Modern Vespa

If I feel at all unseen, I wave my hands and/or swerve and/or flash my high beems.
I have no issue with other motorists and don't see cars, etc. as the enemy as I also drive. Everyone makes errors

It's probably similar in most countries (outside Italy and Greece). Here in the UK 3.5% of vehicles are motorbikes - I thought it was much higher.. I guess cars are bigger in the states so bikes are relatively smaller which doesn't help. Also distances travelled tend to be longer in the states so folk probably just sit in their lanes and probably don't need to pay much attention until they get hungry. I'll quickly point out that Greece went bankrupt and over 50% of the young are unemployed (compared to 13% in the UK and 10% in the US). Mostly because no-one pays their taxes. I know I sound like a boring old fart but it's a crappy way to run a country.

350 Euro fine, reduced to 175 if paid in 7 days. And, people are indeed being fined.

Me me me me

I have headlight modulators on all my bikes. The only time someone pulled out in front of me was when I was on my bike that didn't have a headlight modulator. I am a believer.

I was riding down the road today. I came to an intersection where a car was ready to turn left in front of me. They waited for me to pass before they turned.

I was running my low beam with no modulator. This has happened every time for the past 125,000 miles of riding.

I am a believer.

People usually see me. So far I have had no issues.

Silver helmet, hi-viz mesh and cooler weather jackets. I've also used the helmet halo reflective strip. My old LX150 had the headlight modulator -- don't know if it worked, but no one turned left in front of me -- but I also drive defensively, just no point in being "right" but in the hospital or worse.

I have a brake light modulator still to be installed. I think that might have some value as is "movement" and the rear brake lights on Vespas are not the brightest or largest. I also have a Vespa top case and in the two "tailights" on the case, I've placed reflective tape underneath which is useful at night because you now have two reflective dots at driver eye level which should help make you visible to following cars.

However, as some have said, the best advice for visibility is assume you are invisible and drive accordingly. Also, have fun and don't obsess about it, you could get hit by a bus while standing on a street corner -- stuff happens.

Personally I consider trying to make myself visible is a pointless pursuit.

I would add:
Own your lane and position. Do not ride timid.
I am not in favor of riding with high beams on, though I will flash them briefly at an oncoming car if they look like they don't see me. It's rare.
Always signal your intentions.
Do not depend on others signaling their intentions. Turn signals are a threat, not a promise. There may be a better word than "threat" here.

Personally I'm not in favor of modulated or blinky head or tail lights.
I also dis-like noisy exhaust. Loud horns I'm all in favor of, like flashing a high beam, as long as you don't use it to say "HI".

"Own your lane and position. Do not ride timid."
This is the perfect short-version of what I was thinking in my more long-winded post.
Better word than "threat": Turn signals are "thinking about it", not a promise. The "fun" (define fun, Wash.) part is figuring out if they're thinking about it now, just finished thinking about it, or thought about it 5 miles ago and forgot to turn off the "thinking about it" indicator.

I wear highly colored riding apparel with reflective surfaces, have some reflective tape on my scooter, and use movement in my lane in an attempt to make myself as visible as possible for my fellow moterists. A loud horn could be useful but I have found that whether I am in my car or on my scooter and I am encountering an interesting situation, my first inclination is to get myself to a safe place - the horn is an after thought to register my annoyance with the other person's inattentive or poor driving.

Not sure if it's any help around here. The M.O. of a turner here is:
1. Slow down
2. Begin the turn
3. Signal at mid-turn... though this step is optional.

I enjoy watching these vid ideas scooter west produces.

Many of the comments here have me back sliding whether or not to get back on two wheels.

My big number one:

I try to ride where people expect to see something...Where they expect a car might be.

What I means is, even though my PTW can squeeze or maneuver into places where a car can't or shouldn't go, I tend to place myself where I would be if I were in my car.

People don't seem to see PTW's as well as cars, true, but let's be real...inattentive and distracted drivers are hitting other cars, trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and even trains all the time f'r gosh sakes.

