So what is the right and wrong of nipping down the left when the traffic has stopped?

[thomas]

What worries me about filtering on the right is the moron in the sports car making a dash for it....

What about with double line of traffic?

If the lights go green I'll tend to stop filtering where I am (especially if I'm on the right). You should be able to anticipate when a moron in a sports car is going to make a dash for it...worst case, they undertake you!

If you're on a duel carriageway/double line of traffic I'd usually go in the middle. You've got to pay attention to both sides...and I one of jonredhornet videos has a good tip. Be careful when there is a large gap, on either side...it's likely that a car will pull into it without looking!

I filter wherever the gap is largest. Although I would prefer it if the gaps were more often larger on the right hand side, on many roads cars seem to practically hug the centre line making that not an option.

+1. I've had to filter through 4 miles of stopped traffic on my commute and I did it al on the right, other than for about 4 cars where the road had a massive gap on the left (could of fitted a tank through).

I'm never popular when I say things like this, but Twanger's comment sums up my feeling that there should be no excuses - if you use the road you should know the rules of it. IMHO people should need to retake their driving tests every ten years or so because rules change and they get into bad habits.

And folk moving to the UK (or driving in the UK whilst on holiday) should take a knock-down version of the test to ensure that they understand local laws. The same should be true for Brits going abroad too.

And relax...

It's not a bad idea, but I wouldn't be for it (just because I can't be arsed to retake my driving test ). In all fairness, I bet everyone would fail a driving test with day to day driving, but that doesn't make them a dangerous driver (not always).

 

[Twanger]

To be completely fair, rereading my post, I make a fairly large leap in assuming you actually drive. Sorry about that.

Several places offer cycle training. CTC being one. There's no test as such, but the information is out there. I think asking the question like you did in the original post is fair enough... and so this isn't really a poke at you. Its more of a concern that there seems to be a large number of people who don't know the Highway Code exists.

Don't be overly apologetic. I can drive. I have a Turkish driving licence, getting it 15 years ago in my mid 30s. I am English, but moved to Turkey 20 years ago. I have only just come back home again. Up until then I only cycled. But in Turkey, with young kids, I had no choice. I have not driven for the past 5 or 6 years, and have no intention of starting again because I feel nervous and vulnerable in a steel box in traffic. I feel unaware of the road, unlike on a bike.

I have never driven in UK. I know the highway code exists, and even read previous versions in the 80s when I used to belt around London on a series of progressively more uncomfortable, but fast, lightweight road bikes. I have only just met the current version of the code.

But the HC does not have the answer to my question. And, to be honest, what the Code says and what reality is may differ. Here's an example. In the UK in a car, flashing your lights means "Go ahead, you first....". In Turkey, flashing your lights means "Look out, I'm coming through...". Completely different meaning to the action. But if you look at the UK Highway Code, it says that flashing your lights should have no meaning other than to warn other road users of your presence when necessary. It shoudl never be used to pass a message. And do you know what? The Turkish HC says EXACTLY the same thing as the UK HC. Yet practice differs.

So I am interested in safe practice. Filtering on the inside happens. In the 80s it was generally considered to be "overtaking on the inside" and "wrong". What I need to know now is whether or not that is still the case. I have a good set of answers, for which thanks!

I have been back commuting in London for three weeks now. The feel of the traffic has completely changed in the past 20 years. I feel safer. I feel that traffic is more cycle friendly, possibly because there are more of us. I feel that motorists are more accepting of bikes taking possession of the lane. I need to check out my understanding.

My question about a bike test was totally sincere. I would like to have an expert watch me and give me feedback on what I do.

 

[purplepolly]

However it can be very risky. Red lights are the perfect opportunity for a passenger having a lift to jump out of the car, so be very alert to car doors opening in front of you.

Much more importantly, think twice about undertaking long/large vehicles, especially if they're at the front of the queue. Being to the left of one when the lights change can get you killed if the vehicle then turns left. .

