On the way to work this morning I saw a perfect example of why motorbikes should filter, some guy in a honda civic had totalled the back of another car at a set of temporary traffic lights (wasn't watching where he was going). Police were there etc, didn't look like anyone was hurt but I got to thinking, if I was sat there and he hit me from behind then I would be somewhat thinner than when I woke up this morning.

So I have a few Q's on what you should and should not do while filtering.

Where should I position myself when moving through traffic? Left , right or middle when two or more lanes.

Should I cross into the other lane if nothing is coming to move down a line of traffic?

Should I pull in front of a waiting car at lights or stay at the side?

What should I do if some disgruntled car driver starts shouting at me for pushing in?

Any other hints or tips greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Have a look here:-



http://www.ukbikeforum.co.uk/forum/index.p...mp;hl=filtering




Miz.

That thread was before my time and a quick look can't see what I was seeking so will add that when I did my Bikesafe course the police personnel advised that when filtering where there are three lanes of traffic, try to filter between lanes 2 and 3. They feel if all bikers try and do that then cars will "expect them to be there". Also if two biles are filtering on opposite sides of a car and it sees one it might swerve to the other side and clip the other biker so better if both on same side!

And always make sure you are not driving the car

Thanks for the link miz but that really didn't answer any of my questions. I realise there is not right way to filter but the more experienced riders can perhaps at least give some words of wisdom on how they do it. As in that thread, do you stay behind the lead car or pull in front of it, there was no real answer.

It depends on the junction if there is room to get in front of the car I will as too many in the past have decided to try to race away from the lights to beat me if not I stay as best as possible behind the lead car.

Junctions where there is a right turn are useful though as they give you a clear run but it really is whats safest at the time.

So basically move up where there is space in the middle, see how much room you have to either pull in front or behind (never to side due to blind spot) and pull away giving appropriate thanks to fellow road users.

This sort of filtering seems a bit dangerous to me but that may be because i'm used to the width of a car rather than a bike. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EmnygnqCKoY

What about this one, would you have done the same? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y91nOszWZc (turn sound down tis a bit loud)

Cheers!

Thats so true. If its been a week or two since driving the van I have to remind myself I cant filter in a van....doh. I catch myself doing lifesavers in the van as well. Always a good idea.

I actually disagree with this. Mainly because my previous commute was for a single junction of the M3 (less then a mile). I either had to try and fight my away over to lane 2/3 and then immediately back again to come off or fight my way along between lanes 1 and 2 where there was zero gap for because everyone had moved over for the bikes in lane 2 and 3.

One junction of a mile, go up the hard shoulder, 120mph you'll only be alongside the cars for 30 secs. Jobs a good un.

Well obviously there may be exceptions to this - it was not a RULE but rather a rule of thumb - anyway then for less than a mile is filtering essential? However if the cars have moved over for all the other bikes in lane 2 and 3 you surely have to live with it anyway and if they have moved over for other bikes you can hardly be peed off with them?



As Wares says - it depends on the junction BUT don't do what Mr Pratt 1 did tonight with me - one lane at traffic lights - he comes up on my LEFT hand side despite there being room on the right. Now I'm sorry but any idiot should know car drivers are much more likely to notice someone in the drivers mirror than the passengers mirror. OK I saw him coming (but then I am a biker I use both mirrors even in the car) so I didn't run him over as the lights changed, but had it been someone less observant........................

In case you are wondering - Mr Pratt two of the night was another biker who felt that in a 40 limit overtaking down the hashed bit at what I approximate to have been between 60 and 70 was a good idea - tosser - no wonder we get a bad name. If by any chance you are that person on the A1000 below Potters bar at about 6:30 pm tonight - GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!

nod nod

In stationary traffic? Course it is! Otherwise I'd be there for half an hour on some days, my entire commute was around 50 minutes and that was to do 25 miles on varying road types!

My argument was about it being lanes 2 and 3, I actually thing it should be lanes 1 and 2, yup you need to look out for cars switching lanes (which you need to do anyway) but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to get on and off.

About it should be between lane 1 and 2 is just ridiculous…

You have loads more cars switching between those lanes than between lanes 2 and 3, plus you have lorries… much more dangerous..

Yup,, lanes 1 & 2 theres far more lane switching ,, and as JP said ther is also the lorries , and coaches etc,,, far safer IMO to filter between lanes 2/3,,, better still ban anything with more than 2 wheels from the 3rd lane

I think that is one of the reasons the police recommend it be 2 & 3.

My opinion?

Find a nice A or B road instead.

But if you have to there is no point in going between lane 2 and 3 if it is not safe to do so, likewise for 1 and 2, just start of easy and you will pick it up. Perhaps follow an exprienced rider? But only if it is safe for you, it does not mean it is safe for you if it was safe for the other biker.

