On the dangers of filtering (part 2)...

[sidevalve]

Sorry. Too fast, too close. Car drivers are instructed to give cyclits "wobble room" [or they used to be and wether they do or not is irrelevant here] and, when filtering, it is only sensible to do the same the otherway around. You are easily saving time not having to mess around waiting in the queue so why take any risks at all ?
Anything can suddenly appear from a line of stationary traffic from suicidal dogs to children racing to school and how would you have felt if you had hit a child, it might not have been "your fault" but that wouldn't have been any consolation.
Always allow for stupidity, we are surrounded by it.

 

[fossyant]

13-15 too fast for filtering...I'd better not mention anything

Driver's fault, but had you been that little further out, you would have passed OK. Crap happens though, and it's always a risk when filtering. Couple of pointers to folk when filtering, check the car's position and the front wheels. You can see on the video that the wheels start to turn before the car !

Crap happens - anything need replacing ?

 

[Teuchter]

Driver's fault, but had you been that little further out, you would have passed OK. Crap happens though, and it's always a risk when filtering. Couple of pointers to folk when filtering, check the car's position and the front wheels. You can see on the video that the wheels start to turn before the car !

^^^ This.

The car was positioned all the way over on the right and started to move as you came level with the back of it. If you'd anticipated that the car's position indicated a potential hazard, you could have moved out slightly before then and this wouldn't have happened.

I filter a lot on both bicycle and motorbike. Car lane positioning is one of the main warnings available to you in the short space of time you have to identify a potential hazard.

It's very easy to look back at a video and tell yourself you should have done something different however. I suspect any of us could have been there with the same outcome.

Incidentally, is this filtering or overtaking? I always thought of filtering as moving between two lanes of traffic going the same direction as you. Passing traffic (whether it's moving or stationary) on the opposite side of the road is overtaking.

 

[gaz]

Incidentally, is this filtering or overtaking? I always thought of filtering as moving between two lanes of traffic going the same direction as you. Passing traffic (whether it's moving or stationary) on the opposite side of the road is overtaking.

I believe if the traffic is moving slowly then it is classed as filtering but I don't think there is any actually definition between the two in law.

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 2491994, member: 45"]The zigzag law may only apply to motor vehicles, but it's there for a reason...[/quote]
And it's completely irrelevant in this case.

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 2492005, member: 45"]I disagree. What do you think the reason is?[/quote]
There was no one on, at or near the zebra crossing. Considering the driver never mentioned the zebra crossing on the zig zag lines when I spoke to him, I highly doubt that he believes that nothing can pass him there and as such made his maneuver on that basis.
Ultimately this collision happened because the driver failed the basic fundamental principles that we must follow when making turns on our roads. Mirror, signal maneuver.

Please tell me why you think it is relevant.

 

[Cycling Dan]

13-15 too fast for filtering...I'd better not mention anything

Driver's fault, but had you been that little further out, you would have passed OK. Crap happens though, and it's always a risk when filtering. Couple of pointers to folk when filtering, check the car's position and the front wheels. You can see on the video that the wheels start to turn before the car !

Crap happens - anything need replacing ?

Looking at the video. Wheel turns at 0:10 and hit at 0:11 never going to notice nor stop in time. Although good advise for future and different/similar situations.

 

[fossyant]

I dont think gaz had much chance to avoid it. Anyway no-one has congratulated him on his dismount. Awesome.

Ive only done that once myself on the MTB. Front wheel stopped on a rock, back came up and I stepped off over the bars.

 

[4F]

[QUOTE 2492005, member: 45"]I disagree. What do you think the reason is?[/quote]

Well this as a starter for 10.,

Pedestrian crossings (191 to 199)
191

You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

 

[gaz]

Ive only done that once myself on the MTB. Front wheel stopped on a rock, back came up and I stepped off over the bars.

Done that many times, with the bike following through and hitting me in the back lol!

[QUOTE 2492280, member: 45"]You're right in that it's not relevant to what the driver did. It is relevant to your actions though, in filtering over zigzags. Which I'm questioning.[/quote]
From your original post I take it you've seen the wording of the law. And I think you are correct when pedestrians are crossing.
What do you propose for situations like this (ignore the turning car that didn't indicate) with lots of traffic that isn't moving?

 

[BSRU]

Cannot say Gaz has done anything wrong, seemed like normal filtering and poor driving.
With the benefit of my perfect 20/20 hindsight I would have been concerned about that junction on the right, too often I have seen drivers in a queue suddenly go for the turn even before they have reached it.

 

[BSRU]

[QUOTE 2492280, member: 45"]You're right in that it's not relevant to what the driver did. It is relevant to your actions though, in filtering over zigzags. Which I'm questioning.[/quote]
Filtering on zig-zags is perfectly legal for a cyclist as long as they do not overtake the vehicle closest to the crossing when they are stopped to allow pedestrians to cross.

 

[T4tomo]

Awesome dismount considering you were clipped in on a road bike. I have managed similar on a brompton on flat pedals, but then you just sort of step through a Brommie as there is no cross bar to worry about.

 

[gaz]

[QUOTE 2492336, member: 45"]Post #28 quotes the HC, and it includes not overtaking cars approaching the crossing.

When there's traffic that isn't moving, it's down to risk assessment. I only mentioned it because you pre-empted it in your OP>[/quote]
Don't forget the highway code isn't the full story in some cases, and that applies to this. Hence why I quoted the the relevant legislation which is worded differently.

Now, onto the question of why is it different for cyclists? it could be several things, down to just poor wording or presumed that non motorised vehicles are generally going slow and are more likely to be exposed to the elements and as such more aware of their surroundings?
I think this is something that none of us are going to be able to give a clear cut answer to.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I hope that people can learn from this, I know I have; use as much of the road as possible when filtering to avoid such things as much as possible.

I can't argue with your assessment of this. I would just add a word of caution about positioning further out to the middle of the opposing lane, particularly in your scenario: drivers of vehicles emerging from a road on your right and wanting to turn left (toward you), will be looking to their right for traffic and seeing none may collide with you as they continue their manoeuvre . It all depends on sight lines for those drivers and for you but take extra care at junctions.

10 for the dismount though!


GC