Filter at traffic lights ?

ExcitingHat

When i approach a queue of cars ( say 4 to 7 ) waiting at traffic lights i never know whether to wait in line or try to get to the front. If the lights change after i get past the 1st or 2nd car and im on the right hand side i would have to then cut in front of a car in order to get back to the left hand side. Cutting in front of the car seems a bit unsafe and a bit rude to the driver behind.
What is the right thing to do ?

pastryboy

If you're in any doubt then hold back - it's not like it will make any real difference to your journey time to push your way through.

Not sure why you think you need to cut across a car to get back to the left. Why not stay on the right for a bit or take primary - you're entitled to use any part of the lane you wish and cars tend to be slow away from the lights.

tomilinski1

I tend to go for it - although I hang back behind the first car unless there is an advanced stop line.
The odd occasion that the cars set off before I get to the front of the queue just means slotting in at a convenient point and then making your way across to the left - but you won't get any hastle as the cars are going at bike speed having just set off.

Good Luck!

The Rookie

I have this at my only set of lights on my commute....
Up the left is often too narrow, I don't ride on pavements, so I go up the right, I look ahead to where the traffic is pulling away and adjust my speed to 'drift' across to the kerb (I can't stay on the right, that would be silly at this junction) in a gap as the cars pulll away, I've never had a driver make any indication they feel I am rude in doing so. As I am doing about 15-18mph I can go across to the kerbside quite quickly if I judge the timing right.

Simon

Mike Healey

Retired from commuting now, but filtered on left or right according to circs or stayed back as necessary.

Road, traffic and junction conditions far to variable to give one piece of advice to suit all seasons.

Just look at conditions and ride accordingly.

hstiles

I try and get to the front to avoid getting that initial gob full of exhaust fumes as the cars pull off.

eightdigitword

I agree with 'The Beginners' approach.

If you have a cycle area at the junction head on up. I normally move to the front in the right hand lane as its only the car at the very front of the left hand lane that poses a threat (not looking in mirror). from here I'll asses the lights (still on green on adjoining road) i'll either roll in front of the left hand car and sit in front of it or let the traffic move and filter back in to the left if the lights change as I arrive. If I don't know when the lights will change at all I'll sit behind the first car in the left hand lane. Your speed in traffic is critical, riding slow would require a different approach, buses and trucks are approached with special care. As for rudeness of cutting in, its everyone's road they have to give way. be confident and courteous and everyone's happy!

Rep of Seaburn

Hang fire and look ahead. If the lights have been red for a while and are going to change before I get to the front by filtering right, I will filter left as far as I can. As soon as the cars move, settle into kerb and crack on.

motopatter

the other day I was filtering on the left through about 6 cars and they started moving off and the fella in the escort van I was on the inside started closing the gap, so beware.
I don't think he did it deliberately as the road bent left a bit and I guess he had no idea I was there. The lady in the hairdressery car behind deliberately gave me little room, even though there was space with central chevrons splitting the lanes.

What I've always learned from riding motorbikes is to assume everyone is a moron and it's up to you to try and ride accordingly

beverick

Rep of Seaburn wrote:

Hang fire and look ahead. If the lights have been red for a while and are going to change before I get to the front by filtering right, I will filter left as far as I can. As soon as the cars move, settle into kerb and crack on.

It all depends on specific circumstance. No two junctions are the same, and the same junction isn't the same twice.

Combined with the 'if in doubt hang back' advice I think RoS's advice is as good as you'll get.

My natural reaction is to go to the right of the first lane of traffic (even where there is more than one lane). It makes it easier to cut back into traffic if the queue starts to move off before you've got to the front of the queue. My general rule of thumb is only to cycle down the near-side of traffic if it is stationary, not to go past the leading vehicle at a stop or give way line (unless there's a cycle lane into a protected area - ie ASL) and align myself with a gap in traffic when I stop.

Bob

tarquin_foxglove

Mike Healey wrote:

...filtered on left or right according to circs or stayed back as necessary.

Road, traffic and junction conditions far to variable to give one piece of advice to suit all seasons.

Just look at conditions and ride accordingly.

+1

Also local knowledge of the conditions trumps general advice.

After a few trips through a set of lights you should get to know the phasing & then you'll roughly know how far down the line you can go before wanting to tuck in so you don't feel isolated.

whitestar1

Thanks for the advice folks I have been having this problem too wondering what to do at a right turn filter at a junction. I have two of them just off the M6 J9 area. One is pretty nasty. Intersting fact is I was fearful of it when learning and now feeling the same way having to ride it. I will stick to holding the road until safe to move left after crossing the junction.