Basic positioning in traffic question

Kafka\'s Doll

Hello all,

I'm new to commuting via the centre of London (NW to EC) and have a question that I'm aware I really should know the answer to. When traffic slows to a stop, should I pass it on the left by the kerb (where the cycle lane would be if there was one), or on the right near the centre of the road? I see people doing both, but which is safest? So far I've tended to do it on the left, since I'm used to being in a cycle lane, but there is often very little room and I worry about taking someone's wing mirror off.

Thanks.

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

Aha the golden question

If on the left watch out for pedestrians crossing without looking and car doors opening where the passenger has decided to get out early.

If on the right look out for motorcycles from both directions, kamakazi pedestrians and cars doing a u turn.

Really depends on each road and junction.

clanton

As above -I do either depending on what will work best at the time. MOST IMPORTANT is watch for left turning vehicles esp HGV's when "undertaking" - one of the leading cause of cyclist deaths!
I only go "inside" a bus or hgv if I am certain they cannot be about to turn left.

Gussio

ditto re: heading down the inside of buses and HGV. Had my heart in my mouth this morning watching another cyclist perform a suicide mission but just getting away with it. Better to arrive a minute or two late than not to arrive at all.

PS no harm in not filtering if the situation is such that it is risky on both the inside or outside. You might be safer to wait in line with other traffic (e.g. at traffic lights which are about to turn green, with clear road ahead for cars to accelerate).

Bassjunkieuk

I use which ever has the most space! In fact it probably my favourite part of my commute - I see it as a challenge to try find the quickest route through the traffic jam, sometimes I win and sometimes I go into the wrong space and get stuck :-)

I'd recommend if you are changing your position to always do a quick shoulder check to make sure no one is coming up behind you already and be especially careful when coming into the centre of traffic as motorcyclists and scooters love to use that part of the road to!

Asides from that it's just peds and taxi's that are the next worst for moving without looking!

Kafka\'s Doll

So it's just a question of where there's most space?

el_presidente

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

So it's just a question of where there's most space?

In general I think on the outside is preferable as that is where drivers should expect overtaking traffic to be. But as the other posters have said either (or none) can be good.

Over time you will get a feel for what is best in any given situation

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

So it's just a question of where there's most space?

That and where it is safest depending on which direction you have to go after the junction.

I usually overtake a queue of traffic on the right keeping an eye on the phase of the traffic lights so I can filter in 2 or 3 cars from the front once they start moving.

However there are good stretches on my route of well thought out cycle lanes painted on the road which will mean I can often undertake on the left as well.

However I would strongly avoid undertaking hgv's or buses unless you can be absolutely sure they have no opportunity of turning left.

Gussio

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe wrote:

However I would strongly avoid undertaking hgv's or buses unless you can be absolutely sure they have no opportunity of turning left.

Watch out for cars turning left, as well - on Dec 23rd I was left hooked by a guy turning left over a cycle lane without indicating. He was looking for a way out of stationary traffic and never checked his mirrors. Luckily I stayed upright and no damage done (apart from shredded nerves) but it could easily have been a miserable Christmas.

afctumike

Be aware of lorries/vans "bouncing" up the kerb to park or pass a vehicle that is trying to turn right. Just because there isn't a left turn doesn't mean they won't move left.

el_presidente

Also the minicab last night in a one-way st, he was in the right hand lane indicating to move left, I went up the inside (i.e. on the right) whereby he suddenly changed his mine and moved sharply back right, leaving me with nowhere to go, he did have the good grace to look somewhat shocked / apologetic as I hammered on his window and shouted.

Moral of this is nowhere is really safe, keep your wits about you

BentMikey

It's usually better to overtake. I will also undertake, but with extra caution because the risks of something going wrong are mostly a little higher.

Always look ahead and plan ahead. Stuff like approaching side streets and traffic lights allows you to predict what vehicles might do, and lets you plan to avoid all of the possible goings-wrong.

DavidTQ

there can often be very little space on the left on some types of roads, vehicles tend to drift around a bit in the lane you need to be aware of that if theres little room on the left , a few inches movement on the steering wheel of a hgv could wipe out a cyclist. always look for where theres plenty of space for the unexpected even on a dead straight road with no turnings etc, dont assume a vehicle on either side of you will hold its course and position. generally when a vehicle does this youre safer on the right hand side as drivers dont drift towards the lane going the other way so much as they do away from it.

ddraver

if you ever go on the left - only go if you can get out, as in there are nop railings between the road and the pavement so you can just bail out if it all goes horribly wrong

otherwise i go wherever there is space, filtering up through traffic with out dabbing (trials term for putting a foot down) is what i miss most about London Commuting

WeirdNeville

I generally prefer to filter by overtaking or going in between lanes using multilane roads. I find that the "undertaking" option is far more dangerous due to the hazards listed above.

Basically my method is this:

Stay nearside and anticipate traffic lights changing etc. When they do and traffic speed drops below my speed I move through the lane and begin to filter towards the front of the queue.
On the lights going green I generally try NOT to be right at the head of the queue, but still rolling maybe 4-5 vehicles back. This allows you to take the opportunity to move back to the nearside (left) as traffic matches your speed, and then get overtaken without getting trapped between two lanes of faster moving traffic.

You'll get better as time goes on. Don't fall into the trap of being too timid and getting forced right over to the curb. As you get fitter and faster you'll start to mix with the traffic more, and with less fear. Mantain a healthy respect for all larger vehicles however! NEVER undetake buses/HGVs!