Riding in Traffic and Lane Positioning
Where to put the bike in the lane
Think of a lane as three tracks: left, center, right. The left track keeps you visible in mirrors and gives the widest view around trucks. The center track collects the oil drips that fall from cars, so avoid it when stopped or when it is raining. The right track is useful for setting up a right turn or ducking away from an oncoming left-turner.
Following distance and being seen
Use a two-second minimum gap, counted as the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object. Add a second for rain, a second for dark, a second for a tailgater behind you - at 60 mph, two seconds is already about 176 feet. Maine requires the headlight on whenever a motorcycle is operated, so use it plus bright gear, stay out of blind spots, and never linger beside a car's rear quarter panel.
Maine lane rules
There is no lane splitting or filtering. Two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane, but they may not pass a car inside that lane, and single file is safer in curves and at night. Ride as far right as practicable except when passing, setting up a left turn, avoiding a hazard, or when the lane is too narrow to share safely.
Worked example
You approach an intersection and see a car in the oncoming lane with its left blinker on, waiting to cross your path. The best answer: ease off the throttle, move to the right track, cover both brakes, and be ready to stop. You have created space and time instead of trusting the driver to see you.
Traps that cost marks
Hugging the right edge past driveways where cars nose out; stopping in the oil-soaked center at a red light; treating the two-second gap as a target rather than a minimum; assuming a driver who made eye contact will actually yield.