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

[Twanger]

You have a line of stopped cars at the lights. There is more than enough room between the cars and the pavement. As a cyclist, what are you "meant" to do? As I understand it, you can pootle down there as long as it's safe - i.e, no left signalling vehicles, no one getting out of the car, no stopped buses etc. etc.

When does it become "overtaking on the left" or "undertaking"? I had a look at the highway code, and all I could find is "only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so" (I don't have a UK driving licence, and so have never met this interesting document before). This suggests to me that we shouldn't even pootle.

What are the rules?

 

[thomas]

If you can filter on the right, go on the right. I'd avoid the left as best I could. Legally, if you got hurt I believe you would be in the right...but I wouldn't want to get hurt and I think that's more likely to happen on the left.

If you go slowly and carefully on the left, using common sense, you should be fine.

 

[marinyork]

The two above replies are fine. Where things differ rights and wrongs wise is with cycle lanes (going into ASLs). As was recently pointed out in a very heated discussion on the matter, following unsuitable cycle lanes into lights could get you killed even if it is the other party's fault.

 

[arallsopp]

There are few hard and fast rules, and you need to add common sense to whatever the highway code prescribes. I tend to filter on the right, unless there's a cyclist ahead already filtering down the left. Drivers tend to spot me on the outside, and politely crush the poor dear on the inside.
Same thing happens if you filter on the inside, and some considerate soul spots a motorbike filtering up the centre line in their mirror.
Suddenly, you've got no road. All bad.

 

[Twanger]

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?

 

[snorri]

I had a look at the highway code, ..... (I don't have a UK driving licence, and so have never met this interesting document before).

The lack of a UK driving licence is not a valid reason for failing to have "met" the Highway Code.

 

[Dan B]

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.

 

[Wigsie]

The lack of a UK driving licence is not a valid reason for failing to have "met" the Highway Code.

+1

besides, those of us thatpassed their tests more than 10 years ago didnt really have to know much about the highway code either way, so its always handy to keep up to date, makes a cracking bedtime read.

 

[Tynan]

left, middle or roght, whatever looks easiest/safest, I don;t think any is safer than another, different risks to all of them

all gray area legal according to the highway code 'slow moving or stationary traffic covers it

 

[a_n_t]

You'll find alot of drivers that have just overtaken you will get as close to the kerb as possible to try and stop you getting past. Annoy them even more by filtering on the right

 

[PBancroft]

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...

 

[hackbike 666]

I think everywhere can differ everyday depending on circumstances.

 

[Twanger]

I will sleep with a copy of the highway code beneath my pillow from now on.

It's surprisingly similar to the Turkish highway code, except it's in English and not Turkish and all the lefts are rights.

We should know the rules of it, indeed. Hence this thread.

 

[Twanger]

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...

So where do I take a bicycle test?

 

[PBancroft]

So where do I take a bicycle test?

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.