Must get in front.....

[Crackedheadset]

I'm curious, what are people's feelings in filtering to the front of a traffic queue only to be overtaken again?

It's just that part of my commute takes me up a hill that has a three sets of lights in place and the road is two lanes each way both of which are pretty narrow.

Approaching the first set of lights yesterday which turned red I stopped two vehicles behind in primary rather then filter to the front. My reasoning being that due to the width of the road and the fact that traffic will only overtake me again anyway. Why bother filtering to the front of two cars? Far better to maintain a strong position on the road when pulling away.

Having said that, as I was there behing a Land Rover a cyclist went up the inside. They got as far as the next vehicle which was at the front only for the lights to change to green and for the traffic to pull away. Now whilst the car next to her and the Land rover both gave her as much room as they could (which as is saw it was fine) I did wonder why bother?

Especially as some of us are quick to quip about the ''must get in front attitude'' is there really any point in what the other cylist done?

Or is there nothing to worry about? Your thoughts please.

 

[Arjimlad]

You're riding considerately, which is great.

From a safety point of view, the ASL seems to allow space for cyclists to take off at the front of a queue of traffic.

Filtering up the inside when there is a left turn ahead can be dangerous. So, holding back may be wiser than steaming to the front & holding cars up who may have difficulty in passing later on.

IMHO...

 

[fossyant]

Depends upon the junction- I have one where I wait in the traffic - the exact same one where I saw the accident this morning, but it's on my return journey, so up hill. I wait in line, and follow the cars through, and exactly the same at the next junction, as the particular stretch of road demands a primary to be safe - take secondary and someone will squeeze past and have you off.

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 1775199, member: 45"]It very much depends on the road. For example, it's pointless if you're going to spend the next two miles playing overtake with the same cars, but if it's part of you making your way through congestion then it's worth it.[/quote]
This.

 

[Norm]

That indeed.

I had one woman, a few years ago, comment through her open window on the way into Windsor that she'd "had to" overtake me six or seven times. My response, which I quite enjoyed, was along the lines of "That's ok, that's meant I've had to overtake you six or seven times as well". And, I went past her on her right each time, no kerb-scooting for me, thanks.

That was only making a point, though, as she had squeezed me at the first set of lights. I usually wait in line unless the traffic is slow for a fair distance and / or it's a "duel cabbageway".

 

[BentMikey]

There's often little point in going to the front if there are 5 or fewer cars in the queue. It does depend though - things such as traffic after the junction, average road speed, etc. can all change the decision from filtering to not-filtering, or vice versa.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

There's often little point in going to the front if there are 5 or fewer cars in the queue. It does depend though - things such as traffic after the junction, average road speed, etc. can all change the decision from filtering to not-filtering, or vice versa.

agree also depends on the time left on the lights to filter on not some days means i end up not bothering at all

 

[ohnovino]

The only time I filter to the front is if I know I'm going a different way to the vehicle at the head of the queue; e.g. if it's indicating right and I'm going left I know I'll get plently of time to get away.

Any other time I stay in primary at the back of the queue. Why risk more overtakes and the possibility of getting stuck alongside the traffic flow for the sake of a few seconds?

 

[BentMikey]

Oh, another reason not to filter is when there's a driver in front of you who has just demonstrated their poor ability via a close overtake or some other sort of bad attitude. Let them stay in front of you where they can't do you any further harm.

(I just wish I was a bit better in following this one myself )

 

[Bigsharn]

As has already been said, it depends on the exact conditions. Most lights in York stay green for a fair while, but a couple only let 3-5 cars through at once, so being at the front of the queue or as-near-to-as-is-safe is better.

 

[PaulSB]

Unless I can see a serious delay ahead of me I would always join the queue for two reasons.

Firstly I feel it is the safer option and secondly demonstrates to the drivers cyclists can and do know how to behave and ride correctly. This second point is something I'm very keen on in order to try and counter the many POBs I see ignoring every road rule possible.

On the odd occasion I encounter a long queue to lights / junction I would filter to the front but this is very rare in my cycling.

My view would be the few seconds gained are no more valuable than those a driver gains by pushing past me in a dangerous or unsafe manner or road position.

 

[Nebulous]

I've been a motorist for many years, as well as an occasional leisure cyclist- mainly off road. I've been cycling much more seriously for the past 18 months or so, and doing a short commute for the last year.

I very rarely filter, preferring to take my place in the queue, and I think a lot of it is a mindset. As far as I am concerned I am traffic, because that is a role I am familiar with. Occasionally I have filtered, where there have been long queues, but I don't really feel comfortable with it. It also helps that I don't have a great deal of traffic to contend with on my route.

 

[Hip Priest]

It depends on a variety of factors, and requires thought. Filtering at every opportunity would occasionally put me in danger and annoy other road users. Not filtering at all would increase my commuting time by at least 1/3rd.

 

[jugglingphil]

As said before each junction is different.
If traffic coming from the opposite direction is turning across your path, it can be safer to filter to the front so that you are visible, as drivers will often just look for gaps between cars to nip across.

 

[400bhp]

agree also depends on the time left on the lights to filter on not some days means i end up not bothering at all

Please, for the love of God, use full stops.