Always keep the brakes covered, try to keep higher reves to give you more presence, and poke, however try not to piss of half of the M4 on your comute

High beam? well this is a subject of debate, personally I do, I am sure I will get flammed for this.

At lights, technically you are not meant to go infront of the most foward car, however I pull up next to them, if they let you past, great, give them a thumbs up, if they look peeved, old or like a boy racer, let them go first, they are out to kill you.

Just take it easy and give cars that have moved over the thumbs up, they might do it for you next time.

Whatever you do, take it easy to start with, and try and be curtious.

If you wanted to sit in traffic you would have got a Harley right?

Much more confident filtering now. I try to thank everyone i can but sometimes it's not safe or practical to do so. I cover the horn, brakes and now have a loud exhaust which makes for better road presence in my opinion.

I tend to sit behind the lead car if there's not much room at lights especially if it's a left turn.

Most drivers I have found to be pretty cool, however the boy racers round my way that think all you want to do is race them off the lights especially if they have friends in the car

Well it's illegal and pisses people off so you should expect to get flamed for saying you do it!

Oi!! I resemble that remark!!

Always watch out for gaps in the traffic queue or any point when traffic can join/leave/turn.

Watch out for smokers with their driver window open

I have never flammed anyone in my life..... I'm not even sure how I would go about flamming someone

Indeed - Hobo used to know someone blinded in one eye by some dodo flicking hot ash out of his window!





I think you have to flim 'em first!!!!!

TBH if you ride along with visor up you run the risk of any old crap going in your eyes.

I nearly got blinded by that cheese and pickle sandwich

It was in th 70s - not many full face jobbies around then and what there was was damm expensive.

I do that regular, just have to watch and carefull, you will get the odd "hairy" moment, but if you dont filter like dik cagers are usually ok, you'll get the odd one mind you that'll try and block you.

Well I had my nearest miss today, I still don't know if I was a little jaded/tired from the night before, if it was because I was following another biker, If I hadnt seen some warning sign or if the guy just pulled the "manouver" so quickly but I've now learned something new.

I can lock the brakes, perform a partial stoppie <sp skid the bike, release the brakes, steer, stand up on the pegs to use my body to balance the bike again squeeze my leg against the tank to hope the crash bar takes the impact not it and sh!t myself all in a split second, well the length of time it takes to cover the distance from a Corsa's rear wheel to front wheel. Arent humans amazing ( ok I didnt quite manage the last one but it certainly puckered!)

No gaps in the left hand lane no gaps in the right me filtering down the middle, Vauxhall Corsa turned the wheel, put his indicator on, started to move, and shoulder checked once he moved all in one fluid movement nowhere for him to go and would only serve to tell the people in the inside lane he wanted to be into that lane. He got a lot of head shaking for that one

So in the past month I've had a near miss with a fox that was crossing - brake hard, decided not to - release brake, changed its mind again, thinking the bike looked less threatening than the cars on the other side of the road and turned round again - brake hard and listen to the rrrrrrrrt of the ABS of the taxi in the outside lane overtaking me.

A colision with a cyclist:- I'm filtering quite happily up the inside of stationary traffic (there is a dotted on road cycle lane there so drivers do keep well over), see a gap appearing at a junction on my left, brake because I anticipate someone turning throught the traffic sure enough car appears, sees me, stops, realises I've stopped and continues to turn with a wave, then I feel a bump!

I was stopped as I was taught, rear brake on, left foot down, both hands on bars, I turned to my left and theres a cyclist sprawled half on/off the pavement. If I hadn't stopped chances are he would have been taken out by the turning car. As it was he picked up the bike and proceeded to ride along the pavement. More head shaking by me. Slight mark on top box but thats about it.

& tonight I waived to a cruiser rider who pulled up behind me at the traffic lights and then couldn't filter once we moved away because of his cow horn / ape hanger handle bars comlete with indicators mounted on then were too wide

Filtering is great, and the whole reason I got into bikes, but you have to be so aware/paranoid/observant at all times. As Base told me if you filter the same route for years with no problems a bit of complacency can very easily creep in. Hopefully it hadnt & hasn't but today was certainly a wake up call to re-enforce the dangers!

Glad you got out of it on one piece mate. I just hope when my turn comes i will be able to stop as well.

Through Twyford Down cutting right? It's either the M3 for 1/2 a mile or 4 mile diversion

Was filtering past a single file line of traffic the other day... Car suddenly without any indication decides he wants to try and find another route and does a turn in the road. I manage to stop, I was keeping the speed sensible, if I had been caning it past them I would have come to grief.