And if it's a long queue beware of sideroads. Many drivers will kindly let a waiting car out in front of them or a car may turn right, through a gap in the queue, onto the side road.

 

[purplepolly]

My question about a bike test was totally sincere. I would like to have an expert watch me and give me feedback on what I do.

there are courses for adults in certain areas - try the CTC, LCC or your local council.

 

[PBancroft]

I feel safer. I feel that traffic is more cycle friendly, possibly because there are more of us. I feel that motorists are more accepting of bikes taking possession of the lane.

I actually feel the same. I think a lot has changed in the past few years, and I think that the exceptions stand out because they are xactly that: exceptions.

 

[Bman]

This is a good thread

IIRC, the HC states you can undertake if the traffic in the lane to the right, is moving slower than your lane. I take that to mean "filtering" down the left could be classed as "undertaking". But it is allowed.

However I've been proven wrong more than once. No-one is perfect

My view: Either way is fine, its just a choice of which offers the most road space. Only do it when its safe and take care...

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

I got knocked off filtering on the left, to get to an ASL at a set of traffic lights that were on red.

The cars were all nicely stopped right in the middle of the lane so there was nice 2 12 to 3 feet gap on the left so I moved down it.

Passenger decided to jump out at that point. I saw her opening the door and swerved to avoid it and shouted to warn her but she didn't see/hear and she just clipped me.

1 year on and despite the highway code saying I did nothing wrong the Police have said that nobody was at fault and the Solicitors are still arguing liability.

My side is experienced in cyling accidents like these and insists that I did nothing wrong - their side says I should not have been on the left but will still admit 75% of the liability.

So yes, a very grey area isn't it???!!! I spent hours and hours trawling through the highway code and found various references to warn motorists that cyclists may be filtering on the left and nothing at all to warn cyclists not to do it - except if there is a car turning left and indicating their intention to do so.

In my case the buggers are lying and saying that they were indicating left but they really weren't!

I find it hard to know which one to do for the best and at that particular junction loads of cars turn right so I'm not keen on filtering up to the lights on the right. I was looking for doors and did nearly avoid the incident rather than just plowing straight into her door but knowing you are legally in the right doens't really help does it!!!??

I think you have to judge every situation as an individual thing and take it from there - expect the unexpected and all that - my worst close call ever was overtaking a line of stationary traffic on the right - there was a side road up ahead on the right and the car in front of me decided that they had had enough of waiting in the queue and they were going to drive on the wrong side of the road to get to the side road ahead. They just pulled out straight in front of me and so nearly took me out!

It's a jungle out there!!

(as an aside though - it's shocking how many people don't know the highway code!)

 

[dellzeqq]

Twanger - it depends who you are. I happen to know that coruskate has the accelleration of a mountain deer and the top speed of a jaguar. When I'm on my own I do a lot of filtering (although not to the left of large vehicles), but when I'm escorting the Babe to work I do very little filtering - she's just not very fast.

The sad truth is that the majority of people killed in London are women run over by trucks turning left. Never mind whose fault it is - there is a complete failure on the part of the DfT among others to address this - it's a miserable way to go.

I'm struck by the way you've gone about this, asking entirely sensible questions of people with experience.

 

[gbb]

With every action you take, there are pros and cons.
I'll filter on the left and right...i actually feel safer on the right. It's far less likely you'll get doored (passengers are highly unlikely to disembark on the offside)or pinched ...but, as happened to me t'other day...just once in a while, you can find yourself in no-mans land if traffic starts moving before you expect it.

This of course is no-ones fault but my own...but a polite 'wave on' and smile to the driver i failed to get past, then tuck in behind.

Filter on the left, its not going to happen. But you increase the chances of being doored or squeezed.

Pros and cons.

It's often occurred to me the legality of filtering on the right. Drivers would expect motorcycles to do it....but friends and colleagues are surprised when they see me do it on a bicycle. Are drivers surprised too ?

