Advice/Tips/Hints on Filtering

[cloughie24]

Hiya,

 

Does anyone have any advice on filtering? I know its an effective way of getting through traffic on busier days (when done correctly and responsibly) but as yet I've never done it.

 

Obviously not something you're taught when learning but just wondered if there's a way of practicing before putting to the test so to speak 

[Guest]

Think you'll just have to give it a go, maybe a short queue first. Keep your wits about you, be ready for people to make surprise manoeuvres, pedestrian walking between cars etc. Don't go too fast, and don't feel pressured to do it if you don't feel like it. 

[cloughie24]

17 minutes ago, goat said:

Think you'll just have to give it a go, maybe a short queue first. Keep your wits about you, be ready for people to make surprise manoeuvres, pedestrian walking between cars etc. Don't go too fast, and don't feel pressured to do it if you don't feel like it. 

 

Thank you!! You may be right, bite the bullet and try a mini queue.

 

I've noticed the concentration of drivers just lately, usually early mornings around my area, is somewhat lacking. I have to admit, now I ride I'm more aware of other riders when I'm driving the car, I was always considerate but it's given me a whole new perspective that I can totally appreciate.

[Fish]

Never go too fast (above 20-25mph whilst starting out) and always make sure you can make a gap in the traffic that you'll fit into without causing the on-coming traffic any issues. Above 20-25mph and if you pass a traffic officer you might have a 'friendly' ear pulling.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Don't exceed more than 10mph above the traffic. 

 

Watch out for gaps where cars or pedestrians might emerge 

 

Keep a watch on the front wheels of cars you are approaching. Any movement will be the first sign they are going to move into your path.

 

Plan ahead. Look for a gap you can get back into before committing to a filtering position.

 

Keep an eye on your mirrors for other motorcycles following you.

 

Don't assume you have been seen. 

[Pie man]

As above, but in addition, try booking on a Bike Safe Course - well worth the money and get the advice straight from plod. As I was once told, remember when filtering to the front, ensure you have room to pull in without crossing the solid white line. 

 

 

[Fiddlesticks]

Worth looking up the rules on filtering while on zigzags, approaching a crossing. (Essentially, don't overtake the lead vehicle before the crossing).

 

When approaching a set of lights, I'm more likely to filter down the middle of two wide lanes if it looks like i can get to the head of the queue while everyone is still stationary. Once at the front between the two lead cars I can be away before everyone else. (Teslas possibly notwithstanding).

[MikeHorton]

Slow and sensible, a good saying is with moving vehicles in between 2 lanes is  'you don't want to be the meat in the sandwich' . If In doubt wait. 

[daveinlim]

If you want practice, spend time getting your slow control better. Work on what you would do in CBT like u turns, figures of 8, moving along slowly. Knowing this and bring comfortable will help. 

 

Once youre going to give it a go, plan ahead, have a look at the traffic you're going to tackle. Take your time, don't put pressure on yourself. Try not to let other bikers intimidate you or try to follow them down gaps you're not comfortable with. 

 

Be safe, remember in traffic bicycles, pedestrians e-scooters will all potentially be around 

 

It'll take a little time but you'll be surprised how quick you'll improve 

[onesea]

Ok my normal bad advice, find some scooters or other bikers and follow.  You will soon learn what you think is safe (that’s how I learned).

Lessons I have learned:

• Always have an escape plan or gap to pull into. Watch every driver.  
• If filtering on dual carriageways watch for cars changing lanes. I in many respects would rather pass between 2 cars as they are unlikely to pull into each other.
• Ride to be seen and check you have been seen, some new car mirrors have blind spot warnings. Use them if you can see the warning triangle there car will warn them before turning towards you.
• Don’t filter when there is a side road or do so with caution watch for cars turning across you.
• Filtering on ZigZags / pedestrian / over white lines crossings is seen by some as questionable and often is.
• If you filter to the front at traffic lights be careful of people jumping lights or pulling out at first junction driveway after lights having seen car not accelerating bike.
• Passing lorries busses etc be fooking careful.

 

Watch for everything and be careful, if in doubt wait but don’t be scared to try.

[bonio]

Plan ahead

* know what gap you're going to move into if you need to

if you're in a built up area

  * watch for junctions: move back into the traffic when you go past them 

  * don't filter where pedestrians might be crossing (e.g. near a pedestrian crossing)

if you're between two lanes on a motorway or dual carriageway

  * be wary for traffic moving across your path into a gap in the other lane: watch their wheels 

 

 

[bonio]

1 minute ago, onesea said:

• Filtering on ZigZags / pedestrian / over white lines crossings is seen by some as questionable and often is.

Or in fact just illegal. Here's "The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997":

 

"the Zebra controlled areas shall be marked with give-way lines, a line of studs and zig-zag lines"

Regulation 24. "Whilst any motor vehicle (in this regulation called “the approaching vehicle”) or any part of it is within the limits of a controlled area and is proceeding towards the crossing, the driver of the vehicle shall not cause it or any part of it—

(a) to pass ahead of the foremost part of any other motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or

(b) to pass ahead of the foremost part of a vehicle which is stationary for the purpose of complying with regulation 23, 25 or 26." (i.e. to let a pedestrian cross)

 

As for white lines, if they're solid white lines, filtering across them is illegal. Broken white lines is often done and more of a grey area. I'd happily filter or overtake across a broken white line.

