Be Seen on your Motorcycle
A common piece of motorcycling wisdom is to "ride like everyone else is out to kill you". It often feels that way! Motorcyclists face far greater risks in a collision, and yet motorists often overlook us.
After two years of riding, here are some tricks I've learned to help motorists see me.
Wear Hi-vis
Wearing hi-vis helps catch motorists' attention, especially in low visibility conditions like night, rain, and fog.
I wear a hi-vis vest at all times. Don't be concerned about how it makes you look—you can't see yourself while you're riding, and you'll soon forget you're wearing it.
Wear an Attention-Grabbing Helmet
Bright helmets and colourful designs are better at catching attention than dull ones.
If you really want attention but hi-vis isn't your style, there are also novelty helmet covers. These colourful covers come in all kinds of designs and really make you stand out on the road. I don't wear one myself, but seeing them in the wild always brings a smile to my face.
Pulse your Brake Lights
When stopped at an intersection with a flat surface, pulse your rear brake on and off when motorists approach from behind. This flashes the brake light to help get their attention.
Always leave yourself an escape route when stopping at intersections, and be prepared to use it. If you feel like an approaching motorist is going to collide with you, move!
Use your Headlight
On most motorcycles today, the headlight is permanently turned on to increase your visibility. If your headlight doesn't turn on automatically, do it manually. In some jurisdictions, it's even legal to ride with your high beams on during the day.
Slalom
Be wary of motorists waiting to pull out into your lane ahead of you—they may not see you due to the looming and motion camouflage effects! These effects can make it difficult for motorists to spot motorcyclists moving in a straight line, or accurately judge their speed.
One way to get their attention is to slalom by gently swerving side-to-side within your lane. This helps fight the effects of looming and motion camouflage, gets you out of blind spots like the A pillars, and draws attention because it looks unusual.
Be mindful not to swerve too aggressively, or over loose/slippery surfaces. You need to stay in control so that you can safely stop if motorists pull out into your lane anyway.
Stand on the Pegs
If you can't slalom, an alternative is to stand on your foot pegs. This probably doesn't help with looming and motion camouflage, but it does raise your height and make it easier to be seen over other vehicles and obstructions. It's also a great way to improve your vision.
This is easier on some bikes than others. Dual-sport and adventure bikes are designed for standing on pegs.
As always, be prepared to safely stop if you have to!
Slow Down
Barrelling through a corner or intersection at the full speed limit can be fun, but motorists may not expect it, and may not get enough time to see you. Approach corners and intersections at a slower speed to give motorists plenty of time to see you before deciding to pull out into your lane.
If all else Fails
No matter what, ride to the prevailing conditions and be prepared to stop or evade if you need to avoid a bad situation.
Hope that helps!
Thanks to Large Format, Daniel, and Izzy for additional tips and feedback I've incorporated into this guide.