Filtering

[Sam Kennedy]

I've been cycling on the road for quite a bit, but don't know much about filtering.

When is it safe/unsafe?
When is it legal?
Which side should you filter? why/when?
Can you cycle over chevrons while filtering?
Can you merge back into traffic after filtering, or do you have to turn off the road if you are filtering?

Cheers!

 

[ttcycle]

safe/unsafe - this is basically about looking for hazards well ahead of the road- filter carefully - the unsafest example would be to bomb it down the road of a queue of stationary cars and miss a car turning say right into a road as you are going too fast. Filtering depends on the roads and the congestion when you're cycling but if it would be safer to hang back go for it.

Filtering imo is generally when you've got a lot of cars ahead of you ie stopped at traffic lights - sometimes though it's hard to be prescriptive- if you know you can't reach the front of the cars at the traffic lights before the lights go green itmay be safer to hang back.

As far as I know it's legal as long as you're not making a nuisance of yourself of filtering without taking into account what other road users are doing.

There is no magic formulae about which side to filter as it depends on the road conditions and hazards but if you're coming up to a set of traffic lights and stationary cars- always advisable and wisest to overtake and go on the left hand side - and if there is a HGV vehicle never go on it's right side when filtering as they won't see you.

Cyclecraft is always worth a read as it'll cover this in a more eloquent fashion than I have. Best thing is don't worry about speeding about everywhere and stay safe, the more you cycle the better you get at reading hazards and conditions

 

[bonj2]

I've been cycling on the road for quite a bit, but don't know much about filtering.

When is it safe/unsafe?
When is it legal?
Which side should you filter? why/when?
Can you cycle over chevrons while filtering?
Can you merge back into traffic after filtering, or do you have to turn off the road if you are filtering?

Cheers!

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2cLKxdxl6k

filtering starts at about 2:45.
(incidentally you can't do much of where i went prior to that nowadays, mind...)

 

[jimboalee]

Cycling on busy roads is like learning a foreign language.

There are many 'phrase books' and audio/video tutorials to grasp the basics, but the most effective way to learn the local dialect is to visit their patch.

Cautious and defensive at first in fear of making a mistake, but as confidence builds, a smoother, quicker dialog is developed.

 

[gaz]

if there is a HGV vehicle never go on it's left side when filtering as they won't see you.

corrected

 

[Rhythm Thief]

- and if there is a HGV vehicle never go on it's right side when filtering as they won't see you.

corrected

I'm glad someone else spotted that! I'd add, never try and overtake an HGV in traffic (on either side) unless you can see it's not going to be moving: for instance, if you can see the queue in front of the truck, or the traffic lights it's stopped at, or whatever. And never wait directly in front of a lorry, or next to the passenger side of the cab, there's a good chance the driver won't even know you're there.

 

[upsidedown]

If you're filtering at lights, the number of cars queued there gives an indication of how long they have been red.

Drivers will flash to let cars turn right from both directions without checking fir cyclists; it's your responsibility to check for turning cars at every junction. If the vehicle turning right is a HGV coming from the left, make sure there is a car between you and it.

If filtering down the right during heavy congestion beware the driver that's had enough and decides to three point turn and go the other way.

Remember that if you filter past a HGV he/she's got to pass you again when the traffic moves.

If filtering down the right check over your shoulder that a motorbike isn't already making his/her way down the line.

 

[summerdays]

if there is a HGV vehicle never go on it's right side when filtering as they won't see you.

As others have said - right side only and even then with caution (I'm assuming its a typo) - I wouldn't anywhere close to a junction - and that applies to buses etc.


Its usually easy to merge back in when filtering... with a few look backs and maybe a quick signal.

If you are passing any junction when filtering then you need extreme caution - which ever side you are on, you will be in a blind spot for some traffic and if they stop to let other traffic into or out of the side road, they may not be thinking there could be someone filtering.

Getting to know a road helps with filtering... and watching for the cars up ahead to see when they start moving too.

 

[BentMikey]

Filtering is definitely one to be cautious about. There are old bikers and there are bold bikers, but there are no old bold bikers. Well, that's a motorcycling saying, but it applies just as much to cycling.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

What if traffic is moving slowly, would it be classed as an overtake? (Right Side)
Can you 'undertake' on a bike?

 

[upsidedown]

Moving slowly is fine on the right in my book, just need to judge when it's getting too fast and cut back in to let them go.
I never go on the left, passengers getting out and left hooks.

 

[jimboalee]

Is 'Filtering' here the same as 'Passing stationary traffic'?

My idea of filtering is moving or merging across the road lanes within more than one line of moving vehicles to leave the mass of traffic.
Hence the 'Filter lane' at some busy M-way junctions.

Some countries have a road system called 'Filter in Turn' where the traffic is encouraged NOT to stop but 'filter' alternatively in a 'Fair do for all' attitude.

"Filtering" is the process of removing one substance from its mixture with another.
Make sure the cyclist is not the one who is filtered from the traffic....

 

[I am Spartacus]

jargon buster (arily)
you have primarily ...
you have secondarily
filtering across double white lines...and yes SOME of you do it and video it as well..
well stumped for an appropriate..
maybe
3rd degree (arily)?

 

[Alien8]

Is 'Filtering' here the same as 'Passing stationary traffic'?

My idea of filtering is moving or merging across the road lanes within more than one line of moving vehicles to leave the mass of traffic.
Hence the 'Filter lane' at some busy M-way junctions.

Some countries have a road system called 'Filter in Turn' where the traffic is encouraged NOT to stop but 'filter' alternatively in a 'Fair do for all' attitude.

"Filtering" is the process of removing one substance from its mixture with another.
Make sure the cyclist is not the one who is filtered from the traffic....

I think you're quite right.

I cycling parlance filtering is a term used by people who don't want to admit to undertaking.

 

[ttcycle]

haha well done with the spot guys! Never undertake ie go on the left is what I meant doh!