Well it had to happen eventually!

cee

I had a bit of a close encounter with a van this morning on my way in to the office!

Going down the North Bridge in Edinburgh, I come up to the line of stationary traffic and move to the outside to filter through...

Suddenly, A dude in a van (one of them small Astra vans) just pulls a U-turn while I am already alongside him, so I crash into his front wing and land in a pile in front of his van.

I stood up and saw him mouth "Are you OK", before I shout that he is an a**ehole and move me and steed off the road to assess the damage.

Anyway this dude then continues his U-turn and disappears up the road!

So, after straightening the bars/seat etc and having a quick check for damage, I decide to roll the rest of the way down to work.

My company director insisted I go off to the docs to get checked out (liability insurance or something!) and file a police report.

So....taxi to hospital. No serious damage to me, *just* bruised ribs and some muscle damage (probably the doctor said!), minor scrapes etc to arms and legs and a big egg on my elbow. Still got to check to the bike properly!

Back to town....and into the local police station.....they took the details, but as I didn't get a registration or anything they think it unlikely that anything will come of it..

They did say they would get any cctv checked etc and get back to me though (woohoo!)

At least it wasn't raining

AidanR

Sorry to hear that! At least you're (probably) OK...

A similar thing (but not as bad) happened to me a while back - I made a point of doing personal and bike damage assessment standing in front of the (in this case) car so they couldn't do a runner. In my case there was no bike damage so I didn't pursue anything.

ChrisLS

...what amazes me, in both the above incidents the drivers didn't get out to check if you guys were okay...

cee

Yes....maybe I should have gotten his details, but my first priority was getting off a 4 lane (One car and one bus lane on each side) road!

Maybe my name calling was a little aggresive so thats why he didn't get out, but he actually commited quite a serious offence by not stopping!

Also I have just re-read my first post.......sorry about the long windedness!

AidanR

Yeah, there's no doubt he should have stopped - I hope they can track him on the CCTV.

On the wanting to get off the road, I can completely understand that, but surely he was blocking oncoming traffic anyway?

BentMikey

Unlucky mate, I'm really glad you're OK though! Have a hot cuppa, I'm just making one.

From a defensive riding point of view, I'm really careful when filtering, just because of incidents like this. At least you were on the outside already!

dirk_van_gently

Well the driver of the van has committed a serious offence (apart from knocking you off the bike that is) he left the scene of an accident,

Hope you nail him.

Good filtering tip: watch the wheels, not the vehicles, the wheels will move first. And stay as wide a possible, gives a better view and more room for manuever

tardington

Ouch!

What time did it happen at? I was going past in other direction at just before 8... its a bugger of a junction if it's the one at the east end of Princes Street - a good few CCTV cameras though!

Anonymous

Isn't that a 'Hit-and-Run' on his part? I'd say so. Serious offense.
I hope you are OK.

MB Robster

I saw the same thing on Embankment but with a scooter and a Ford Ka. By the time he hit her he'd managed to slow down and sound his horn so it didn't look too bad. However, about 6 bikers stoped around the car to check he was ok, so there was no chance of her leaving the scene.

The funniest bit was when she tried to open the door to see if he was OK and proceeded to open it into his leg, crushing it against the scooter, not once but twice!

marmitecp

This is why you should always filter on the right like cyclecraft says innit? Oh hang on.....

Glad you're reasonably OK mate. Wait a few days to properly assess any muscle damage though especially if you twisted any limbs on the way down. My shoulder movement is still limited from going over a bonnet 6 months ago. It felt OK at the time though.

BentMikey

marmitecp wrote:

This is why you should always filter on the right like cyclecraft says innit? Oh hang on.....

LOL! Filtering is just that little bit more risky than normal riding anyway, but filtering on the right is generally less risky than filtering on the left. On the left you have the additional problem of passengers wanting to get out, which happens much less than on the right.

bossman13

BentMikey wrote:

marmitecp wrote:

This is why you should always filter on the right like cyclecraft says innit? Oh hang on.....

LOL! Filtering is just that little bit more risky than normal riding anyway, but filtering on the right is generally less risky than filtering on the left. On the left you have the additional problem of passengers wanting to get out, which happens much less than on the right.

what about when you are filtering on a dual carriageway of traffic? left right or middle?

i go middle currently but always worry about opportunistic lane-changers crushing me when they see a gap (but dont see me!)

