Personally I don't filter if I don't have to. Working in London means I do have to but if the traffic is going along at 25 in a 30 zone I just ride at 25.
Might as well be driving a car if we didn't filter!Said I don't if I don't have to. On an average day I do 36 miles of solid filtering each way.
Do you and how long did it take you to filter with confidence and what are your do's & don'ts
I like to get up front and put the bike and myself in front of any other vehicle to show my intention as I have been in a position when cage drivers will try and race me with little success but try and force me over. They do not like a bike progressing.
Do you and how long did it take you to filter with confidence and what are your do's & don'ts
Yes, I do it, I always have done, but that's because whilst I've only been riding a motorbike for about 6 years, I've been cycling for most of my life :-)
QuoteI like to get up front and put the bike and myself in front of any other vehicle to show my intention as I have been in a position when cage drivers will try and race me with little success but try and force me over. They do not like a bike progressing.
I wouldn't recommend that, it's aggressive and can lead to problems (as you've noticed). I prefer to filter up to the gap behind the first car stopped at traffic lights etc and then wait for the lights to change. If they've seen you and wait, then go ahead and give them a nice "thank you" wave, otherwise look for an opportunity to pass them a bit later.
Remember that, if it's on zig-zag lines, it's illegal to overtake ie have your front wheel cross the line of their front wheels, so don't do that.
One question: how has this worked out for London so far?
"The advanced stop line (ASL) into the area designated for cyclists. London boroughs have recently started enforcing this!"
Is it a smart idea, or is it a pain in the neck. Asking because I would never stop in front of cars at a traffic light while on a bicycle. Would slow them down. Stay at the side, behind the first car, but never in front. Does it make traffic move better, safer, or is it a bother?
I regularly move to the first place at traffic lights. The logic is that motorcycle is a lot faster at start, so I won't slow people down - as if I wasn't there at all. If I stay behind the first car, I'm making a queue (AND skipping it :) ). So it is fairer to get there first, fly off (checking left and right for idiots going for "almost green still").
Of course, I do so when it is safe. Not always.
"The advanced stop line (ASL) into the area designated for cyclists. London boroughs have recently started enforcing this!"
Is it a smart idea, or is it a pain in the neck. Asking because I would never stop in front of cars at a traffic light while on a bicycle. Would slow them down. Stay at the side, behind the first car, but never in front. Does it make traffic move better, safer, or is it a bother?
If they're going to fine motorists/motorcyclists for breaking the rules, then they need a major clampdown on cyclists who do. I know it's a generalisation, but cyclists seem to think they can do any bloody thing. Course it's always somebody else's fault if they get knocked off :rolleyes
Fair enough. My post was based on IAM guidelines and avoids the idiots who think that Amber means "go" or problems such as you accidentally bogging down when you pull away and having someone run into you from behind.
I will, depending on circumstances "assertively position" myself in front of cars (eg if I'm turning right) or if there's traffic parked on the left just after the lights meaning that I'll have to try and merge into a moving stream of vehicles which are going faster because they've had time to accelerate from the lights.
Slaninar, why would you not stop for a red light if riding on the road?
A red light is an IMPERATIVE for ALL traffic.
Also see far too many cyclists coming to a red light and just bombing over the pavement, scaring the life out of pedestrians. I know it's not ALL cyclists, but as with thoughtless motorcyclists, it gives the rest of you a bad name.
I wouldn't recommend that, it's aggressive and can lead to problems (as you've noticed). I prefer to filter up to the gap behind the first car stopped at traffic lights etc and then wait for the lights to change. If they've seen you and wait, then go ahead and give them a nice "thank you" wave,
If they're going to fine motorists/motorcyclists for breaking the rules, then they need a major clampdown on cyclists who do. I know it's a generalisation, but cyclists seem to think they can do any bloody thing. Course it's always somebody else's fault if they get knocked off :rolleyes
If they're going to fine motorists/motorcyclists for breaking the rules, then they need a major clampdown on cyclists who do. I know it's a generalisation, but cyclists seem to think they can do any bloody thing. Course it's always somebody else's fault if they get knocked off :rolleyes
Unfortunately, cyclists can pretty much get away with anything, seeing how there's no way to positively identify them.
DNA testing from the blood you scrape up ? :eek
I was filtering leading up to a roundabout the car on my right moved over so I had to move and was hit by the car on my left, my leg and arm/hand took the impact so no damage to the bike, the cars mirror folded back, so no damage there, so quite lucky all told :D
Slaninar, why would you not stop for a red light if riding on the road?
Because nobody is coming across - why wait?
In London you really don't want to do that, instead filter to the front and if you get there early in the traffic lights phase and there is room before the pedestrians bit, manouvre your bike on front of one of the cars at the head of the queue, this allows other bikers to filter to the front and get in 'pole position' as it were. I know this might sound aggressive and maybe it shouldn't be reccomended, but bikers in London do it anyway and cagers are resigned to it.