Taking risks whilst filtering

[al78]

Depends on your perception of risk

Someone told me that 38mph down a (non resedential, main road) on a bike was stupid, all it would take was a car to pull out.

I responded with a quick account of the car that careered across the road and smashed into the car waiting at traffic lights just in front of me - if that had been me at the front of the queue - and asked if waiting at a red light was therefore stupid and dangerous.

Everything carries a degree of risk - not least being sedentary and not cycling because it's "dangerous"

The most risky filtering I see regularly is at roundabouts - I rarely if ever filter on the approach to a roundabout unless I am turning left, and then with extreme care

Example: A 3-lane approach to a roundabout. Left lane is "Left and straight ahead", Middle lane is "Straight ahead and right" and Right lane is "Right turn only". I queue, roughly for only 2-3 minutes at most, in primary in the centre lane, in order to turn right at the RAB

I see many cyclists make the right turn by filering down the white line between left and centre lane, and keeping that position as they enter the RAB, trying to turn right when the vehicles on their offside for may want (usually do on this RAB) to go straight ahead.

I'd rather lose 10 minutes queueing over the course of a week than longer in a hospital (or worse)

http://en.wikipedia....ading_vividness

 

[XmisterIS]

I must admit that I tend to filter like a lunatic through stationary or slow-moving traffic jams. I'm far more careful on my motorbike (covered from head to toe in armour plating) than I am on my bicycle, especially if I'm on the road bike.

That being said, I observe a few simple rules on the bicycle in heavy traffic that seem to keep me safe, which are as follows:

1) Never get into a contest with a car. The car is bigger and stronger than you and it will win.
2) Never ever get into a contest with anything bigger than a car. It will also win.
3) Never ever ever ever undertake or overtake HGVs or buses when they're moving.
4) Never overtake or undertake any vehicle that may be about to do a manoeuvre.
5) Never overtake any vehicle unless you can see an exit point (so you don't get stuck beside the vehicle in the middle of the road).
6) Always overtake or undertake high-sided vehicles with caution - you never know what might be hidden from view behind the front of the vehicle.
7) Never filter past the front of a vehicle that is joining or about to join the carriageway from a side road, either from right or left. Always stop and let them complete the manoeuvre, unless the driver unambiguously stops and waves you to go on.
8) When filtering down the middle of traffic, always tuck in behind a car in the left hand lane BEFORE the traffic is that lane is going as fast as you (otherwise you risk getting stuck in the middle of the road between two flows of fast-moving vehicles).

 

[Tynan]

blimey, if you rode in London you wouldn;t get to work in time to set off home with those rules

 

[XmisterIS]

blimey, if you rode in London you wouldn;t get to work in time to set off home with those rules

Lol! We (and that is the Royal "we") lives in Aaaaam'shurr we does, wot is more civilized than London on account of the lower traffic volume, wot includes traac'rrs and cumboin aaaaavstrrrs. And sheep. We supposes that the only places where you get really heavy rush hour traffic are certain trunk roads in Pom'ey and Sudaam'tn.

 

[Tynan]

deedy, I checked your locale before going all Lahden cyclist on you

 

[summerdays]

I filter but not to the point of recklessness (IMO). I just don't do it at speed and have been looking ahead and planning multiple drop-out points. As others have said - its easier when you know the light sequence and how long each phase is so that you are less likely to be caught mid filtering when the lights change. And most motorists always seem to let me back into the queue (or I'm good at barging in regardless?).

I never criticise a cyclist who wouldn't do the same manoeuvre as myself as I have no idea of their skill level ... where as I know how fast I can accelerate or brake - that's not to say I never criticise myself - as I do make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

http://en.wikipedia....ading_vividness

Missing the point (though maybe looking back I didn't put the comment in context enough, of the bloke being a new driver converted from a motorcycle, and I know that he's have no qualms about doing the same speed down the same hill (within the speed limit) on a motorcycle)

The point being that the implied "cycling is dangerous" is misleading vividness in itself

Cycling is NOT inherently dangerous, it is simply an activity that carries its own degree of risk the same as any other activity (or inactivity)

 

[XmisterIS]

I filter but not to the point of recklessness (IMO). I just don't do it at speed and have been looking ahead and planning multiple drop-out points. As others have said - its easier when you know the light sequence and how long each phase is so that you are less likely to be caught mid filtering when the lights change. And most motorists always seem to let me back into the queue (or I'm good at barging in regardless?).

I never criticise a cyclist who wouldn't do the same manoeuvre as myself as I have no idea of their skill level ... where as I know how fast I can accelerate or brake - that's not to say I never criticise myself - as I do make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.

I find it's usually easy to get back into the queue because the sense of distance is very different in a car compared to on a bike - what seems close in a car is actually a pretty long way, and drivers keep that separation because of the weight of a car giving it so much momentum. If you can't get back into a lane of traffic because there's not enough space, then 99% of the time it's because the driver is deliberately tailgating the car in front to stop you from coming across. It happens very rarely, but some people do do it. I've never had it happen to my on the bicycle, but sometimes people try to do it to me on the motorbike (despite the fact that I'm going to overtake the car in front asap and cause the car behind absolutely no hold-up whatsoever ...)

 

[sheddy]

Bookmarked for later

 

[XmisterIS]

Bookmarked for later

Whut???

 

[wesa]

[QUOTE 1315906"]
it was exhilarating.
[/quote]

That is what does it for me, my only filter opportunity saves me a maximum of a minute; why do I filter, why do I hope the traffic is backed up and I can filter (sad, I know), because it is fun.

I watch some of the vids from city riders and contemplate taking a day of work and getting on the train because it looks like fun, but then all your stories put me off!

 

[ComedyPilot]

On my commute I never get to filter - too short, and rural.

However on the very seldom occasions that I ride in town traffic I do enjoy sailing past queues of traffic inching their way to the next red light.

Best bit of filtering I ever did was on the A64 north east of York. 1 1/2 miles of stationary traffic queueing to get to Scarborough/coast, before I turned off towards Gate Helmsley.

Every summer weekend on the A64 near York is the same - 35 miles of gridlock just because of some people's urge to go to t'coast for t'day.

 

[asterix]

What is the law regarding someone opening the car door and spoiling your day ?

It's not allowed, they should look before doing so. If they did not they would be liable.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Best bit of filtering I ever did was on the A64 north east of York. 1 1/2 miles of stationary traffic queueing to get to Scarborough/coast, before I turned off towards Gate Helmsley.

So you went on a quiet day?

 

[magnatom]

Jolly good. I love it when an excuse arises to repost this video.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq_ce0D9eMQ[/media]