Riding on the other side of the road

[Ridercam]

Left verse right riding...I have a fantasy to ride in Australia and other non right riding countries. How to I begin to prepare or practice riding so I won't have a head on when I have a lapse into nearly 30 years of muscle memory.

I recently looked into flying into to Sydney and making a run on a rented bike to Captain Flats for a pint and bull session. It is 1500 right now to purchase a plane ticket... though it might be lower later next year. I was thinking a weekend rental of a scoot that would run me about 250 would be a very interesting vacation. it is part of a greater bucket list but one can dream... I have too often considered sending an airhead to OZ and then selling her off as "parts" to my new friends but a rental makes more sense and less cents.

Thoughts on such subjects?

[Garnet]

I've driven in Engalnd a few times and also had an afternoon on a bike over there. After you've been there for a few days, and ridden around in some vehicles for a bit, it is quite natuarl. The hardest and most dangerous part is pulling onto a street. It 's ingrained in us to look left, but the traffic is comeing from the right. The same goes for crossing the street by foot.

[Sibbo]

Ted , you may be able to do it but I wouldn't be game to ride in the US, I'd catch a bus. I've been riding 46 years and I have habits ! That said the other major dander of riding here is that if shit happens you pull to the right, we pull to the left. The result is a headon. All too common around here with US tourists .

[Major Softie]

I found that the hardest part was making right turns into things like parking lot driveways and remembering to head into the left side of the drive.

Two lane roundabouts are fun too, mostly exiting them and ending up on the side you belong...

[Ridercam]

I am notorious for stepping into traffic when in Japan and England. Yikes, a very good point!

[electric_monk]

I would suggest two things that will make it easier

1. Try and stay in a built up area as much as possible in the early stages, following the leader helps with the re-programming needed.
2. Put a large'ish arrow pointing to the left with the words "Keep Left" somewhere in view.

[SteveD]

Maybe your best chance to "keep left" is to vote socialist!

[Duane Ausherman]

Some people report that the transition is easy............... for them. For me it is downright dangerous. I have driven on the "wrong side" a few times and it scares the crap out of me. Even in a lighly traveled place like Monserrat is was dangerous for me......... and Linda.

I won't do it again.

[SteveD]

I haven't ridden on the right side (unless overtaking) but have driven around Europe a couple of times. That wasn't too bad, however, the one time I lost concentration was in Italy, when I joined the traffic turning left into the left lane, when it should've been the right one! The warnings came quick and fast...one from the navigator (the boss), and a few from oncoming traffic! I only did it once, and that was after 2000ks of driving.

[Motu]

Quite a few head ons from tourists in NZ - the rentals have warnings on the dash,and a lot of roads most likely travelled by tourists have arrows in the left lane....'specially at corners or blind rises.