Makes sense. Also, I would think that traffic on the off ramp would be going faster than the traffic on the on ramp.




BD

I'm working on my 3rd million miles of driving. Yea the entrance ramp is a good bet if you can get it.

Breakdown are just that and they happen sometimes suddenly.

Here's a few.

Have a safety vest always handy and put it out as soon as you stop. On the bike or wear it. Even if it's just a second, your most likely to be hit just after you stop And while slowing to a stop, so watch the mirror.

get more of your bike visible. Don't stop with your bike at 12 O'clock to the passers by, Get a 2 O'Clock profile, show the shiny pipes and the tail light and reflectors and point the bike towards the ditch so if anyone does hit it, it goes there and not into other traffic.

If you feel a break down coming on, find the end of a guardrail and tuck behind it, Or the far side of a bridge support or even another vehicle. Anything that will shield you in case someone runs off the road towards you and something that will warn you to look out but preferably something that won't come at you. A guard rail is safer choice than behind a broke down car, but behind the car is safer than out there by yourself. Look for the best deflector and tuck behind it where you can do your work.

If your in a group and you see someone going over into a breakdown lane, STOP, Profile your bike at 2 O'Clock, get off and start to motion for drivers to move over to further lane or in the case of a two lane road slow down, Use your safety vest or a polishing rag for increased visibility. Keep an eye on the group and when they all saddle up and move, saddle up quick and enter back onto the roadway with them.

When you stop in a emergency, remember you can get a new bike, but your bike can't get a new you.

And please, the number one all time Dumb Azz move I see is riders who stop under a bridge during rain and park their bikes in that small 7 or 8 foot maybe even less area between the right travel lane and the cement wall under the bridge, then, they sit on the wall and have a cig or whatever, in no possition to get up and move quickly. I know it's tempting, but your already wet and so is your bike, so Park your bike far side of the bridge behind the cement wall and you stay on the far side of the wall well away from traffic too.

Every situation is different, the best thing to do is keep your bike in shape as not to break down but when it does, choose the safest way to stop given the resources and surroundings on hand, Stopping on the LIE is considerably different that the middle of I 35 100 miles North of Dallas.

In any case, those are two ton missiles running past you just feet away, or at least you hope they are feet away.

I have to say .............I'm guilty. Today in HTFD CT this T-storm came out of no where. It was friggin Pooooouring. I stoped under the first overpass I came up on. 5 lanes of traffic 91 N bound. I didn't care. I pulled of as far as I could. Hopped the Concrete barrier and waited 45min for the torrential downpour to let up. What can you do? Sometimes you don't have choice.

First time I got caught in a downpour in a long time w/ no rain gear

Your friend who does it regularly is not thinking it out completely. Think of it this way; What do you do when YOU see a bike pulled off to the side? YOU pull over too to see if he needs help... now there are two of you, or more, on the side of the road? NOT SAFE!

He might have gotten away with it for some time now, but it's an awful accident waiting to happen!

If you do it to get out of the rain, remember to get WAY over! People coming through from the hi-way can't see so good because they have the rain on their windshields and wipers on (too many people have lousy wipers)

DON'T DO IT!!
My best buddy 20 years ago did that with a group of riders. He got smacked by a guy in another group coming to stop by them. Guy was on an HD with a sidecar. Nearly killed my buddy and he has not ridden since. My freind was on the run on a bike provided by Suzuki as he was reporting for a magazine! Not a rookie by an means. I recommend going up and over and sit on the side of the on-ramp.

Have a happy and safe fourth. I rode for 4 hours yesterday all over the wine country in Napa and Sonoma. shirtsleeve riding..