Why is filtering up the left dangerous?

[dodd82]

Just read the PDF from the top of the page - very useful and some things I hadn't considered.

One point struck me - not filtering up the left hand side of traffic when it's stationary... and I was surprised.

Don't get me wrong, I know why it would be stupid to position yourself halfway up a car so that you'll potentially be squashed as it turns left, and I know why sitting anywhere near a large vehicle is stupid, for the same reason.

But in my limited time commuting, I've found it (semmingly) safe to filter some of the way, and position myself clearly in front of one car, letting anything in front - be it just the one car or more - free to go.

When I do that, I feel that I have made ground up but am also clearly visible to the traffic immediately behind me, and I feel that trying to filter in the middle or outside the right lane is more dangerous.

Happy to shown the error of my ways, but just don't fully understand why!

Thanks

 

[4F]

In general each road is different and I would say that whilst I would prefer to filter on the right sometimes I feel it is safer on the left. However whilst passing stationary traffic you need to be aware that the passenger may decide to exit the vehicle at that very point and the first thing you know is when the door opens in front of you.

 

[SportMonkey]

Left is how you get killed by lorries.

Don't do it unless you're very aware.

 

[dodd82]

In general each road is different and I would say that whilst I would prefer to filter on the right sometimes I feel it is safer on the left. However whilst passing stationary traffic you need to be aware that the passenger may decide to exit the vehicle at that very point and the first thing you know is when the door opens in front of you.

Fair point - is this then aimed at people who are filtering at a decent speed?

When I refer to myself, I'm talking about going so slowly that I'm virtually pulling myself along with my feet!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Think of it this way, if you were pootling along quite comfortably and someone suddenly pushed your bike into the kerb do you think you'd be able to stay upright? Now, if you were pootling along and a sumo wrestler weighing two tonnes ran at you and pushed you against a wall could you stay alive?

I do sometimes filter on totally stationary traffic on the left, but the second the traffic moves I make damn sure I match it. I'm uneasy filtering on the left to say the least.

 

[Drago]

To answer the question in the title - because it can kill you.

 

[dodd82]

Left is how you get killed by lorries.

Don't do it unless you're very aware.

I wouldn't be so stupid as to put myself anywhere near a lorry through filtering. If I could see there was a lengthy delay and it was going nowhere then perhaps... but I agree with you, it's the quick way to a nasty accident!

 

[dodd82]

Think of it this way, if you were pootling along quite comfortably and someone suddenly pushed your bike into the kerb do you think you'd be able to stay upright? Now, if you were pootling along and a sumo wrestler weighing two tonnes ran at you and pushed you against a wall could you stay alive?

I do sometimes filter on totally stationary traffic on the left, but the second the traffic moves I make damn sure I match it. I'm uneasy filtering on the left to say the least.

Okay thanks - maybe I am misinterpreting the situations to which it refers. I never filter when the traffic is moving.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Okay thanks - maybe I am misinterpreting the situations to which it refers. I never filter when the traffic is moving.

It sounds like you do what I sometimes do, which is edge along at walking speed where enough of a gap has been left in stationary traffic.

 

[dodd82]

It sounds like you do what I sometimes do, which is edge along at walking speed where enough of a gap has been left in stationary traffic.

Yeh, that's it. And on my route I know the lay of the land, I know the light sequences, and I'm extremely conscious of those - I make sure that I am stationary and clearly visible to the car next/behind me when the lights go green.

That's why I wasn't sure why I was 'being told' that it was the wrong thing to do.

 

[Markymark]

Generally drivers don't expect people to be passing them on the left so if they suddenly do seomthing they may not think to look. If they're stationary this could be opening a door (happens quiote often) or turning into a road/driveway you've not seen or even repositioning themsleves as the car in front of them has suddenly indicated to turn right.

Don;t get me wrong, I do it when there's plenty of space and I do it very slowly but I much prfer to be on the right.

 

[dodd82]

Generally drivers don't expect people to be passing them on the left so if they suddenly do seomthing they may not think to look. If they're stationary this could be opening a door (happens quiote often) or turning into a road/driveway you've not seen or even repositioning themsleves as the car in front of them has suddenly indicated to turn right.

Don;t get me wrong, I do it when there's plenty of space and I do it very slowly but I much prfer to be on the right.

Thanks for the post.

Couple of things - I think I'm going slowly enough to account for any door opening, and, with respect, there's no chance of a turn as it's completely stationary.

I don't understand this right side filtering though. Surely you are almost, if not completely, into the opposite side of the road, with questionable access back into the flow of traffic? I can see some scenarios where it's okay, but not many, but maybe that's a confidence issue on my part?

 

[gaz]

A tactic of motorcyclists whilst filtering on the right is to rev their engine, drivers may then move to the left to allow them more room to pass. They will not check for cyclists first and as such you can easily come a cropper because of it.

Add all the other good arguments above on top of that and it is best to avoid it. That doesn't mean you can't / shouldn't do it, you have to use your own judgement, sometimes it is safer on the left than on the right.

 

[MattHB]

I sometimes think they should have cycle lanes in the middle as drivers don't even expect you to be on the left even when your in your own lane.

 

[edindave]

Filtering/passing stationary traffic on the right has hazards to be mindful of too. Like the driver who decides he can't wait any longer and decides to do a sudden 3-point turn and pulls out.