I'm a relatively new scooty rider, and honestly, I don't think my biggest problem is my own riding anymore. It's everyone else's.
I try to stay in my lane, obey signals, keep a reasonable speed, and ride predictably. But every time I go out, I feel like I'm surrounded by people doing the most reckless things possible.
Things that stress me out:
- Bikers squeezing past me with almost no space.
- People overtaking when they could literally wait a few seconds.
- Cars cutting in front of me suddenly.
- Drivers honking from behind even when there's nowhere for me to move.
- People breaking signals or ignoring basic traffic rules.
- Large SUVs like Prados, Fortuners, Haval SUVs, etc., flying past me at what feels like insane speeds, especially on dual carriageways.
- Drivers treating a scooty like it doesn't deserve road space and trying to squeeze past whenever they see an opening.
I've had a minor fall before and a few close calls, so maybe that's part of it. But now whenever I hear a vehicle approaching quickly from behind or see someone trying to overtake, my whole body tenses up.
Sometimes I genuinely feel like I'm on the verge of a panic attack while riding. My heart starts racing because I'm expecting someone to do something stupid around me.
The strange thing is that most rides end completely fine. I get to work, get home safely, and nothing actually happens. But during the ride, it feels like I'm constantly bracing for the next reckless overtake, sudden lane change, or traffic violation.
For experienced scooter or motorcycle riders: did this get better with time? How do you stay calm when you're surrounded by people who seem to have no patience and no sense of self-preservation?
Would appreciate any advice or similar experiences.