11:12 pm 
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80 cc

Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:17 pm
Posts: 68
Adjust your right hand mirror so you can't see behind without moving your head. It will remind you to look in the left mirror every time.

Rich P


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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:46 pm 
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300 cc
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Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:39 pm
Posts: 574
Location: Herts / Beds / Bucks
I have a handy sticker on my road book holder to remind me, although it wasn't much help on this occasion.....


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http://www.nomadracing.co.uk No Byways were harmed in the making of this blog!

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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 12:57 pm 
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650 cc Monster
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Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:34 am
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Location: East Sussex
I suspect we've all done it at some point, usually at the beginning of the second day but you only do it once!!!
Personally, I've never bothered although it's some years since I've ridden abroad but driven many many times, both in my own and rental cars.
It's just something you get used to.

It's roundabouts and left turns across traffic that do your head in and require the most concentration.

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 Post subject: Re: The RIGHT side of the road
PostPosted: Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:28 pm 
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300 cc
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Posts: 570
If its day light then often the other road users will remind you what side of the road your on. however late at night when no ones about beware after refuelling. Twice I have fueled the van at night pulled out of the garage and trundled happily along on the wrong side of the road. being in a RHD van all seemed normal, ( I was towing a 4 wheel race trailer with probably a 7 figure car in it, on both occasions.) all of a sudden I'm staring at headlights cursing the plonker whos blinding me only then for the penny to drop that I'm on the wrong side of the road and heading straight for the oncoming car.!!


back to bikes I try this subtle reminder


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