I'm not recommending the manoeuvre. I'm just pointing out that people seem to invest a ot in the simplistic mantra that one must NEVER ride up the inside of a truck, when in some cases it isn't actually especially dangerous. Me, I like an escape route in situations like that, but I often make manoeuvres at junctions I know well that others would consider dangerous. My mum appears to consider everything involving bikes and traffic to be dangerous.
Well, fine, you think about things and have a plan B should something go wrong or unexpected happen. And yes, in certain circumstances it is quite safe to filter down the inside of an HGV. But do you really think that those cyclists squeezing down the inside of that tipper truck gave their actions any consideration? To me, it more appears as a "must get to the front no matter the consequences" sort of mentality.
The mantra "never go up the inside of a truck" may be simplistic, but it does have at least one advantage: it is a simple message, simple enough that even those who don't appreciate that filtering requires planning, observation and patience will understanding. In short, it is a message that is unlikely to do harm. You could argue that the design of HGVs are not fit for busy urban streets, and I'd be the first to agree with you - but the driver is still human, and will make errors occasionally, like we all do. It seems unwise to put yourself in the position where you're relying on someone else to not make a mistake, not give a **** or simply be distracted for a moment for your own safety.
