Filtering????

davesvord

Can anyone tell me if filtering on the left is legal and if it is where it is stated? I've looked at the Highway Code and read paras 72 and 163 but it all seems a bit vague. Any info would be appreciated to help me in the office argument (debate??)

BentMikey

As far as I know it's legal on a two wheeler, but you'd usually be safer and better off overtaking the queue rather than undertaking.

fossyant

Overtaking is usually safer, unless you have a wide road....

t4tomo

Legality is irrelevent, not getting squashed by a lorry or bendy bus (livingston you are a twat and you know it) is the key choice to over take


There is a weird swaer filter on this board - I type "tw*t" and it changes it to "fool"

TheFoolio888

I always filter between the two lanes on my commute to work...I get any number of looks from drivers who are P'd off...I know it is much safer to filter this way....but how do I stand legallity-wise?

mrchrispy

i filter on the inside, the middle and the outside.
i go where I feel the safest for any given situation.

Gambatte

t4tomo wrote:

There is a weird swaer filter on this board - I type "tw*t" and it changes it to "fool"

Have you tried:

TW@

??

rgisme

TheFoolio888 wrote:

I always filter between the two lanes on my commute to work...I get any number of looks from drivers who are P'd off...I know it is much safer to filter this way....but how do I stand legallity-wise?

Filtering is not illegal. If an accident happens, however, it could go to the question of negligence - contributory or otherwise. Basically you are using a 'lane' of your own creation that isn't really there and other road users cannot necessarily be expected to know about it. So if something happens you might be partly or even wholey to blame, depending on the circumstances.

dondare

Legal but puts you in the wrong part of the road for safe, fast riding. Filtering close to junctions can get you killed.

prj45

dondare wrote:

Legal but puts you in the wrong part of the road for safe, fast riding. Filtering close to junctions can get you killed.

Always always always be ready for the car nearest the junction to swing left very sharply and quickly when filtering down the left near a junction.

People that do this are frustrated at being stuck in traffic and their first thought seems to be to show their displeasure using brutal acceleration with a turn as hard as they can muster; no indicating, or even mirror checking of course.

I watch their front wheels for a hint of a turn, but even then sometimes the idiots that make this manouvre can move so quickly you have problems avoiding a nice bumpy trip up the inside of their vehicle.

rgisme

dondare wrote:

Legal but puts you in the wrong part of the road for safe, fast riding. Filtering close to junctions can get you killed.

For me, and I think most people, 'filtering' doesn't only mean moving through traffic on the left between a vehicle 'in the lane' and the curb. The term 'filtering' means using any gap where the main part of the lane is already occupied, including up the middle between lanes. on a road with more than one lane in the direction of travel, and on the outside between lanes of traffic moving in opposing directions where the overtake is done between the two outside lanes in each direction in the face of oncoming traffic. It is not the case that overtaking on the outside means not 'filtering'

TheFoolio888

rgisme wrote:

TheFoolio888 wrote:

I always filter between the two lanes on my commute to work...I get any number of looks from drivers who are P'd off...I know it is much safer to filter this way....but how do I stand legallity-wise?

Filtering is not illegal. If an accident happens, however, it could go to the question of negligence - contributory or otherwise. Basically you are using a 'lane' of your own creation that isn't really there and other road users cannot necessarily be expected to know about it. So if something happens you might be partly or even wholey to blame, depending on the circumstances.

Thanks rgisme...

That was my understanding but I wasn't positive. Personally the only time I stick to the gutter is when the traffic is too fast for me to keep up. In slow moving/stationary traffic I ALWAYS filter between the two lanes. Its much safer in my experience...as long as you look out for the idiots who feel the need to lane swap every 10seconds for no apparent reason.

Poor dears....they must think they will get there quicker by constantly moving, even if it only from lane to lane. :P

A - W

The legal side of things really doesn't matter as much as your safety. Do whatever is the safest.

secretsam

Be aware of car blindspots - in all seriousness, a bike can easily 'disappear'

And FFS, NEVER go up the inside of a bus/lorry/van

And be careful going outside a taxi, nearly had some tw$t kill me the other week when he decided to hop out in a queue at some lights, only the cabbie yelling "Watch out!" alerted him to my presence (that and me screeching on brakes and yelling something...unprintable :twisted: )

Teuchter

I've got a lot more experience of filtering on a motorbike than a bicycle though I apply the experience from one to the other. Got a couple of tips to add to all the good stuff that's been said already.

You can often (but not always!) tell if someone is about to switch lanes or turn out of the queue from their position - cars will normally gravitate towards the white line when they're looking to change lane. This is easier to spot from further back (giving you more time to plan) than watching for turning wheels or heads.

Also something to be aware of if you're going between two lanes, cars tend not to change lane if there's another vehicle next to them (nowhere to change lane into) but if there's a car sized gap in one of the lanes, expect a lane change. A good approach if it deosn't look like anyone's positioning to change lanes into the gap is to get into it yourself, puting yourself where the car drivers would expect to see another vehicle. This also gives you more room between a car that may move into the lane while you're there.

As already said, be VERY careful if you must filter near junctions, including side roads where cars could be flashed through a line of traffic directly into your path.

At the end of the day, filtering's great fun and a huge attraction to being on two wheels! It needn't be remotely dangerous if you keep your wits about you.

secretsam

...and keep an eye on wing mirrors, if you can see someon's face in the right hand one, they're about to turn (whether they're signalling or not)

dondare

A - W wrote:

The legal side of things really doesn't matter as much as your safety. Do whatever is the safest.

But best to be safe and legal.

TheFoolio888

Always be VERY careful if you are cycling down a bus lane, and you cross a junction iwhtout lights. Especially if the traffic in the parallel lanes is slow or stationary.

If you have to cross a junction, or pass a left turn, when drivers don't see a bus approaching they assume that the lane is clear and shoot across (especially if someone flashes them). I have seen 10-12 collisions (no bikes thank god) that have happened on such a junction in the last 12 months.