Two lanes of traffic at lights

[confusedcyclist]

Just curious about the best way to handle this situation on my route home.

There are three lanes of traffic at red lights, two left most lanes can proceed forward or turn left and the 3rd lane is right only. I know its dangerous to undertake on the left as cars may not expect you to undertake, but should I ride out to the right of the middle lane with the intention to filter back in to the second lane and then again to the left most once traffic starts moving, or should I ride down the middle of the two left most lanes, filtering immediately as traffic moves on?

Taking a route down the middle seems tricky as cars are jutted out at all angles and there isn't always room to pass and find a safe space to filter. I could take primary at the rear of the traffic but it gets pretty bad here and I could be waiting a while to get through.

 

[vickster]

Are you going straight on or left there? I'd take primary in the left lane, you're not undertaking but in the lane that is correct for your manoeuver. Sit in the middle of the lane between the cars, NOT between cars and kerb which is what left undertaking usually means. If you can't be patient, filter on the far right, NOT between queues. Be prepared to slot in if the traffic starts moving

If going right, you should be in the right hand lane asap

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I presume you are going straight on? If so I would stay in the left hand lane but in the middle of it (roughly where the forward arrow is), this way cars behind cannot left hook you. If filtering I would do it between the two lanes as opposed to next to the kerb, but looking to get back into the left hand lane

 

[confusedcyclist]

Yes sorry, straight on! Sometimes if you wait at the rear in primary I have had to wait for two cycles of the lights. I could be patient, but I wondered what the best approach to passing the traffic would be should I be in a hurry, or the traffic particularly bad.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Find an alternative route? If it extends the commute, even better.

 

[vickster]

Yes sorry, straight on! Sometimes if you wait at the rear in primary I have had to wait for two cycles of the lights. I could be patient, but I wondered what the best approach to passing the traffic would be should I be in a hurry, or the traffic particularly bad.

Filter slowly and carefully up the outside if you can't wait. Or find a quieter route. Do not filter between lanes of traffic, most drivers do not expect bikes there and often won't check mirrors when switching lanes

(recommend getting hold of a copy of CycleCraft by John Franklin to give some guidance on roadcraft)

 

[confusedcyclist]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out. The adjacent roads are arguably more dangerous and clogged up, Bradford isn't particularly well designed from a cyclists point of view. That said I am pleasantly surprised by the amount of cycle lanes on my route.

Avoiding this area would incurr a rather looooong detour, which is ok for a Friday afternoon, but I have to get home in a hurry most days.

 

[vickster]

On a bike, proceed swiftly when you can, cautiously when you can't. Bikes don't win out against cars in a coming together. Be safe

 

[Markymark]

We berate cars for not being patient with our safety, sometimes we need to be patient with ourselves for our own safety.

2 cycles of the lights is less important than putting yourself in danger. Filtering is done carefully. If certain junctions prevent safe filtering, BE PATIENT. It's not all about getting through as quickly as possible.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

An alternative, if you want to make progress and it sounds like the traffic is bad, is to learn the order of the lights and make your choice accordingly.

This is the southbound approach to Fiveways on the A20, I cycle it every evening I'm going home from my normal place of work.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...m4!1e1!3m2!1sUh3JhI85oYAHiVW-qAOzYA!2e0?hl=en

Left hand lane is left or straight on, middle is straight on, right is right only. So similar to your set up. The traffic backs right up, often at least two complete runs of the lights, if not more. Very little traffic turns right (this may be very different to your junction).

As I am coming up to it in heavy traffic, presuming I'm in the mood, I filter on the outside of the middle lane/inside of the right hand lane initially. I watch the lights ahead and have a good idea how long they will be green for if they are green. If this is too long (i.e. I'm going to reach them while in this outer lane) then I signal back in to traffic, slot in the left most lane when safe and wait my turn with the rest of the traffic. Because of the nature of the junction vehicles aren't moving fast and there are sufficient safe gaps. If the lights go red, or are already red, I assess using the cross traffic. The junction lets the first left go first, then the second left and the right together, then stops the second left and the right has some time on its own. Then it goes back to the through traffic getting the green light in both directions. So I know I have time to slot back in safely providing the right hand cross traffic isn't the only thing moving. When that happens the green light is soon, so again I come in and 'become traffic' again.

Because of the nature of the road and the junction I wouldn't filter between lanes 1 and 2, because there is a lane 3 (which motorbikes also use to filter) the cars aren't expecting it and the gap constantly changes. I consider that unsafe, if the timing (or my legs) are such that filtering 'far out' isn't an option then I'll sit in traffic and wait my turn.

The junction before this is such that if you can get to the lights as or just after they change you can get 3-400 yards on the traffic by becoming a pedestrian and walking across cross traffic with the flow (there's a gap between left has 'go' and right has 'go' sufficient to do it) because of the way the traffic flows at the set in the link you have to time it very accurately to do the same, although it is possible sometimes.

This, or something similar, might work for you on your junction, it all depends how the traffic flows. Watch it for a week or two and work out the permutations, decide if there is a safe option.

 

[confusedcyclist]

We berate cars for not being patient with our safety, sometimes we need to be patient with ourselves for our own safety.

2 cycles of the lights is less important than putting yourself in danger. Filtering is done carefully. If certain junctions prevent safe filtering, BE PATIENT. It's not all about getting through as quickly as possible.

Fair point, I just feel like I'm wussing out when I take primary at the back, but if other people think this is totally fine not to try to filter through, I'm fine with it too.

 

[John the Monkey]

Yes sorry, straight on! Sometimes if you wait at the rear in primary I have had to wait for two cycles of the lights. I could be patient, but I wondered what the best approach to passing the traffic would be should I be in a hurry, or the traffic particularly bad.

I have a similar one near me - I agree with Vickster's take (primary in the LH lane). I've waited one change on the one I'm thinking of, rather than chance filtering and not being "allowed" back into the left. One thing I do is to indicate straight on as I'm approaching the lights, as a lot of people assume the left hand lane means you're making a left turn.

 

[Markymark]

Fair point, I just feel like I'm wussing out when I take primary at the back, but if other people think this is totally fine not to try to filter through, I'm fine with it too.

You've just taken a great leap forward. MGIF (Must Get In Front) applies to cyclists and cars alike. Be safe. I often wait a few cars back at the lights as I don't want to be between some nobber at the front and the open road who will then want to pass you at all costs.

In your circumstances, just be safe. Sometimes the safest way is to ride as if you were a car - take primary and wait your turn even if its more than one cycle of lights. Filtering is great for cyclists, it speeds your journey up no end but as you've now seen, it is to be used wisely and where appropriate.

Happy cycling.

 

[vickster]

Fair point, I just feel like I'm wussing out when I take primary at the back, but if other people think this is totally fine not to try to filter through, I'm fine with it too.

Not about wussing out, it's about being safe

 

[confusedcyclist]

I guess I was caring too much about what other cyclists were thinking while they undertake to the left. Of course, I know that's a bad move.