Filtering

[Davidtav]

So yes I understand that an advantage of having a motorcycle is the ability to filter. And in my previous incarnation as a motorcyclist 20 years ago I filtered like a demon. Across London … these days I just don’t do it so much. Sometimes I do it because I think I ought to. For example today I came through Glasgow. And I didn’t really filter much. I could have done. Just wondering if I am totally out of tune with everyone else

[Phil1]

Go with the flow. If you feel like it, and it's safe to do so, go right ahead if you want to wait and chill that's fine too. 

 

I done more filtering than I've ever done this year, it does require your wits about you as I often see people just pulling out to do a uturn in traffic. Obviously they'll be at fault if they knock you off, but I'd rather just not be knocked off 

 

I see too much filtering at inappropriate speeds though. If the traffics moving at over about 10mph then I'll tuck in behind, I don't need to get anywhere that urgently that I'd risk my life. It is bloody great though if you're on a motorway/duel carriageway and there's miles of standing traffic, almost godlike 

[Fiddlesticks]

My approach on the motorway is to sit between the two outside lanes with a good view ahead of the traffic slowing. Wait for it all to settle down to a steady pace and then pick my way through (not too much faster than the traffic). The advantage, from what I can tell is twofold: Firstly, the cars just ahead of you have had more time to clock your presence. The second is that people switching lanes are your biggest problem, and generally they switch lanes when it looks like they can gain an advantage. That's usually in those first few moments as lanes slow at different speeds.

 

The bit that requires self-control is tucking back in as things begin to speed up again.

[Bender]

Just do what your happy doing, if you want to sit in traffic it's fine.

[S-Westerly]

I hate standing still in traffic - either I'm getting cooked in the heat or being drowned in the rain. Therefore I filter but not at speeds over 20 mph.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

8 hours ago, S-Westerly said:

I hate standing still in traffic - either I'm getting cooked in the heat or being drowned in the rain. Therefore I filter but not at speeds over 20 mph.

Same here. 

[husoi]

I filter up to 30mph always on the lookout for those changing lane without looking.

Once traffic starts moving I'll just stay in line.

 

[manxie49]

When it's safe to do so, I will filter.  Emphasis on the word safe though, I've seen some riders filter in the daftest of places, and at speeds that would leave them with no get out of jail free card should something go wrong.  I've also seen some drivers, deliberately move their cars over to stop me when filtering, and on one occasion got into a heated discussion with one driver, who caught up with me at traffic lights and told me he was going to report me because filtering was illegal (Uneducated Nob!).  Personally, I think ride your own ride in a way that makes you happy, and don't worry about what other think or do.

Edited June 4, 2024 by manxie49

[peepae]

I filter at 80 mph - if someone changes lane at least I'm glad I took out part of their car, at 30mph there's just too little damage to their car.

[Phil1]

6 hours ago, husoi said:

I filter up to 30mph always on the lookout for those changing lane without looking.

Once traffic starts moving I'll just stay in line.

 

I wouldn't personally feel comfortable filtering at that speed. It is of course down to you, but it would feel far too fast to be safe in my eyes. 

[husoi]

1 hour ago, Phil1 said:

I wouldn't personally feel comfortable filtering at that speed. It is of course down to you, but it would feel far too fast to be safe in my eyes. 

Each person will have different comfort speeds.

IAM advice is up to 30mph.

Paris they filter at +60 and with moving traffic.

[Fiddlesticks]

48 minutes ago, husoi said:

Paris they filter at +60 and with moving traffic

France.

 

Charles de Gaulle had it right when he noted "how can anyone govern a country with 246 varieties of cheese?"

[Hoggs]

I learnt to ride in London so you kinda end up filtering a lot, but mainly only if traffic was stationary (which was often) and yeah probs 25ish... used to tuck back into the traffic to let the nutters come past at 50. 

Now I live in the country we don't have traffic so I don't need to

 

but as above key point is do what you feel safe about

[Pie man]

I filter, always, at traffic lights I make my way to the front or towards the front without crossing the line. Stationary motorway traffic, when cars are bumper to bumper and have nowhere to move and when traffic does start to move, I go up to 20mph keeping an eye on the cagers front wheels for turning, which imply they are intending to change lane, whether they have seen you or not,  then I slow or stop and let them go.  

[fq-craigus]

I always filter when safe to do so, never sit at the back of a line of traffic but I’ll happily sit in the flow of traffic if it’s all moving unlike some I see. If you want to filter do so if not then you do you. 

