Why is filtering up the left dangerous?

[Sittingduck]

It depends on the situation. I filter where ever is safer, could be on the right, the left or not at all. I filter on the left at multiple points every day and have yet to come into contact with anything, while doing so. So it's not a guaranteed way to get squashed. Just use common sense.

 

[Arfcollins]

I hate to mention this, but Rule 163 of the Highway Code says:
'only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so'.

 

[400bhp]

How do you "overtake" on the left? Impossible.

Thus making filtering on the left acceptable.

Clearly so as that where the cycle farcilities are located too.

 

[defy-one]

filtering up the left or right is a judgement call. safest would be to stop short of the last car and move up slowly as they do. Not normal behaviour for a cyclist i grant you, so as soon as we start to pass queuing cars, we introduce risk.
i prefer filtering up the right hand side in the middle of the road, much like motorcyclists. i find it gives me more room, that wedged between cars/vans/trucks and the kerb. if anything goes wrong, i have nowhere to go

 

[Andy_R]

think to yourself....as a driver, would you expect someone to "over/under" take you on the left. Where would you be looking? When driving, I tend to look right to see who is coming. I tend to look left when I'm turning that way, or exiting a r'bout. I'm sure I'll get lamblastted(sic) by others for that, but if I'm cycling, i think to myself "where would I look now if I was driving?"
So many cyclists forget that they need to be predictable.

 

[daSmirnov]

Depends on the road and traffic.

Watch out at junctions for vehicles turning left across you, or vehicles exiting/entering the side road and not seeing you - watch for any gaps in traffic, there's probably a gap for a reason. Or people leaping out of cars. Make sure you're not in a vehicle's blind spot - keep in mind the road may narrow in slow moving traffic, you don't wanna get squashed.

Typically I filter on the right, that's where people expect to see motorcyclists filtering.

 

[slowmotion]

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.

Three years ago, and cautious, I was left filtering past a car in second place at a red light...in a cycle lane. I was riding at less than walking pace. A passenger swung open the door as I was 300 mm past its trailing edge. Absolutely no chance of reacting at all. I was swatted sideways onto the pavement, unhurt, but with the bike on top of me. My right pedal gouged an impressive foot long scar into the pristine white paintwork of the door. The driver and passenger could not have been more apologetic, but I tend to right filter now.

 

[CopperCyclist]

For me it's simple. I filter on the left and the right. I assume the driver hasn't seen me. Sometimes this means I choose not to filter.

 

[Sittingduck]

Many people seem to think that filtering on the right is much safer but I would suggest there is a much greater risk of some nobber on a motorbike or scooter coming flying up the middle of the road and crashing into me. There are plenty of risks, which ever side you choose!

 

[shunter]

There is one particular road of about 3 miles long where I filter on the left - with caution !! It is very stop and go i.e. the traffic may be stationary for a short period but then travelling too fast to facilitate filtering on the right. Whilst you are filtering past 10-20 cars on the left for a period of time you could then at the next instance find they are overtaking you at 20-30mph. I also filter on the right whilst on motorcycle on this part of the road and with the increase in cyclists have to be aware that cars may move out to overtake them so I am always scanning the road ahead for cyclists. Mine you the same scenario applies when filtering on the left on bicycle - being aware a car may suddenly close your gap in response to a motorcycle filtering on the right.
There are some parts of the road with hatched off sections in the middle of the road - mainly to allow oncomming traffic to cross the road - where it is possible to overtake on the right when on a bicycle but there is the added risk that the traffic may speed up and isolate you in the middle of the road.

 

[psmiffy]

It totally depends on the circumstances which side I choose to pass (for some reason I hate that word filter) stationary or very slow traffic - The questions I need to ask myself are

1. Is it worth it - what am I going to gain – If it is just to get to the front of the traffic at some lights a few cars up then no – if I can see a long queue of traffic stationary in front of me then yes.
2. Is there room – If there is a big wide gap down the left then I might use that in preference to down the right - If it is a nice wide road with a good sized neutral zone between the traffic then I might use in preference – Is the oncoming traffic intermittent – If it is then I will go down the middle and take refuge when there is oncoming traffic.
3. Are there traffic Islands that are going to make my progress down the right difficult without having to weave into the traffic.
4. Are there lots of pedestrians popping between the vehicles.
5. Is the traffic I am going to pass behaving predictably – difficult to assess but there is a tendency these day for people to pull out of the traffic to zoom down to the next turning (among other things.

Then there are my rules

1. I DO NOT go down the inside of large vehicles.
2. I DO NOT go too fast – subjective – means I only go as fast as I can see whether there are turning vehicles which may be shielded from my vision by the stationary traffic.
3. If in doubt stay where I am (in the middle of the lane occupying the same space as a car) – a few extra minutes on my ride is not a big deal – probably make it up down the road a bit.

Generally my preference is to pass traffic on the right – but I try not to stick to hard and fast rules and just weigh up every situation on a case by case basis.

On the face of it would seem that my methodology is long winded and impractical – however, on the road it not something I even notice that I am doing – just ingrained from near on 50 years of cycling without incident.

 

[dodd82]

I hate to mention this, but Rule 163 of the Highway Code says:
'only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so'.

And is it overtaking if the traffic is stationary?

 

[dodd82]

Appreciate the responses to this thread, but I must reiterate - I'm not referring to moving traffic. Whe traffic is moving, I join the queue and take my time.

I am simply referring to traffic that is completely stationary, and I crawl up alongside them - taking care to stop in front of a car that can see me, and not going anywhere near large vehicles that might not have seen me ahead of their pull away.

 

[Sittingduck]

All traffic moves. Sometimes it just stops, then starts moving again...

 

[Andrew_P]

I filter up both, never up the inside of large vehicules regardless of cycle lane or not. If the cars are moving at reasonable pace I will not undertake. Most of my roads I feel are safer on the left. As pointed out oncoming traffic and frustrated u-turners are just as much of a hazard as left hookers and right turners are.

Reading minds and always expect a numpty. When I first got back in to cycling and flush with the new found freedom I used to try and make as faster progress as possible, now if I know I am going to be travelling in traffic I just take it easy with intention of getting to my destination in one piece.