Triumphrat

pjamesb80 · 07-21-2008

I'm in my Dodge Dakota the other day and suddenly I find myself on the low end of uneven pavement (new asphalt on the adjacent lane and original pavement on my lane). No problem for the truck but what if I were forced to change lanes on the Scrambler. Speed limit was 55 mph and the difference in pavement heights appeared to be about 3-4 inches.
Does anyone know the correct method for changing lanes under this scenario?

bovefrankj · 07-22-2008

Sounds downright dangerous to me. I trust work was still in progress and both lanes would be levelled up eventually?

Silverado57 · 07-22-2008

Potentially very dangerous.
Usually when road work is ongoing around here they'll post signs like "MOTORCYCLES STAY IN LANE" to avoid the uneven blacktop.
Best to wait until you're through the construction zone before making a lane change.
Generally, it's easier to go from high to low. Low to high, not so much.
Ride safe.

ljnichols · 07-22-2008

I would try to avoid it but if you have to do it, slow down and approach the edge at no less than a 45 degree angle.

bobmig · 07-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljnichols

I would try to avoid it but if you have to do it, slow down and approach the edge at no less than a 45 degree angle.

Yes... the conventional wisdom when dealing with railroad tracks (not totally dissimilar) is that you should cross them at as close to a 90 deg angle as you can. Mind you with only one lane to manoeuver in this situation that would be difficult. Better to ride it out till past the new paving.
Bob

NorthernThrux · 07-22-2008

Have to do this often in summer (aka road repair season) here. Just go at it with the largest angle you can, that is from the far edge of one lane aim for the opposite edge of the other. You won't get a 45 or 90 degree angle of course, but you should be able to get your front tire to bite the edge with its thread and not the sidewall. Of course the angle you get drops with speed, so it helps if these are city streets and not freeways.

Road Warrior · 07-22-2008

I've run up those and haven't had anything scary happen. I guess it depends how tall the lane differential is. ...and how smooth the transition is. ....and how much loose pavement there is.

I'd think if it looks dangerous it probably is.

I do remember as a small kid on my petal bike rolling up curbs at angles less aggressive than 45 and finding out what happens when the wheels don't follow the body.

pjamesb80 · 07-22-2008

Quote:

Sounds downright dangerous to me. I trust work was still in progress and both lanes would be levelled up eventually?

I've only seen this during construction (repaving). Once the first lane is completed they then start on the next lane.

I think that if I ever encounter this dilemma I will definitely stay in the lane I'm in unless the construction forces me to change lanes. If forced to, then I will slow to about 35 mph before attempting to climb into the next lane. I'll probably enrage the car behind me but they'll get over it eventually.

Thanks for the feedback

Road Warrior · 07-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjamesb80

If forced to, then I will slow to about 35 mph before attempting to climb into the next lane.

Also, I've noticed that the new pavement always begins in the left lane, then center, and lastly right lane. This way when you move to the right (as to exit the highway) you'll only be going down and never "required" to climb up. This may not be the case everywhere.

oldretrorider · 07-23-2008

3-4 inches is a really big difference for a road repavement. Normally, they only add an inch or so. If I saw an edge trap that big, I would treat it like I was going over a curb -- that is, F the guys behind me, I would slow enough to come at it close to a 90 degree angle.