Filtering - double standards?

[MrHappyCyclist]

I just wondered what other people think about this. Like lots of us, I will filter to the front (or nearly the front) at traffic lights or roundabouts if there is a long queue of cars, moving into a gap between cars to get back to primary position.

I justify this to myself by saying that each vehicle has its advantages, yours being your powerful engine that you use to pass me on the open road, and mine being the narrow width and manoeuvrability that I use to pass you when the road is congested. I also take the view that, should the road become clear, they can always pass me later, so nothing is lost to them.

However, if I am at the back of a slow-moving queue and someone in a car comes up the outside and tries to get in front of me (like bbborp's recent video), I'll be outraged. Is this double standards?

 

[BSRU]

No, one's a vulnerable road user relying on metal box drivers allowing them to filter back in, the other is a metal box driver using their metal box to force a vulnerable road user out of the way.

 

[XmisterIS]

I drive, ride a motorbike and I cycle.

AFAIK, it is not illegal to filter when you can, so long as you don't cause a nuisance to other road users.

When I'm on my bicycle I filter far enough forward to allow me to get through on the next light sequence.

When I'm on the motorbike, I will always filter to the front if I can, because my bike does 0-60 in under 4 seconds - I won't be holding anyone up!

When I'm in the car I just chill out, relax, sit in traffic - what's the rush? I'm driving two tonnes of estate car, often with building materials in the back, it's not going anywhere fast!

I get pissed off with aggressive car drivers who push in because they are causing a nuisance to other road users. A motorbike or bicycle filtering doesn't get in anyone's way, so when cars try to block me filtering, they just do it out of bloody-mindedness.

 

[Bicycle]

I'm pretty neutral on this topic.

I certainly think that it's OK for bicycles to filter. The caveat is that (as for anyone on the road) you need to be visible and your actions need to be clear and predictable.

On cars 'pushing in' I think there are a billion different versions of this scenario.

Few are justifiable, most are cheeky and some (very few) are borderline bullying.

(At a junction I know very well, the left of three lanes at a light is a prioritised left-only lane. The left-only marking is painted on the road surface and when there are cars backed up it is invisible. People unused to the city often get caught in it and have to 'shove right' when the filter light goes green. That sort of thing is quite understandable).

Some 'push ins' will draw a wry smile from other road users, some will just raise blood pressure and help no-one and one or two will be dangerous.

Where I differ from the OP is that in feeling outrage over these behaviours. I think 'slightly bemused' should do it in 99% of cases. It's very candid to post that you fear you may have double standards. I often wonder that about myself... and not just in terms of driving standards.

As soon as I see a road user (any road user) get truly irked by the behaviour of another I fear that some sort of red mist will modify their behaviour. I've done it myself on every form of transport in the past: Car cuts me up, so I MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE that I get ahead of him/her at the next light. I'm over that now, but in my 20s it was an issue (nothing to do with being a motorcycle courier and therefore powered entirely by the fury of rightful indignation).

So I'd advise the poster to get more into doing wry smiles and try to avoid the outrage.

But it's cool to see someone being candid about suspecting they exhibit double standards.

Live and let live.

 

[jonny jeez]

Most definatley not a double standard.

Filtering into traffic on a bike should cause no inconvenience or impede any other road user in any way (cause them to slow or swerve etc) if it does you are doing it wrong. It is therefore of no consequence to anybody else and will be reacted to (and treated) as such

Car drivers that try to do the same are just trying to jump the queue and rightfully piss everyone off

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

AFAIK, it is not illegal to filter when you can, so long as you don't cause a nuisance to other road users.

No, it isn't illegal, but I guess the nuisance aspect comes down to just how assertive to be when re-entering the queue. The motorists are not obliged to let you in, but once you've filtered forward, then if no-one will let you in, you are left in a vulnerable position. On the other hand, if you stick out your hand, then the driver behind is not supposed to overtake you on that side.

Having said that, though, if there is a queue in one lane and the next lane is clear, someone in a car that drives down the clear lane and tries to get into the queue near the front will raise some objections from the driver who have waited in the queue. Is that really different to a bicycle overtaking and trying to get back in?

I get pissed off with aggressive car drivers who push in because they are causing a nuisance to other road users. A motorbike or bicycle filtering doesn't get in anyone's way, so when cars try to block me filtering, they just do it out of bloody-mindedness.

Indeed. HC rule 160 says: "be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles who may be filtering through the traffic. These are more difficult to see than larger vehicles and their riders are particularly vulnerable. Give them plenty of room, especially if you are driving a long vehicle or towing a trailer"

 

[dragon72]

I always feel slightly guilty when I q-jump past loads of cars waiting in line at passport control or ticket checks when I'm on a cycle tour. Doesn't stop me doing it though!

 

[XmisterIS]

Most definatley not a double standard.

Filtering into traffic on a bike should cause no inconvenience or impede any other road user in any way (cause them to slow or swerve etc) if it does you are doing it wrong. It is therefore of no consequence to anybody else and will be reacted to (and treated) as such

Car drivers that try to do the same are just trying to jump the queue and rightfully piss everyone off

You'd be surprised at the number of car drivers who get very bloody-minded in heavy rush hour traffic - it can take over an hour to drive two mile out of the top of Gosport in rush-hour and I have had drivers deliberately block the cycle lane and then swear at me because they've been sat there for ages and they don't like me beating all the traffic at a leisurely pace on my bicycle! I am soooooo tempted to punch a wing mirror off or run a cleat down the side of their car - but that would instantly put me in the wrong so I don't do it.

 

[jonny jeez]

You'd be surprised at the number of car drivers who get very bloody-minded in heavy rush hour traffic - it can take over an hour to drive two mile out of the top of Gosport in rush-hour and I have had drivers deliberately block the cycle lane and then swear at me because they've been sat there for ages and they don't like me beating all the traffic at a leisurely pace on my bicycle! I am soooooo tempted to punch a wing mirror off or run a cleat down the side of their car - but that would instantly put me in the wrong so I don't do it.

I get that every single time I ride, I beleive they are more frustrated with the traffic (and their lack of progress) than they are with me, so they just take it out on me.

I would only ever have words with them if they put me in danger, otherwise I just thank them (without a hint of sarcasm) and get on with my life.

 

[Dan B]

I justify this to myself by saying that each vehicle has its advantages, yours being your powerful engine that you use to pass me on the open road, and mine being the narrow width and manoeuvrability that I use to pass you when the road is congested. I also take the view that, should the road become clear, they can always pass me later, so nothing is lost to them.

+1 this. Different vehicles have different performance characteristics. It was their choice (or requirement) to use a big vehicle with poor maneouvrability for the journey they are making and they should be the ones facing the consequences (congestion i.a) of this choice. Just as it was your choice to use a small and slow vehicle, and you are the one who lives with the consequence of that choice (lower luggage capacity, taking longer to complete journey etc). Expecting cyclists to wait in line when the line was caused by car drivers is as silly as expecting pedestrians to.