Two things which people do which confuse me...

[Dogtrousers]

Another reason for (1) would be if you are clipped in, and don't want to unclip you keep going as slowly as possible hoping that the lights will go green, and then unclip at the last minute just before you end up in the stream of crossing traffic.

I try to do my waiting-for-green dawdling as I filter down to the front, so that when the lights do go green I have a car to slipstream as it accelerates and I get in lane. Maybe that's stupid, I don't know, but it's what I do.

 

[Lonestar]

Oh my tactic is stick behind the biggest vehicle if possible at lights,could be van/lorry or bus.As I say,depends on circumstances.At Sumner Street near Blackfriars Bridge coming from Southwark Bridge Im quite happy to stick behind the inevitable black cab that will be round there.

 

[MichaelW2]

Some stop lines are set way back from the junction, 2 or 3 seconds of cycling time, or more when uphill. This is time for a left-turning vehicle to pass you on the right, then cut across you. If you move out of sight of the lights, and don't know the phasing, you loose advantage, but if you can go on the R of AMBER, you get a clear run across a wide junction, esp uphill or when loaded.

 

[Drago]

I I gain a precious 2 or 3 seconds where I get moving before the cars and can establish my position on the road.

You're safest behind the first motor vehicle in the queue, where you have already established your position before you even begin moving. The lead vehicle gets all the worry about pulling out, making sure it's safe, and getting under way, and also provides a disincentive of a few seconds duration for the vehicle behind you not to overtake. Any safety benefit from starting on a bicycle at the head of a queue of motorised traffic is illusory.

 

[CharlesF]

You're safest behind the first motor vehicle in the queue, where you have already established your position before you even begin moving. The lead vehicle gets all the worry about pulling out, making sure it's safe, and getting under way, and also provides a disincentive of a few seconds duration for the vehicle behind you not to overtake. Any safety benefit from starting on a bicycle at the head of a queue of motorised traffic is illusory.

Drago, these are good points and very valid. I should amplify my reply to say I don't filter through stationary traffic at the lights and I wait in the line of cars as I'm worried I would be filtering when the lights change. I only move forward in the intersection if at the front of the queue or there is no traffic at my point in the intersection.

 

[summerdays]

You're safest behind the first motor vehicle in the queue, where you have already established your position before you even begin moving. The lead vehicle gets all the worry about pulling out, making sure it's safe, and getting under way, and also provides a disincentive of a few seconds duration for the vehicle behind you not to overtake. Any safety benefit from starting on a bicycle at the head of a queue of motorised traffic is illusory.

It depends on the junction. One where the majority of traffic is turning right, if I'm not at the head of the line then I have to be extremely careful that they don't just see a gap to turn right through. I've had it so many times at that one junction I will always try to be at front so the oncoming traffic sees me and gives way.