Riding at night is one of the most enjoyable times on your motorcycle. For you, seeing the nightlife in Boulder is relaxing, and you like the buzz of people at bars and local events.
You’re also aware that riding a motorcycle at night is more dangerous than if you were to do so during the day. You don’t want to get hit, so it’s important to follow a few tips. These tips can help you stand out, so you avoid a collision.
1. Wear reflective attire
The first thing to remember is that light can bounce off reflective attire, so it’s perfect for making you stand out at night. On top of that, you can wear bright colors with reflectors, so that you stand out in contrast against the dark night sky or shaded lanes.
2. Turn up the noise
Another thing that you can do is to make your motorcycle louder. While there may be noise ordinances and other regulations in place to consider, you can still have your motorcycle tuned to be louder, so other drivers will hear you coming. Before you start moving after a stop sign or stop light, revving your engine may not be a bad idea. Any noise you make can help you stand out to others.
3. Ride in groups to avoid crashes
Finally, if you can do so, it’s a good idea to ride with a group. There are lots of people who enjoy riding at night, and riding in a group will help you stand out much more. You will need to be cautious about your spacing between other riders, but so long as you ride near to each other, you will still have more lights and noise coming from the group than you’d have alone.
These are three ideas that can help you stay safe when you decide to ride your motorcycle at night. Many people don’t like to ride at night because of the greater risk of being hit by drunk drivers, drowsy drivers or people who can’t see well, but the truth is that you can still have a safe night out so long as you take precautions. Take steps to stand out visually and audibly, and ride with a group. Doing these things help you become more apparent to other drivers, so that they will give you the space and respect that you deserve on the roads.