Two sitting positions on a motorcycle

[Tait-ka]

Hi.

Please see below how the man with a cap sitting with the rider.
1)



Please see below how the woman is sitting with the rider.
2)


How would you describe these two sitting positions?

 

[Piscean]

1. The passenger is riding pillion.
2. The pillion passenger is riding sidesaddle.

 

[jutfrank]

More prosaically: The man is on the back of the bike and the woman is also on the back but with both legs to the side.

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd probably say "The passenger is riding pillion" for both.

Just for info (in case you ever come to the UK and want to ride a motorbike), if those situations were in the UK both passengers in picture 1 would be breaking the law by not wearing a helmet, and the woman in picture 2 would be breaking the law by riding sidesaddle and by not wearing a helmet.

 

[probus]

I agree with @Piscean except that the lady in the second photo is BOTH riding sidesaddle and riding pilion.

 

[Tait-ka]

Dear teachers,

For picture 2, can I also say:

The woman is riding sideways.
Or
The woman is sitting sideways on the motorcycle.

 

[Piscean]

The first is wrong. The second is possible, I suppose, but not as natural as the other suggestions you have received.

 

[SoothingDave]

I have never heard of "pillion." I would just call that riding normal, versus sidesaddle.

 

[emsr2d2]

Interesting. Any other AmE speakers who've never heard of it? From the responses so far, we know that BrE and CanE uses it. For us, any person riding behind the person in control of the bike is the pillion passenger, or just riding pillion. As far as I know, this refers only to motorbikes, not bicycles.

 

[Skrej]

'Pillion' is new to me as well, although according to the dictionary, it's referring to riding behind the driver, not how the legs are swung. She'd be riding pillion regardless of how she sat on the motorcycle. I always just called it riding double, be it horse or cycle.

'Sidesaddle' is common-enough in AmE, although I've never seen it done on anything other than a horse. Looks like a great way to either get clothing caught in the rear wheel and/or burn your calves.

 

[emsr2d2]

'Pillion' is new to me as well, although according to the dictionary, it's referring to riding behind the driver, not how the legs are swung.

Yes, I'd say someone was riding pillion regardless of which way their legs go!

 

[Piscean]

They can go only one way legally in the UK:

Rule85​

You MUST NOT carry more than one pillion passenger who MUST sit astride the machine on a proper seat. They should face forward with both feet on the footrests.

The Highway Code - Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88) - Guidance - GOV.UK

Rules for motorcyclists, including helmets, carrying passengers, daylight riding and riding in the dark.

www.gov.uk