The joy of filtering

[GFamily]

Would appreciate any views on this situation, which arose this morning on the way to work.

Albany Road in Cardiff is a bit of a mare for cyclists – main trunk road, yet narrow, lots of parked cars and commercial traffic on either side, with a fair number illegally parked next to junctions. Added to this, lots of shoppers crossing away from pelicans from between parked cars. Lots of stationary traffic queues, often stretching back east from the picturesquely named five way “Death Junction” (at the western end of the street shown in the map), almost along its full length

Anyway, this morning, about 11, was on my way to work using my usual route, which takes me along Angus Street and onto Albany heading west (see map). There was a particularly long queue of traffic, caused by a coach which was trying to turn into Diana Street (right turn up ahead in Streetview here, very narrow: not the sort of road you want to be driving a coach down) . So as is my habit, I filtered right of the queue, staying just right of the centre line. Thanks to the coach blocking the road, the right hand lane was entirely free of oncoming traffic up to Diana Street. Nonetheless, I was going reasonably slowly. Ahead of me in the queue (probably level with the parked blue car on the left in Streetview) was a blue builder’s lorry (high cab), which reduced visibility and filled the lane.

As I drew closer to the cab, I could see there was a sizeable gap (one car and a bit more, I think) between the lorry and the car in front. As I drew level with the cab, a red Fiesta suddenly shot through this gap out into the right hand lane. Presumably the builder’s lorry had stopped and left the space to let the driver out. Nonetheless, the Fiesta was hardly edging out into the lane – it accelerated hard, aware I suppose that the other lane was empty of east bound traffic thanks to the turning coach.

Despite going fairly slowly, I had to swerve violently as well as slam the brakes on, but even so my pedal made contact with the rear door on the driver’s side – so a nice scrape there, no doubt. I managed to stay on the bike. Don’t know where the car went, or whether the driver was even aware of me.

The builder’s passenger made it clear that he thought it was entirely my fault, and that I was probably given to self-abuse to boot. I pointed out to him that I was filtering, and carefully (and left it at that) but I wonder (as one always does) whether I could have done more to avoid what happened?

For example, I could have stayed further out into the right hand lane to improve my line of sight. But then perhaps I would actually have been hit by the Fiesta, given that it pulled out quickly rather than edging out.

Any thoughts?

Definitely 50/50 and that's being possibly unfair on the Fiesta driver
You were aware that the truck was holding back but didn't ask yourself why.
You couldn't stop in the space you could see ahead.
By filtering you were technically overtaking, and you shouldn't do that on the approach to a junction - for exactly the reason you experienced

 

[Rochenko]

Definitely 50/50 and that's being possibly unfair on the Fiesta driver
You were aware that the truck was holding back but didn't ask yourself why.
You couldn't stop in the space you could see ahead.
By filtering you were technically overtaking, and you shouldn't do that on the approach to a junction - for exactly the reason you experienced

There was no junction on the left - I clarified that point in a subsequent post; the car pulled out (presumably) from a parking space. And as I said in the OP, the truck was part of a queue of traffic, which continued down the road to where the coach was turning - so it wasn't evident that it was "holding back". As far as I knew on my approach, it was stationary as part of a queue. Only when coming level with the cab was it clear that there was a gap ahead. Not much space there to make a decision when I suddenly had to.

Less speed (i.e. dead slow rather than slow) would obviously have been better. Not having a car pull out at speed and at a shallow angle would have helped too, but there you go.

 

[Greenflash]

Hi Rochenko from another Cardiff cyclist.

Albany Road has been part of my daily commute for (too) many years. Surely you realise that the normal rules that govern traffic do not apply in this area. There is absolutely no way that I would have attempted to either filter or overtake a vehicle on that road. Best to just go with the flow and maintain your position in the traffic. Its called death junction for a reason.

Regarding Cardiff Council's Cycle Strategy consultation. I know that many cyclists made a point of highlighting the ludicrous exclusion of this area in future plans...lets hope they listen to the views of real cyclists and not the non - cycling planners.

 

[sheddy]

10 yrs ago the wife was edging out slowly turning right into a stationary main rd after being waved out by a lorry driver. A filtering moped rides at speed into her RH wing.

Insurance co found 100% in favour of the moped rider. He was OK.
Her car (10yrs old) was a write off.

 

[Rochenko]

Hi Rochenko from another Cardiff cyclist.

Albany Road has been part of my daily commute for (too) many years. Surely you realise that the normal rules that govern traffic do not apply in this area. There is absolutely no way that I would have attempted to either filter or overtake a vehicle on that road. Best to just go with the flow and maintain your position in the traffic. Its called death junction for a reason.

Regarding Cardiff Council's Cycle Strategy consultation. I know that many cyclists made a point of highlighting the ludicrous exclusion of this area in future plans...lets hope they listen to the views of real cyclists and not the non - cycling planners.

Hi Greenflash - yes, I pointed that out too as part of my two pen'orth during the consultation, along with a host of other stuff they'd ignored (City Road, Cathays Terrace Library junction, access to parks...).

I generally find that Albany's OK, filtering slowly and carefully (as you would on any other road). Have been doing this for about 18 months out of 5 years cycling in the city, and in all that time have never had a single incident whilst doing it until today (near left and right hooks on Albany are another matter). And after all, it's either filter or wait interminably in the queue, sometimes for the whole length of the road. At DJ westbound I go right in the filter lane anyway, where there's hardly ever a queue there as everyone is either going left down City Road or straight down Richmond.