 

[Wigsie]

With every action you take, there are pros and cons.
I'll filter on the left and right...i actually feel safer on the right. It's far less likely you'll get doored (passengers are highly unlikely to disembark on the offside)or pinched ...but, as happened to me t'other day...just once in a while, you can find yourself in no-mans land if traffic starts moving before you expect it.

This of course is no-ones fault but my own...but a polite 'wave on' and smile to the driver i failed to get past, then tuck in behind.

Filter on the left, its not going to happen. But you increase the chances of being doored or squeezed.

Pros and cons.

It's often occurred to me the legality of filtering on the right. Drivers would expect motorcycles to do it....but friends and colleagues are surprised when they see me do it on a bicycle. Are drivers surprised too ?

I have enjoyed this thread, its quite interesting to see what you are all doing. I have around half a mile at either end of my commute (this applies to leisure rides too) where the opportunity arises to filter with 1 roundabout and 2 sets of traffic lights in 18.5 miles but I never do as the roads are all to narrow at these points.

Am I right in presuming basically its a bit of a judgement call and best to treat every situation differently based on location, conditions and surrounding aspects (i.e. schools etc).

 

[HJ]

It often makes me wonder how much most drives actually think about their driving. Do they ever think about why there is a legal requirement to have door mirrors on both sides of the car? All to often I hear people saying "you only learn that for your driving test", why do they think it is in the driving test in the first place, do they ever think about what the driving test is for? It is not intended as some sort of ritual right of passage marking adulthood. The driving test is to ensure (for at least one day in their lives) that those who hold a driving license can actually drives to a minimum standard, because a motor vehicle is potentially very dangerous.

Cycling, in terms of its risk to others, is far safer, which is why there is no requirement to have a test and a license. Sorry straying off topic here.

Drivers do have a responsibility to use their mirrors and take account of other road users, also they need to remember that having a driving license does not give them any greater right to the use of the road than anyone else...

Here endith the sermon...

 

[Wigsie]

It often makes me wonder how much most drives actually think about their driving. Do they ever think about why there is a legal requirement to have door mirrors on both sides of the car? All to often I hear people saying "you only learn that for your driving test", why do they think it is in the driving test in the first place, do they ever think about what the driving test is for? It is not intended as some sort of ritual right of passage marking adulthood. The driving test is to ensure (for at least one day in an hour of their lives) that those who hold a driving license can actually drives to a minimum standard, because a motor vehicle is potentially very dangerous.

Cycling, in terms of its risk to others, is far safer, which is why there is no requirement to have a test and a license. Sorry straying off topic here.

Drivers do have a responsibility to use their mirrors and take account of other road users, also they need to remember that having a driving license does not give them any greater right to the use of the road than anyone else...

Here endith the sermon...

Corrected for you HJ

 

[Origamist]

I am serial under-taker, over-taker and occasional lane-splitter. Filtering is expedient, gratifying, contagious and addictive. Just be careful not to mainline momentum at every opportunity.

 

[HJ]

Corrected for you HJ

Thanks

 

[D4VOW]

It often makes me wonder how much most drives actually think about their driving. Do they ever think about why there is a legal requirement to have door mirrors on both sides of the car? All to often I hear people saying "you only learn that for your driving test", why do they think it is in the driving test in the first place, do they ever think about what the driving test is for? It is not intended as some sort of ritual right of passage marking adulthood. The driving test is to ensure (for at least one day in their lives) that those who hold a driving license can actually drives to a minimum standard, because a motor vehicle is potentially very dangerous.

Cycling, in terms of its risk to others, is far safer, which is why there is no requirement to have a test and a license. Sorry straying off topic here.

Drivers do have a responsibility to use their mirrors and take account of other road users, also they need to remember that having a driving license does not give them any greater right to the use of the road than anyone else...

Here endith the sermon...

It is NOT a legal requirement to have mirrors on BOTH sides of the car. The law states that any car built since August 1978 must have two mirrors, one offside mirror plus one other. Prior to 1978 a car only needs to have one mirror, either offside, nearside or internal.