I don't know what you can do about these types. Still... for everyone else,

Yes, I wear a red jacket with reflective piping, I often lightly tap my brakes several times as I'm coming to to a stop, I ride with my high beams on in the daytime...easy enough and it don't cost nuttin'...but dressing loud isn't going to help if you're not where they're looking.

So, no lane splitting for me either...especially around here where it's very uncommon.

Most of the suggestions above are great.

But the cheapest and most effective way to attract attention (from both oncoming and following motorists) is to swerve around in the lane.

Nothing grabs the eye like movement. We PTSers tend to pick a line a stick with it, which makes us static against whatever background cagers view us in.

Even a small swerve will make others aware of your presence on the road.

Most of us are talking about worst case scenarios, weird (or typical) near-misses, best practices, etc. If you want to convince yourself to ride, you can do that with stories of fun, friendship, freedom, etc.

If you want to convince yourself NOT to ride, you can do that with stories of near-misses, crashes, stupidity, injuries, etc.

It's really up to you and your level of risk and comfort with riding to decide whether or not to get (back) on two wheels. Whether or not you have previous experience (I didn't read back far enough, nor do I remember), if you've never taken the basic rider's course, please do. You'll get a weekend's worth of theory and practice, and if you don't feel comfortable taking it to the next level, then that's ok. It's a fun and informative experience, even if you've ridden before. And if you drop the bike/scooter, it's no big deal because it's not yours anyway!

not sure if it got mentioned already but here is what I do


approaching junctions with a vehicle in I tend to do a smidsy wobble

just a slight movement in my late to make the light move a bit (always have headlights on)

its just enough to grab the drivers attention and make them think

Five pavement too many off-pavement to recall as my brains in fading mode.

I miss the awesome relaxation, the total brain drain riding at a relaxed pace on a country road. Twisty roads leading to small mom and pa cafes and such. A comfy seat a must.

I admit to eroding phyisical dexterity condition as arthritis continues to worsen. My wife seriously is against my returning to two wheels. My county for some odd reason authorities will not reveal suffered 27 bicycle and engine driven two wheelers accidents in just one month. I have my own opinion why? So what?

I would enjoy going to MC school. It would be fun I think

I bet the cagers would notice this scooter, especially at night. -but it might require an auxiliary power source.

Great comments.... I added the running lights front and rear, added reflective tape black on black, and assume I am not seen, and Lane split at stop lights to minimize exposure... Been riding for 55 years..

I'm dressed like this, you can't miss me.

It has been my experience that drivers seem to notice when you flip them off. If you don't think they see you, give that a try... Very loud aftermarket exhausts also get their attention.

Loud Shirts Save Lives!

Only after you have passed them..

It's yellow.

So that's what happened to my camper. Went for some extra duct tape and when I got back it was gone.

You can tell it's mine by all the duct tape.

Claude if that's you in the disguise on the scoot, give it back!

Seriously, headlamp/brake light modulators and high viz vest.
They have worked well for me.

Like some others, I wear a safety vest over my jacket, it's bright orange.

My only worry is that some drivers aren't even looking up, they're looking down and texting or some other distraction.
I feel as though I'd be seen if the driver is looking through their windshield.

I need the trailer to store my balloons. I tie balloon animals at intersections. "Ta-daaa, a giraffe!"

I dislike buying new high viz gear as choices are then limited(or must buy new stuff) plus it gets grungy and dulls anyway, unlike a safety vest that's cheap to own. I use a safety vest over all jackets and a white helmet.
One thing to spend time on is getting the best safety vest as some are crappy and not as bright as others in other cases. Mine has a zip which comes undone in the wing so a safety pins required but otherwise a cheap, effective solution. On my MC I have LED's that flash with brake application. Scoot I have none as yet but have the 3M safety tape to brighten up my luggage carrier at rear on 300GT.
Good luck on expecting cell phone idiots to know what you've done to be seen!



Honestly, it seems to worsen each year.

Bright pink Crocs and my Ruby helmet help.