Getting fed up of Motorcyclists pulling this stunt

[captain nemo1701]

On my daily commute, I am going straight on at this junction:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1oheS2VMo

As you can see, I occasionally have to tolerate numpty drivers who cut you up. The junction is on York Road, Bristol and if you look on Google Earth, it shows the old layout which was changed so that you now have two lanes, one for straight on, the left for left turns.
However, I'm becoming tired of numpty bikers who use the left turn lane to filter down the traffic jam and enter the ASL on my left, with no intention of actually turning left, but going straight on. Already had 'a word' with one guy:

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAwJP5i4FRs&feature=plcp

Anyway, happened again this morning. Sat waiting at lights, young biker pulls up on my left - yep, going straight on.

They don't seem to have any qualms about cutting up a cyclist. Oh, and before anyone states that I broke the rules by crossing the line on red, the law (traffic marking regs) does state that vehicles should stop at this line while cyclists can carry on into the ASL via a cycle lane. In the absence of such lanes (which covers about 99% of ASL's, it would seem), the regs do not say that cyclists should also stop ie. they don't specifically prohibit a cyclist entering the box on red. I got this from a police website - see my clips for details. I am reluctant to use the left lane as that will mean I'm cutting up everyone else. I should also add that this junction is usually quite jammed up in the mornings with average traffic speed of near zero.

In future, I'll try and sit as far over to the left as I can, but I know that the b***ers will still try it on.

 

[gaz]

I have a similar junction on the way home at streatham, the left lane is left turn only and runs on a separate light sequence to the straight ahead phase. Motorcyclist and cyclists (myself included) use the left lane to filter to the front as the light phase is all red > left go> Left red > straight go > straight red. And I don't personally have an issue with it.

They don't seem to have any qualms about cutting up a cyclist. Oh, and before anyone states that I broke the rules by crossing the line on red, the law (traffic marking regs) does state that vehicles should stop at this line while cyclists can carry on into the ASL via a cycle lane. In the absence of such lanes (which covers about 99% of ASL's, it would seem), the regs do not say that cyclists should also stop ie. they don't specifically prohibit a cyclist entering the box on red. I got this from a police website - see my clips for details. I am reluctant to use the left lane as that will mean I'm cutting up everyone else. I should also add that this junction is usually quite jammed up in the mornings with average traffic speed of near zero.

In future, I'll try and sit as far over to the left as I can, but I know that the b***ers will still try it on.

Care to provide a link to the police webpage that backs up what you are saying?
No legislation agrees with what you have said. All vehicles must stop at the first solid line when the red light is shown.

In any case, in your second video it is clear to see that there is a cut away on the left side of the ASL for cyclists to enter. Whilst this may not be in an ideal position, that is the correct way to enter the ASL.

Have you actually ever had any issues with motorcyclists actually cutting you up at this junction? From your second video it looks like it is you who cuts him up (I haven't listened to what you said, so I don't know if you discussed with him what you intentions are). You went from the center/right position of the ASL to the left side of the road by the time you get past the junction.

In my opinion, from the videos you have included in the post and from my personal experience of similar layouts, this isn't something that is worth focusing on. If a cyclist did the same (filter on the left into the asl) would you have a problem with it? Or is it just because it's motorcyclist?
Whilst yes, they shouldn't technically be in there, i think it is probably best to work with motorcyclists rather than against them.

 

[400bhp]

what was the point of going in front of the red van?

 

[400bhp]

In my opinion, from the videos you have included in the post and from my personal experience of similar layouts, this isn't something that is worth focusing on. If a cyclist did the same (filter on the left into the asl) would you have a problem with it? Or is it just because it's motorcyclist?
Whilst yes, they shouldn't technically be in there, i think it is probably best to work with motorcyclists rather than against them.

+1

 

[gaz]

what was the point of going in front of the red van?

indeed. The first vehicle at the lights will often focus on the empty road ahead and as soon as possible will attempt to overtake.
Where as if you take a strong position behind a vehicle, and keep up with it as best as possible when the traffic starts moving. Then the vehicle behind can see that any overtake is potentially pointless and hopefully will stop them from overtaking when they shouldn't.

