Filtering through stationary traffic acceptable

[johnnyb47]

Hi to all.
I was filtering through stationary traffic to the front of the que the other day. Is this acceptable and legal on a bike. It's that the other day I filtered my way through a que of around six cars and waited behind a stationery car in the front of the que to pull away. When the car in front pulled away on his journey I to then set off on mine but the guy in a Range Rover behind me started blasting his horn and shouting obscenities at me as well as his partner, just for simply getting in front of them. Naturally ,the nature I am , I told him what he could do and he stopped and got out. I've been told that I have an intimidating look about me and once I got off my bike and approach him he turned round on his heels and sped off. Anyway enough of weekend warrior talk ( lol) but seriously did I actually do anything wrong. If I have I will put my hands hands up and admit to be being wrong but either way I will never walk away from bullying in the forms of verbal abuse. I drive many thousands of miles a year and I've always accepted that cyclist will filter through heavy traffic ( a bait safely and curiously ).

 

[Gert Lush]

No, it's not illegal*. Motorbikes do it all the time. The guy was a obviously a self-gratification artist in a big car and was annoyed that you pulled in front of him, so was trying to intimidate you. Ignore it and move on

*Well as fair as I'm aware. Happy to be told I'm wrong on that.

 

[Dave 123]

Perfectly legal.
All RR drivers are nobbers anyway.

 

[johnnyb47]

As you say motorcyclist do it and I just take it for granted.. With the extra adrenaline it pumped into me it certainly made me ride faster afterwards ( hehe )

 

[Goggs]

Range Rover you say? Angry you say? Sleep easy, you probably made his day.

 

[MichaelW2]

It is a real shame that you have to be physically intimidating in order to have a nice conversation with a RR driver.

 

[davidphilips]

johnnyb47 bet the driver and his partner will think twice before blasting his horn and shouting obscenities at another cyclist, well done you have made the roads a bit better for everyone.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Mostly it's perfectly acceptable but It can depend. The other night I got overtaken by about six cars and a van going through a narrow small town, they all did it safely and patiently and gave me room, and then I caught up with them at a temporary traffic signal at roadworks. I filtered to the front, and set off ahead of them through the roadworks, before realising that I'd simply made all of them have to overtake me again, and that it had gained me precisely nothing in time nor in safety. Nobody tooted or shouted, but I wouldn't have been surprised or offended... it was a thoughtless act.

In a busy city on a commute, I'd do it just about all the time because it usually makes you more easily seen and sitting in the gutter isn't safe in heavy city traffic. The really key thing is to just quickly assess it... is it gaining you some better road space? Is it making you more visible? Less vulnerable? Or on this occasion is it better to hang back and let the cars go ahead?
It can be good to have a quick think and to plan your way through the junction or hazard.

 

[vickster]

Were you filtering on the right or weaving through the traffic?

 

[johnnyb47]

That's a really good point. If the driver of the RR thought this of me I totally accept my errors on this.

 

[ianrauk]

Well done for standing up against that knob. You did no wrong.

 

[johnnyb47]

Were you filtering on the right or weaving through the traffic?.........
I filtered on the right hand side.

 

[vickster]

Were you filtering on the right or weaving through the traffic?.........
I filtered on the right hand side.

RR driver was just a tw@t then (as many appear to be)

 

[johnnyb47]

I wasn't in any rush like as if I was late for work. I was pacing my self out in a 32 mile ride out. I personally could not see any problem in what I did. I always try and read the road ahead and show motorist the same courtesy as would expect but sometimes it's always good to ask other like minded cycle enthusiasts a question like this just incase my judgement was wrong.

 

[ianrauk]

@johnnyb47 , as I said, fair play to you standing up to the bully. I had a very similar experience a few years back. Filter to the front into an ASL. BMW driver took great exception to me doing so and starting beeping and gesticulating. Of course I gave him the finger. That made him more mad. He got out of his car. I got off the bike. And like your idiot, he realised he had bitten off more then he could chew. It didn't take much for him to slink back into his car rather then face up to me.
Of course when he did pass me he did a punishment pass.

Most times the best course of action is a friendly wave, that confuses them. Sometimes fighting fire with fire if you know you can handle it is just as good.