[onesea]

58 minutes ago, bonio said:

Or in fact just illegal. Here's "The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997":

 

"the Zebra controlled areas shall be marked with give-way lines, a line of studs and zig-zag lines"

Regulation 24. "Whilst any motor vehicle (in this regulation called “the approaching vehicle”) or any part of it is within the limits of a controlled area and is proceeding towards the crossing, the driver of the vehicle shall not cause it or any part of it—

(a) to pass ahead of the foremost part of any other motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or

(b) to pass ahead of the foremost part of a vehicle which is stationary for the purpose of complying with regulation 23, 25 or 26." (i.e. to let a pedestrian cross)

 

As for white lines, if they're solid white lines, filtering across them is illegal. Broken white lines is often done and more of a grey area. I'd happily filter or overtake across a broken white line.

Splitting hairs but Highway Code states

191
You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

 

So provided you don’t pass the front car if it’s waiting on pedestrians….

 

As for double white lines

129
Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.

 

So if the vehicles are stationary, cyclists horses or road maintenance vehicles…
 

That reminds me of filtering in stationary traffic watch for car doors opening or cars turning around in front of you.  Scarily common with tourist traffic.

 

Regarding ZigZags and solid whites as I said questionable and often is.

 

[Fish]

13 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Worth looking up the rules on filtering while on zigzags, approaching a crossing. (Essentially, don't overtake the lead vehicle before the crossing).

 

Illegal, was told on my bikesafe course that I'd have been the proud owner of a piece of paper telling me to pay money.

[Essem]

On motorways if traffic stationary, watch for drivers doors being opened, particularly trucks. Also watch for knobs in slow mwah traffic who will try and block you, few, but does happen.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

3 hours ago, Fish said:

Illegal, was told on my bikesafe course that I'd have been the proud owner of a piece of paper telling me to pay money.

This is an interesting, if confusing, conversation. I remember when zigzags where first introduced and all the information broadcast at the time introducing them clearly stated that vehicles much not overtake within the zigzags. 

 

The Highway Code, as said above, says somethind more specific about not overtaking the vehicle nearest to the crossing.

 

My personal practice is that I follow the original rule because it makes sense (whether or not it is actually the current law or not) and many motorists still assume it to be the law so it's not worth the potential hassle for a few yards of road. You see many examples of filtering on YouTube where bikes overtake everything on zigzags including the lead vehicle and then wonder why motorists get shirty with bikes.

[onesea]

58 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

This is an interesting, if confusing, conversation. I remember when zigzags where first introduced and all the information broadcast at the time introducing them clearly stated that vehicles much not overtake within the zigzags. 

 

The Highway Code, as said above, says somethind more specific about not overtaking the vehicle nearest to the crossing.

 

My personal practice is that I follow the original rule because it makes sense (whether or not it is actually the current law or not) and many motorists still assume it to be the law so it's not worth the potential hassle for a few yards of road. You see many examples of filtering on YouTube where bikes overtake everything on zigzags including the lead vehicle and then wonder why motorists get shirty with bikes.

Questionable and often is, however there are times and places I will filter with caution. 
 

When there is cyclist, stationary traffic, horse rider etc I may cross a white line provided the road is clear and it is safe.  Most, particularly horse riders are great full.

 

With Zigzags although always with caution, when no pedestrians present or to behind car waiting for pedestrian crossing.  
 

However on both occasions I will be proceeding with caution regardless due to cars turning round, opening doors or pedestrians leaping out between cars.

 

My reason for raising it was to raise the issue to the OP not to start a great debate that can be a post hijacker.

[Throttled]

Treat filtering, when you are

 

1 - moving in the same direction as all other vehicles, such as on a one way or motorway

2 - riding the gap between lanes where one lane has traffic coming towards you

 

as very different. Treat 2 as if you are doing a constant overtake and do not do it if you cause oncoming vehicles to have to move to the side to let you pass.

[Shepherd]

After today's rare rush hour journey on the A13 today, my advice would be to do the opposite to what the maniacs there do! Just take a car ride from Becton to Dagenham - shocking 

I actually saw one guy ( t-shirt, trainers and shorts) get abruptly stopped when his top box got caught between two vans he was trying to squeeze past.

Absolute loonies. Traffic moving at around 40mph and the nutters still went flying down between lanes. Avg speed cameras were facing towards us, so no taking limits into account.

[S-Westerly]

When I came back to biking after years away I swore I'd have nothing to do with filtering.  This lasted until I met my first tail back and after inching along for about 10 minutes watched a couple of bikes nip through the gaps. I followed and have filtered ever since when it's safe to do so. 

[Troy]

Don’t know if this will be sound advice but it’s what I’m going to suggest but keep in mind this may not be the best thing to do in all scenarios….

 

If you have one nearby, practice on a road you know that is wide enough. Preferably one you have seen another motorcyclist filtering on, that way you know it’s possible to filter. 
 

Also, put yourself in a “driver’s seat’ position on the road when coming to a stop behind another car and at least a cars length between you both. This way, you will have some confidence that you can be seen and that you can also see ahead easier. And, if plan to filter you’ll be in a good position to make the manoeuvre without having to move the bike too much. 
 

Another scenario, maybe look to try and filter at a junction or a big roundabout where the car your passing is turning left, and you are turning right. I found this easier to start with rather than just filtering to get ahead of the cue, too me it felt more natural to go “around” the car instead of skipping traffic! 
 

Hope that makes sense and helps to some degree.