ASLs never had that happen before...

[hackbike 666]

Well I've survived this long and anyway as I said,depending on circumstances.

If there is a cyclist ahead I will stay back.

 

[tdr1nka]

I see this all the time.
I admit I tend to get in front as well when time and space provide otherwise I'll wait in line.
You also get drivers(quite a lot of London taxis do this)who deliberately pull to the left blocking the approach to an ASL when they see you coming in their mirrors.

I'll only really use ASL's if they are empty.

 

[hackbike 666]

When they do that tdr1nka then it's my mission to get past them and a lot of the time I do.

 

[tdr1nka]

And it is always good to note that most often when a motorist goes out of their way to take a passive/aggressive stance they end up 'achieving' very little.

 

[John the Monkey]

I always go on the inside but only if it's clear - if it's blocked up to the ASL I tend to just wait in the queue.

I do quite a lot of waiting around to be honest! .. need to perfect my technique!!

Nothing wrong with waiting in the queue, you are British, after all

Filtering can be tricky, and you need to be careful doing it - if you can't see space, there's no shame at all in waiting until the traffic moves again (imo).

If you do overtake on the right, do so carefully and watch out for cars moving out to pass parked cars or other obstructions on the left if the traffic is moving. Be aware of junctions on your right too, not everyone knows their vehicle has indicators. As for being stuck in no mans land, generally a space will open up as the traffic begins to move - check that there isn't some Mr. Toad type trying to fill it before you do, and move into it. This is a good time to practice the "negotiation" that's possible via the over shoulder observation. Acknowledging the kindness of the driver you slotted in front of can be appreciated too. TBH, it's not so different to filtering on the inside (and can be less risky) - be aware of what's going on, try and anticipate what's going to happen, and do it carefully.

Try to be realistic about the time you're saving too - is it really worth charging up to a red light ahead of ten cars that will overtake you again ten seconds later? Impatience is for motons, so don't feel you *have* to filter if you don't feel it's safe, or useful in a particular situation.

 

[hackbike 666]

Not really I do it so they know im there.

Im going to pass them fifty times anyway as they speed up to yet another traffic jam.

 

[BentMikey]

What happens if you can't get through on the left because you are being blocked and then you overtake on the right and misjudge the queue of traffic and end up in "no man's land" - do you just hope that somebody lets you in?

You don't have to hope someone will let you in, you simply time and negotiate back into the stream of traffic. It's easy, and even if very occasionally you get someone who won't let you in it's easy to drop in behind them.

I do undertake, but it's not my preferred option.

 

[summerdays]

What happens if you can't get through on the left because you are being blocked and then you overtake on the right and misjudge the queue of traffic and end up in "no man's land" - do you just hope that somebody lets you in?

Do most of you go in between the queue of traffic and the kerb as a rule though?

I always go on the inside but only if it's clear - if it's blocked up to the ASL I tend to just wait in the queue.

I do quite a lot of waiting around to be honest! .. need to perfect my technique!!

I will go both sides of stationary traffic but it depends on whether it seems sensible. Its easier to negotiate back in from the right I think ... I don't think I have ever had anyone not let me back into the flow... just a quick look and a signal. But lots of looking ahead knowing where there is space, and for when the traffic starts moving again.

 

[PBancroft]

Doesn't bother me, tbh. I wait in line when they do that. When it comes to it, those silly buggers are stewing away in a nasty little metal box, and I'm on my bike.

This.

I don't usually see the point of getting to the front of a queue just because I can. Sure if there is a long line of stationary traffic then I will filter or overtake... but if its at a set of lights and I'm a couple of cars back, I know I'm going to be overtaken soon anyway and if I'm in line I can make myself visible without antagonising anyone by "pushing in"

 

[BentMikey]

This.

I don't usually see the point of getting to the front of a queue just because I can. Sure if there is a long line of stationary traffic then I will filter or overtake... but if its at a set of lights and I'm a couple of cars back, I know I'm going to be overtaken soon anyway and if I'm in line I can make myself visible without antagonising anyone by "pushing in"

And nothing wrong with that, it's what I do out in the faster suburbs. London though, I'll usually go to the front. Can't be waiting around for all those tin boxes parked on the road.

 

[cygnet]

I think that (according to the law) it's nearly always illegal to enter an ASL after overtaking - stop lines mean stop for all road users and the only legal way to enter an ASL is via a filter lane (not usually located to allow for an overtake). Of course the fact that Jane Line-Painter is often ignorant of this and paints the first stop line across the filter lane too makes this seem a bit silly really.

 

[HLaB]

I think that (according to the law) it's nearly always illegal to enter an ASL after overtaking - stop lines mean stop for all road users and the only legal way to enter an ASL is via a filter lane (not usually located to allow for an overtake). Of course the fact that Jane Line-Painter is often ignorant of this and paints the first stop line across the filter lane too makes this seem a bit silly really.

I don't know what the legality of it is but some asl's in Edinburgh do not have feeder lanes, it makes them much better IMO.

 

[HJ]

I think that (according to the law) it's nearly always illegal to enter an ASL after overtaking - stop lines mean stop for all road users and the only legal way to enter an ASL is via a filter lane (not usually located to allow for an overtake). Of course the fact that Jane Line-Painter is often ignorant of this and paints the first stop line across the filter lane too makes this seem a bit silly really.

If you read the thread carefully you will see that I have already cited HC rule 178 which clearly states "Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red". Where the HC uses the word MUST it is a legal requirement, in this case the Laws are Road Traffic Act 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 36(1) & 43(2). Cyclist are only required to stop before the second line when the lights are amber or red.

 

[purplepolly]

If you read the thread carefully you will see that I have already cited HC rule 178 which clearly states "Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red".

but that's only half the story, the rule then continues...

"If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. "

Most ASLs round here just seem to have been added to the existing junctions and the amber sequence isn't adjusted accordingly, this means that motorists get less time to stop at the first white line, there is therefore sometimes a reasonable explanation for them being on the ASL.

 

[HJ]

but that's only half the story, the rule then continues...

"If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. "

Most ASLs round here just seem to have been added to the existing junctions and the amber sequence isn't adjusted accordingly, this means that motorists get less time to stop at the first white line, there is therefore sometimes a reasonable explanation for them being on the ASL.

But going back to the start of the thread, the problem is with drivers who deliberately drive over the ASL to block cyclist from using it after the light has turned red...