[RAYK47]

a lot of my riding is commuting 42miles to the office Docklands so filtering is a must.  Also i find most London car drivers are very aware of bikes and very accommodating (obviously thats not the case for everyone) 

[Simon Davey]

Riding down through Farringdon, on the way to my office I was once about to pull in between a stationery van and a car, I positioned myself with the front wheel of my bike just in front of the van, just as he was letting his foot off the brake. He kindly stopped to let me in.

"go on mate" he said"

"I can't" says I

"Why not"

"because you're on my foot!!"

Well, we both had a proper laugh.

 

Absolutely true story.

Edited June 13, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Steve_M]

On 04/06/2024 at 22:43, Hoggs said:

I learnt to ride in London so you kinda end up filtering a lot, but mainly only if traffic was stationary (which was often) and yeah probs 25ish... used to tuck back into the traffic to let the nutters come past at 50. 

Now I live in the country we don't have traffic so I don't need to

 

but as above key point is do what you feel safe about

You haven’t needed to get into Norwich city centre down the Trowes (edit. Trowse !!!) bypass between 8am and 9am then?

 

It was my commute route for a number of years and where I learnt most of my filtering practices. 

Edited June 13, 2024 by Steve_M

[S-Westerly]

Passing Newport yesterday afternoon the M4 has that stupid 50 mph section with average speed check.  Naturally it ends up at busy times with all lanes doing about 20 mph so I filtered through there with no issues. Nice wide lanes and most drivers, particularly HGV's eased over. 

[RideWithStyles]

17 minutes ago, S-Westerly said:

Passing Newport yesterday afternoon the M4 has that stupid 50 mph section with average speed check.  Naturally it ends up at busy times with all lanes doing about 20 mph so I filtered through there with no issues. Nice wide lanes and most drivers, particularly HGV's eased over. 

ASC same on the m6 and 5 for years now? great to filter and get that lovely warm feeling passing a really long stretch of stopped boxes, not been done that for years now, ahhh memories.

 

20 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

Riding down through Farringdon, on the way to my office I was once about to pull in between a stationery van and a car, I positioned myself with the front wheel of my bike just in front of the van, just as he was letting his foot off the brake. He kindly stopped to let me in.

"go on mate" he said"

"I can't" says I

"Why not"

"because you're on my foot!!"

Well, we both had a proper laugh.

 

Absolutely true story.

funny but he did it on purpose and just to let you know van man is big enough to bully yet small enough to harass everybody else and dont givs a toot, they behave like a games master and plays by there rules.

Edited June 13, 2024 by RideWithStyles
autocorrect

[Simon Davey]

11 minutes ago, RideWithStyles said:

 

funny but he did it on purpose and just to let you know van man is big enough to bully yet small enough to harass everybody else and dont givs a toot, they behave like a games master and plays by there rules.

 

Naaaah, it was unlucky timing on my part, I arrived just as he was about to pull away. 

 

[Tinkicker]

Apropos this thread.  This very day, Black Belt Barrister released a vid about filtering.

 

 

[Phil1]

8 minutes ago, Tinkicker said:

Apropos this thread.  This very day, Black Belt Barrister released a vid about filtering.

 

 

It's actually quite an old clip in fairness that one.

 

My first observation of this is that he states the pedestrian is in full view of the motorcyclist and he should have seen her. He's not however taking into account that this is probably a camera mounted on top of the helmet, so the view of the rider is lower down and she may actually have been obscured by the top of the vehicle to his right. 

 

My second observation is that I too think this is slightly too fast for the conditions. 10mph would have been more adequate, or essentially just at idle engine speed in first gear. 

[S-Westerly]

The vast majority of my filtering is done on motorways or other main roads where pedestrians are a rare breed.

[RideWithStyles]

5 hours ago, Phil1 said:

It's actually quite an old clip in fairness that one.

 

My first observation of this is that he states the pedestrian is in full view of the motorcyclist and he should have seen her. He's not however taking into account that this is probably a camera mounted on top of the helmet, so the view of the rider is lower down and she may actually have been obscured by the top of the vehicle to his right. 

 

My second observation is that I too think this is slightly too fast for the conditions. 10mph would have been more adequate, or essentially just at idle engine speed in first gear. 

depends on the road and its conditions really so it s not wuite one sided bs.

quite frankly the pedestrian has the care and duty to watch out for shite that could harm or kill them too, if you dont see or more importantly hear a motorcycle coming on a road that doesnt have a designated crossing at the time that is designated for you then equally your at fault for not following the rules... thats my basic slap of the wrist on that.