BentMikey

I quite often filter on the right in that situation, but don't usually encounter any lane changers because I rarely filter past moving traffic.

bossman13

BentMikey wrote:

I quite often filter on the right in that situation, but don't usually encounter any lane changers because I rarely filter past moving traffic.

not even crawling traffic at 5 mph'ish?

do you mean right hand side of the far right lane?

BentMikey

I might filter through traffic below 5mph, but that sets off danger signals for me. Even stopped traffic requires plenty of caution.

Yes, the right of the right lane on a dual carriageway. Bear in mind this involves mostly London and suburban conditions, though traffic at some of the places I do this can move fairly quickly. It's easy to get back to secondary in the left lane once traffic starts to move again.

DavidTQ

I have to say that although care is required I filter down the outside of slow moving traffic regularly, as long as im going a good 5mph faster than the rest of the traffic I consider the outside a option even in steady moving conditions if its a good long flat and im up to 30mph I will happily overtake vehicles doing 20-25 as long as I can see whats happeneing a good way ahead. Especially HGV's coaches.

The only time I will ever use the inside to undertake HGVs and coaches is if theres a cycle lane and no junctions and they are at a complete stop and likely to be for my entire manouvre, even then I consider it dicey at best. Scariest place I can think of to be on a bike is between a hgv and the curb when the HGV doesnt know you're there, paint on the road wont save you...

I wait till im 100% sure about any passing manouvres, safety first speed second. The outside is generally both safer and faster. I was intimidated about using the outside to pass to begin with in case traffic sped up and I ended up stranded etc, but once I started trying it I realise there was far more space normally on the outside than in the cycle lane

I dont see why Im in any more danger than a motorcycle filtering down the outside in busy traffic even if it is moving. Its also a nice feeling passing the cars on the outside you feel far more in control and confident.

cee

tardie wrote:

Ouch!

What time did it happen at? I was going past in other direction at just before 8... its a bugger of a junction if it's the one at the east end of Princes Street - a good few CCTV cameras though!

tardie...it was about 8.50 heading towards that junction at the Balmoral from Newington road right in the middle of the bridge!

actually, that was the reason i was anxious to get off the road so quick... as i say, there are four lanes between the two sides and there are a couple of traffic islands on the steep bridge, so any traffic coming the other way would be accelerating away from princes street (lets face it the quicker you get away from that nightmare in a car the better!), and their view would be obstructed by the bollards.,,,yikes

Anyway, finished work at about 6pm and had to get the bus home :evil: (bikes locked in the office). Ill pick the bike up in the car tomorrow night.

Cheers everone!

Gambatte

bossman13 wrote:

what about when you are filtering on a dual carriageway of traffic? left right or middle?

i go middle currently but always worry about opportunistic lane-changers crushing me when they see a gap (but dont see me!)

My commutes dark both directions. I've got the 'Smart' twin headlights. I'll filter up the middle, but put the 10W main beam on along with the less powerful one (its aimed slightly left, so it wouldn't dazzle oncoming traffic, but they'd notice it)

Works great, traffic parts like the red sea 'cos they haven't got a clue whats moving up behind them

Anonymous

Clue this yank....Filter=???

Gambatte

bikers46 wrote:

Clue this yank....Filter=???

e.g 2 lanes going in same direction, traffic stood. Cyclist creates 3rd lane - filtering

Anonymous

Like riding up the middle of the two? That does NOT sound safe.
I was riding an old Schwinn Continnental about 20 years ago when a woman on my right, who was and had been for a while parked, opened her door on me. It sliced my second knuckle on my right index finger between the bones in the joint.
I wasn't 'filtering,' but it sounds like the same situation in application.
I didn't see her from behind, as she didn't see me, because she was leaned over to the right (passenger side this side of the pond) and raised up and opened the door in one move. I had no warning at all.
I guess if they are used to bikes being there, it must be OK.

misterben

bikers46 wrote:

Like riding up the middle of the two? That does NOT sound safe.
I was riding an old Schwinn Continnental about 20 years ago when a woman on my right, who was and had been for a while parked, opened her door on me. It sliced my second knuckle on my right index finger between the bones in the joint.
I wasn't 'filtering,' but it sounds like the same situation in application.
I didn't see her from behind, as she didn't see me, because she was leaned over to the right (passenger side this side of the pond) and raised up and opened the door in one move. I had no warning at all.
I guess if they are used to bikes being there, it must be OK.