Where do you commute from/to? I work at the Uni on Park Place, so after dropping the kids off at nursery/school in the morning it's either Albany or up Pen-y-Wain road. And if it's Pen-y-Wain, one runs the gauntlet of the P-y-W road/Mackintosh Place junction, which at rush hour is well-served by dozy idiots left- and right-hooking with gay abandon.

 

[gbb]

Not knowing OPs local conditions, but i'll quite happily filter on the right if its safe but you're between a rock and a hard place. Filter on the left (assuming its an option), you risk getting doored or squeezed.
Filter on the right, less chance of getting doored, but i find it does leave you in no mans land occasionally if traffic starts to move and it does surprise drivers occasionally. Yes they should be aware and looking for you...but i'm a realist and with the best will in the world...it's not reality, so i always proceed with caution. Not saying you weren't OP, but everything carries a certain amount of risk. I dont beat myself up about it when it goes wrong occasionally, just try to learn from it and be as vigilant a possible and ready to react.

 

[campbellab]

There are a few cases stated in the article, but are there a hundred other cases where the defendent has been to blame?

Anyone filtering should be going at a speed and have room where they can stop if a vehicle nudges out as you need to do if the view isn't clear. If a vehicle just pulls straight out it should be their fault :\



I hate overtaking parked cars at a junction when you a car also approaches the junction as you are performing the maneuvre. I'm sure they think it's their side of the road no matter the fact they are behind the giveway line

 

[Greenflash]

Hi Greenflash - yes, I pointed that out too as part of my two pen'orth during the consultation, along with a host of other stuff they'd ignored (City Road, Cathays Terrace Library junction, access to parks...).

I generally find that Albany's OK, filtering slowly and carefully (as you would on any other road). Have been doing this for about 18 months out of 5 years cycling in the city, and in all that time have never had a single incident whilst doing it until today (near left and right hooks on Albany are another matter). And after all, it's either filter or wait interminably in the queue, sometimes for the whole length of the road. At DJ westbound I go right in the filter lane anyway, where there's hardly ever a queue there as everyone is either going left down City Road or straight down Richmond.

Where do you commute from/to? I work at the Uni on Park Place, so after dropping the kids off at nursery/school in the morning it's either Albany or up Pen-y-Wain road. And if it's Pen-y-Wain, one runs the gauntlet of the P-y-W road/Mackintosh Place junction, which at rush hour is well-served by dozy idiots left- and right-hooking with gay abandon.

I commute from Whitchurch to Splott. I work for a Housing Charity so travel, usually by bike, to many different locations in the City.

Somehow the traffic in Roath is just, erm, different.

It is a known phenomenon that a person's intelligence falls dramatically once their arse hits a drivers seat; this is particularly observable in taxi drivers, Audi/BMW drivers, White Van Man etc.

There is a geographical equivalent of this phenomenon in the Roath area; somehow drivers just turn into the motoring friends of Krusty the Clown.
As soon as I get to Crwys Road at one end or the Marlborough/Albany roundabout at the other I turn on the psychological "Every - One's out to kill me!" mode. It shouldn't be like this, but for as long as I have known (27 years) it has been an area to be very cautious.

 

[Virtual DBP]

as i've learnt from riding and filtering with motorcycles for the last 20yrs, it doesn't matter who's in the right or wrong... if someone swipes you it's going to hurt.

i'm sure, like many on here, i've managed to get quite good at potential issues where something might happen or cars that i don't like the 'look' off (that invariably dive into some gap across your path).

p.s. pet hate, its nothing to do with audi/bmw or white vans, it's all vehicles, including some two wheelers who've been in the lane an then decided they're going to filter and pulled out to the middle when i'm there.

p.p.s on the taxi thing - when i took my bike lessons, the instructor said to me that taxi drivers are doing a job and if someone puts their hand out, they hit the brake (that's their job)... so if you don't watch them and give them plenty room then you're an arse and wont last on the road very long - again, its back to anticipating and again, it doesn't matter who the highway code will support in the court, because you'll be the one in hospital.

Edited to include a amusing filtering on the right in kirkcaldy, fife.

police motorcyclist filtering on the right down a long queue of traffic heading towards the town centre. car driver bored waiting decides to do a 3 point turn and checking nothing was coming the other way starts his manoeuvre. police motorcyclist does an emergency stop to prevent hitting the side of the car as it's pulling out and managed to dive in the space the driver left. told me he just got a chance to get his foot down (and get a breath) when same driver completing his 3 point turn reverses into him knocking him off the bike. said driver went visibly white when he jumped out and saw the police bike and rider on its side.

 

[Dan B]

Obviously the ideal thing would have been for me to be able to stop in the space of around 1.5 metres (approx, rear to front of cab), and I don't think I could have done that (and if it had been a pedestrian coming round the front of the cab, that would not have been good).

Good point about the pedestrian, I might add. Sounds liek a case of "Lesson learnt, move on."

That said, it does perhaps reinforce the point that awareness of cyclists filtering down the right as per Cyclecraft and general good practice is probably very low among drivers in general. This is worrying.

<snarky>
You could remove the words "of cyclists filtering down the right as per Cyclecraft and general good practice" and it would still be true enough to be worth behaving as if it were universal
</snarky>