Operating Without a Ride Plan
The Ride Plan is the most important concept in this entire program. It is the primary form of defence that will maintain a buffer between the motorcyclist and danger. A Ride Plan is where you are vs where you are going. Impromptu modification of this “Point A to Point B” plan is the best way to manage risk on a motorcycle. Proper execution of a Ride Plan turns hazard analysis into risk management . When a threat is encountered, the motorcyclist will be travelling towards the hazard in most cases. By changing certain aspects about the motorcycle operation the rider is able to decrease or nullify the amount of risk that they will be exposed to. A simple example would be if a rider suddenly notices that their current direction of travel is aimed right at a big pothole, they can adjust their Ride Plan in order to go around the pothole, left or right. Initially the pothole poses a risk to the motorcycle’s stability, but with the modified Ride Plan around the pothole, the risk has been eliminated entirely. At first glance, Ride Plans may seem like a simple concept, however, there is much more here than what meets the eye. Between point A and point B, a Ride Plan also considers, pavement characteristics, lane position, variables in the surroundings, operational strategies, Line of Sight, other motorists, psychological mindsets, escape plans, and all of the associated hazards with riding. The Ride Plan will constantly fluctuate as it is fed hazard information from the environment. In this way, the motorcyclist is able to employ a large toolkit of risk management strategies spontaneously to fit the demands of the current situation. In addition, the Ride Plan allows the rider to take back power lost to vulnerability.
Being Vulnerable Isn’t All Bad
The Ride Plan also highlights the greatest strength you have as a motorcyclist. Being light and exposed to the surroundings, riders are in constant danger. However, this is a double-edged sword. Our greatest weakness brings forth our most powerful strength. Being light and exposed makes us vulnerable, but also small and agile. The motorcyclist can fit nearly anywhere in traffic. The small size of our machines gives us a plethora of options on the roadway that can be exploited to our advantage. Our light machines have extremely high Evasive Potential giving us the ability to change speed and direction quickly. Motorcyclists will always be small fish swimming in a big pond, but when you’re a small fish in a big pond, you have a lot of room to work with. Lots of room, lots of options. Roadways and traffic systems are designed for typical passenger vehicles, and also larger transport/industrial trucks. In many cases, a motorcycle’s presence barely registers on the roadway compared to surrounding traffic. When the rider starts considering the implications of their size vs their manoeuvrability in a system designed for vehicles many times larger, possibilities open up at every corner. When used properly, the Ride Plan is a highly adaptive risk management tool that will proactively maintain healthy buffers from danger, and leave as many options as possible for emergency situations. Ride Plans will be discussed throughout the entirety of Moto Instincts. Consistently overcoming hazards demands excellent foresight and calculated approach. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