 

[400bhp]

indeed. The first vehicle at the lights will often focus on the empty road ahead and as soon as possible will attempt to overtake.
Where as if you take a strong position behind a vehicle, and keep up with it as best as possible when the traffic starts moving. Then the vehicle behind can see that any overtake is potentially pointless and hopefully will stop them from overtaking when they shouldn't.

You actually helped me with this a few months ago.

 

[hoski]

Whilst yes, they shouldn't technically be in there, i think it is probably best to work with motorcyclists rather than against them.

I find it quite intimidating to have motorcyclists using cycle lanes and ASLs. I suppose I might feel different if I cycled in that London where there are a large number of motorikes, but in a city like Oxford (or Birmingham where I used to live) it doesn't feel particularly necessary for motorcyclists to (ab)use those facilities.

I don't know if I have just had a few bad experiences, but I also often find a large number of motorbikes to be unnecessarily overpowered - again this adds to the intimidation. It's similar to the difference between having a 1L tiny french car pulling alongside you, as opposed to, par example, a BMW X5...

 

[campbellab]

I would take exception at motorcyclists shooting up the left lane past and going straight on (similar to the car in the first vid), but from stationary I wouldn't care less?

 

[Boris Bajic]

+1 to the comments above from gaz and 399bhp.

In addition to which, I'm not clear why you asked the motorcyclist to let you go first.

The guy on the motorcycle seemed pleasant and polite.

Even a gently ridden motorcycle will outpull Tom Boonen away from a junction. You had (as far as I can see) no reason either to want to get away ahead of the motorcycle or to ask him to let you.

It was pretty clear (to this untutored eye) that the motorcycle had 'tucked right' to be out of the way of the traffic filtered left while he was waiting. The question was a little intrusive and... unnecessary.

I saw no numpty motorcyclist in that clip. Is that junction in Rhyl by any chance? I seem to recognise it.

 

[thefollen]

Cycle similar roads to Gaz (at least down until Tooting). In multi-lane lights motorbikes and cyclists can come from all lanes. Have no problem with motorbikes in the ASL- happy to let them go first since they can accelerate faster than me and pose no problems. Would rather they do that than accelerate past from where I can't see them.

Personally I always expect a bit of undertaking and cheeky moves at junctions (as non-highway-code-approved as it is). In the vids it didn't look as though the cyclist was in any real danger.

If anyone here cycles in London and takes the Vauxhall Junction Northbound (South Lambeth Road going on to Wandsworth Road), then you're going to have some fun. I take the Waterloo lane- barely a day goes by without a car cutting dangerously across the front of me going from the right hand 'straight on' lanes to those going left. http://goo.gl/maps/sLCl5

 

[daSmirnov]

Alright he crossed the stop line. But personally I've got no issues with motorbikes using an ASL, at the end of the day it gives them somewhere safe to filter to, at least they can out accelerate all the other traffic and be on their way. Obviously if the ASL is jammed packed then in an ideal world they'd filter infront of the (pedal)cyclists. :-)

 

[Lee_M]

sorry but at what point did he or would he have cut you up?

 

[mr_hippo]

In every room in my house I have an electric light and a switch, why? I know that every night, it gets dark and I need the light to see but what has this got to do with your perceived problem?
Just as I know that if it gets dark and I am at home, I turn the light on so you should know that you `occasionally` have a perceived problem at that junction and should learn how to cope with it. It's not rocket surgery, is it?

 

[davefb]

asl are meant for cyclists..

if its okay for motorcyclists to use them, then err why not polite car drivers... so in fact, why bother with them at all?

its the usual, most motorcylists are great, but the ones that aren't are total idiots... *and* you'd expect better from a "fellow" 2 wheeler

 

[doug]

I have very few problems with "proper" motorbikes in the ASL as they accelerate away faster than I can and don't get in my way.

****ing under powered mopeds are a different kettle of fish - they think they will be faster away at the lights but more often than not I end up cursing them as they pootle along slowly getting in my way whilst puffing out clouds of noxious blue smoke