Entering the box.

[thegrumpybiker]

Pardon my ignorance but what does ASL stand for?

 

[Origamist]

Pardon my ignorance but what does ASL stand for?

Advanced Stop Line

 

[Origamist]

Many ASL's don't have any filter or cycle lanes near them....quite a few on my route - just solid lined green boxes...

That's usually because the lane(s) are too narrow to accommodate one. That said, I have seen filter lanes around 60cm wide.

 

[Lurker]

My only reason to say it's safer to enter from the right is the left is restricted due to the proximity of the cars to the kerb, the approaching cycle lane at this point isn't particularly wide however the right is open as there was no traffic in the opposite lane. It might be worth entering from the left to avoid this being an issue in the future.

No! As others have said, generally it's safer (albeit technically illegal at the moment) to enter a cycle box by overtaking rather than undertaking. Entering the box from the left increases the risk to you of a 'left hook'.

Good to hear that the existing poorly drafted legislation on this - which refers to 'vehicles' rather than 'motor vehicles' - is likely to be corrected very soon.

 

[summerdays]

with regard to this technical breach (which will soon be done away with)

(albeit technically illegal at the moment)

Good to hear that the existing poorly drafted legislation on this - which refers to 'vehicles' rather than 'motor vehicles' - is likely to be corrected very soon.

I've obviously missed this bit of information ... I take it the law is to be amended ... has anyone a link to this?

 

[ianrauk]

Spot on. One in particular (As Mikey probably knows this one) in Bromley at Shortlands Station. The majority of the traffic turns left rather then go straight ahead. Anyone cyclist using the feeder lane on the left is asking for an accident. Feeder lanes into ASL should be done away with.

Those feeder lanes are known as Death Alley anyway.

 

[eldudino]

Feeder lanes into ASL should be done away with.

I'd agree with that. I had a bit of a 'law abiding citizen' moment thinking maybe I should approach from the left but in all honesty I know it's much safer to approach from the right, especially in this instance as I was only 2 vehicles back.

 

[stowie]

No! As others have said, generally it's safer (albeit technically illegal at the moment) to enter a cycle box by overtaking rather than undertaking. Entering the box from the left increases the risk to you of a 'left hook'.

Good to hear that the existing poorly drafted legislation on this - which refers to 'vehicles' rather than 'motor vehicles' - is likely to be corrected very soon.

It sounds as if the intention of the law was never to stop cyclists entering the ASL from the right, just that the legislation was poor? Typical - the small amount of infrastructure that actually gets put in for cyclists is shoddily thought out from start to finish.

I would strongly agree that entering the ASL from the far left cycle-lane when you need to be turning right is a very bad idea. The driver is an idiot - justifying a close overtake because you happened to infringe a very minor technicality of the law is pathetic. He was p!ssed off with something going in front of him and passed dangerously to prove a point. Tw@t.

 

[Origamist]

I've obviously missed this bit of information ... I take it the law is to be amended ... has anyone a link to this?

There's a bit of info in this thread:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=21655&highlight=asl

 

[biking_fox]

I like feeder lanes, and feel there should be more of them - depending on the specific junction construction and traffic flows. Having a green box perched at the front of the queue of traffic that you can't get to doesn't do anyone any good. But yes you do ahve to be careful using them - as is the case when you are cycling anywhere.

I was particularly impressed to see the wheels of a bus in the box this morning - the back wheels that is. To be fair given the speed the queue had been moving the driver had probably legitimately entered while the light was green and then been caught on the red. But even so, there was a lot of bus sticking out into the road!

 

[summerdays]

There's a bit of info in this thread:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=21655&highlight=asl

Thanks - obviously missed that first time around.

 

[jimboalee]

When I'm approaching a TL with ASL from the crownside, I try to get to the kerbside either across the ASL box or between stationary vehicles before the ASL box.

I do not however, perch myself immediately in front of the leading vehicle inside the ASL box. AND, I do not ride off from stationary 'slap-bang' infront of a motorist. I have the right of course, but it's asking for reaction and confrontation, just like what the OP got.

 

[eldudino]

When I'm approaching a TL with ASL from the crownside, I try to get to the kerbside either across the ASL box or between stationary vehicles before the ASL box.

I do not however, perch myself immediately in front of the leading vehicle inside the ASL box. AND, I do not ride off from stationary 'slap-bang' infront of a motorist. I have the right of course, but it's asking for reaction and confrontation, just like what the OP got.

Yeah, I quite agree. I did it with the intention of making sure the lead motorist passed me closely. I didn't do it to make myself as visible as possible to the lead motorist and ensure he didn't pass me closely. Good point well made, Jim.

 

[summerdays]

When I'm approaching a TL with ASL from the crownside, I try to get to the kerbside either across the ASL box or between stationary vehicles before the ASL box.

I do not however, perch myself immediately in front of the leading vehicle inside the ASL box. AND, I do not ride off from stationary 'slap-bang' infront of a motorist. I have the right of course, but it's asking for reaction and confrontation, just like what the OP got.

If you are going to use a ASL - surely the place to be is bang infront of the motorist - where else would you suggest?

 

[Lurker]

If you are going to use a ASL - surely the place to be is bang infront of the motorist - where else would you suggest?

Agreed. That's where the driver is looking, after all!

Automatically moving into the kerb increases the risk of dangerous overtaking, 'left hooks' and also 'right hooks' (because you are less visible to drivers of other vehicles). There is no hard and fast rule - you have to use your own judgement in every situation - but as has previously been discussed sometimes it's better to be two or three vehicles back in the queue, rather than moving into the ASL.