I'm Riding Again

[Brillot2000]

I have calculated (well actually my GPS has calculated) over tens of thousands of kilometres that my average touring speed, including food/fuel/rest stops is 75-80 KPH (46-50 MPH).

Our maximum freeway speed here is 110 KPH (68 MPH) and it is tightly enforced.
Macka

It must take forever to get anywhere at those speeds.

The people on the streets in the Los Angeles areas drive faster than that when traffic is moving.

When the freeways are moving, the minimum speed you have to go is 75-80 MPH (120-128 KPH) not to get ran over. There are still people passing you when your traveling at those speeds.

 

[karl]

North America is a big place. Bit smaller than OZ with 90% more population. Diverse is I believe what they call it.

 

[Phil Tarman]

Back in '93, I rode into Canada for the first time. I was on my Concours between Waterton Lakes NP and Pincher Creek and there was no traffic. I was riding the 100kph speed limit and wondering if people really observed that limit all the time and if the Mounties really enforced it. I was on a long straight when I noticed a headlight behind me. Hardly any time later I was passed by an FJR. He was doing about 130kph (80mph). I tucked in behind him and pulled alongside when we got to Pincher Creek. I asked him what speeds you could get away with in Canada and he said that the RCMP rarely stopped you for speeds under 110kph, but often did if you were over that. He said, "They'll always stop you if you're doing 130. My trouble is that this thing won't do anything under 140 for very long!" And off he went at about 135. I let him go. Later in the week,, I was east of Prince George on the Yellowhead Highway and, again, there was no traffic. I finally was doing about 130 when I topped a hill and there was a Mounty (or is it "Mountie?") coming right at me. I had time to think, "Oh, 'shucks!'" before he flipped on his flashing lights, shook his finger at me and kept on going east. I slowed down to 110 and breathed a sigh of relief.

I have to speed up in Denver to keep from getting run over, but mostly have started driving/riding at the speed limit these days. Of course, if I hadn't ridden the speed limit three years ago on my way to Tombstone, I wouldn't have been in Nathrop, CO, at noon just in time to hit the deer that fractured my hand and did $2800 of damage to my NT!

 

[Macka]

It must take forever to get anywhere at those speeds.

The people on the streets in the Los Angeles areas drive faster than that when traffic is moving.

When the freeways are moving, the minimum speed you have to go is 75-80 MPH (120-128 KPH) not to get ran over. There are still people passing you when your traveling at those speeds.

Unfortunately, it does take a long time to get anywhere over here. You just have to relax and smell the roses as you go past.
It is quite strange as you can be out on the interstate freeway, miles from the nearest town and everyone will be sitting on almost exactly 110 kph in convoy.
In Japan, where I have driven/ridden many times, the freeway limits are 80kph but almost everyone, including me, sits on 115-120kph (up to 40 over the limit) and the police will not even look at you as you overtake them. The police car will be traveling at about 90kph in the left lane (drive on the left in Japan) with
the lights flashing and the traffic overtakes them at about 100kph and then speeds up again when they are a spec in the rear view mirror. Car crashes are not common in Japan and it is very rare to see a vehicle with any body damage. Also common is to be overtaken, when cruising at 120kph by someone doing 150-160kph. Japanese drivers are so courteous and considerate that they forgive others errors immediately. They keep to the left unless overtaking and almost always use their indicators. I have never heard of road-rage over there but I guess that it must happen sometimes. I am happier driving over there than I am here as many Aussie drivers are aggressive and just plain ignorant. They will cut you off and then flip the bird just to rub it in.