I think he's talking about 2 lanes of traffic, rather than 1 of traffic and 1 of parked cars.

Gambatte

Yep, talking about 2 lanes of traffic that would normally be travelling in the same direction, but are currently stood or slow moving

Anonymous

I understood exactly.
In the case of 'standing' traffic, they would be effectively parked.
I suppose I was stating that 'filtering' would seem to me to be very dangerous. I don't think I would ever be brave enough. Doors opening would freak me out, or, rather, the possibility of doors opening.

BentMikey

It's still possible to get doored. Passengers often get out in a queue, and it's one to be careful of.

Bikers46, you have to remember this is the UK, where most roads are incredibly cramped and narrow. Filtering (lane splitting) is a cultural norm and is quite legal. The woman who opened the door on you would be liable here, and I imagine it's just the same in the US. Of course it's still better to avoid that sort of thing through defensive riding, which is why many cyclists on here advise overtaking on the outside, rather than undertaking.

cee

BentMikey wrote:

It's still possible to get doored. Passengers often get out in a queue, and it's one to be careful of.

Bikers46, you have to remember this is the UK, where most roads are incredibly cramped and narrow. Filtering (lane splitting) is a cultural norm and is quite legal. The woman who opened the door on you would be liable here, and I imagine it's just the same in the US. Of course it's still better to avoid that sort of thing through defensive riding, which is why many cyclists on here advise overtaking on the outside, rather than undertaking.

although as i learned the yesterday, that can also end in a bump!

DavidTQ

cee wrote:

BentMikey wrote:

It's still possible to get doored. Passengers often get out in a queue, and it's one to be careful of.

Bikers46, you have to remember this is the UK, where most roads are incredibly cramped and narrow. Filtering (lane splitting) is a cultural norm and is quite legal. The woman who opened the door on you would be liable here, and I imagine it's just the same in the US. Of course it's still better to avoid that sort of thing through defensive riding, which is why many cyclists on here advise overtaking on the outside, rather than undertaking.

although as i learned the yesterday, that can also end in a bump!

Nothing can ever rule out something going wrong, but we just have to take as many least risk options as possible. Its about reducing risk, nothing we ever do will make us invulnerable

Anonymous

Mikey, I totally understand. Legality isn't the issue here for me. I really don't know what the laws about it here in Georgia are. I can say, if it is illegal, I won't be doing it.
I have an inate awareness of all the bicycling laws on the books. I always have. One can ask for and recieve maps in Seattle that illustrate all of the marked bike lanes in the city and most of the borroughs. The maps have details of inset maps on the back, as well as listed laws governing 'bikes and mortorists operating on streets with bikes' as it is stated in the law books.
They are explicit about 'operating with bikes.' Biking is a recognized and respected form of transportation in Seattle and nearly all of Washington state. Motorists face very strong punitive consequences for injuring bicyclists out there. Not so here in Georgia.
For myself, I think I would have a phobia related to filtering. As I said, it would freak me out. But being that it is common practice where you guys are, there would be more caution on the part of the motorist. They would, I am sure, more often look for you than to just act without caution.
But then, they probably would here as well.
Again, I do very little street riding. If it doesn't have mud on it, I'm not interested.
I did spend 20 years on the roads in Seattle before I took to the trails however. I loved it.
I rode a TREK 760 as well as the Continental. The Schwinn was as heavy as a truck.

Anonymous

Nothing can ever rule out something going wrong, but we just have to take as many least risk options as possible. Its about reducing risk, nothing we ever do will make us invulnerable

That's where I am. I am sure I thought of filtering at times, but I don't think I could get into it.

BentMikey

Here in London, the traffic can be so slow and gridlocked, that you might well be faster walking sometimes. There'd be very little point in riding a bike if you didn't filter.