For some reason, when people get caught in traffic, when cars are packed tightly together, people forget that they are driving. The low speeds means that they can pull out the cell phones, send some text messages, eat a sandwich, put on makeup, or any of the other things that keep our minds from the road.
When you are riding in heavy traffic, your biggest danger is the people around you. You need to be alert and conscience of your surroundings. Here are a few tips on riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic.
Don’t trust the blinker
The world is full of bad drivers, and they all tend to gather in the same place during rush hour. A left turn signal doesn’t mean that the car ahead of you is going to turn left. It’s possible that that blinker has been blinking for the past mile. You need to watch the heads of the drivers in front of you. Most drivers will indicate which way they are moving with a quick look over the shoulder.
Trust your mirrors
Make sure that your mirrors are adjusted to give you the best view of what’s behind you. 
Remember though, that motorcycles have, well people have, blind spots too. You aren’t going to be able to see everything that is behind you through your mirrors. If you are going to change lanes, make sure that you give a quick glance over your shoulder to make sure that no one is coming up beside you.
Be cautious of on-ramps and off-ramps
It’s probably happened to you. You notice that you are about to miss your exit and you veer off to the right, cutting across a lane of traffic, narrowly missing those yellow water barrels, and off you go down the off-ramp. It’s a dangerous move that injures and kills people every year. When you are riding a motorcycle, try not to get in the way of a driver and the off-ramp. The same goes for on-ramps. The few seconds that it takes for a car to merge into traffic are often the most hectic. They should be looking, but don’t count on them to see you.
Be Visible
If you have reflective clothing, wear it. Many bikers have reflective strips on their luggage, their jackets, and their bikes. Some even run lighting around their chrome. Whatever you want to do, just make sure that you are seen. If your riding in the daytime, its ok to put your hi-beams on. Don’t burn the retinas of the guy in front of you when your sitting still in traffic, but make sure that he knows that you are there.
Be Defensive
When you are surrounded by cars, you need to make sure that you are ready to brake. Keep your fingers on the front brake, and your foot ready to stomp down on the rear. If anyone cuts in front of you, you need to be ready to stop. If you do have to put on the brakes quickly, you need to be aware of what is coming up behind you. Keep your head about you and be ready to pull back the throttle to skirt yourself off to the side.
Keep Your Hand on the Throttle
It’s important to be ready to break, but you also have to be ready to move. Keep your bike in a low gear so if needed, you can launch forward and out of harms way. One of the advantages of being on a bike is that you have a lot of maneuverability. Staying alert and nimble can get you out of a sticky situation.
Have Escape Routes
When you are riding in heavy traffic, you should line up behind one of the tail lights of the car in front of you. Staying out of the center will make it an easy move for you if the car in front of you has to stop suddenly.
Keep Scanning
Your environment is going to constantly change when you are in traffic. You’ll be moving up, back, into different lanes, and the cars around you are going to change. Sometimes you’ll be surrounded by good drivers, sometimes you won’t be. You have to always be aware of your situation.
If the traffic is ever too much for you, remember, there is always a road less traveled that you can take.
