Why block filtering motorcycles...?
Discussion
Dr Murdoch said:
brrapp said:
I try to drive and ride with courtesy and respect for other road users, but when someone else isn't showing me the same then I reserve the right to be a complete b
d to them.
How is a filtering cyclist not showing you respect?d to them. brrapp said:
Saying this for the third time now, I'd only do this in 'some circumstances', eg when a large group of cyclists which has been holding up traffic for miles filters back through traffic which has only just got past them. I wouldn't do this to a solitary cyclst.
So you have, I do apologise 
Dr Murdoch said:
brrapp said:
I try to drive and ride with courtesy and respect for other road users, but when someone else isn't showing me the same then I reserve the right to be a complete bd to them.
How is a filtering cyclist not showing you respect?d to them. 
rockin said:
supercommuter said:
I like to think I have a good viewpoint of most road users.
I have been directly next to peoples window before (as it is usually wing mirrors that stop progression) and said "what is the point?"....
Yup, that's where you're going wrong.I have been directly next to peoples window before (as it is usually wing mirrors that stop progression) and said "what is the point?"....
If somebody in a car the size of a shoe box (smart car was in question) made eye contact with me in their wing mirror and then moved in to block me between the cars, am I supposed to sit there like a melt and not take offence to it whatsoever? I am sure you would....
icepop said:
'You shall not pass, if I'm not going anywhere mate, neither are you' sheer mardyness.
This.Some people are just t
ts. I was driving my OH to the railway station one morning. The turn off to the station is on the left, immediately prior to a set of lights where you have to turn left or right. There's a lane for each direction. I positioned myself to take the left lane. The lights were red but this wouldn't affect me if I was turning into the station. A Passat that was rolling to a stop in the queue of traffic that was going to be turning right at the lights moved a few feet to the left so I couldn't get past on the left to make my turn. Some people get a kind of perverse satisfaction from knowing they've made life that little bit harder for someone else. Take solace from that fact that you're not one of them.RobM77 said:
Brrap's point was that later on the same cyclist will be holding him up, which is a valid point.
It appears this wasn't his point.There is a section of rural (ish) road on my route in, traffic backs up about a mile from a roundabout. Now, traffic heading towards said roundabout overtakes me on my bike , most knowing full well that shortly they'll be joining that queue of traffic and which will then slow me down (this is where I need to filter, unfortunately down the offside).
Thats just the way it goes, sometimes cars slow cyclists down, sometimes cyclists slow traffic down. As long as no one acts like a t
t, and we all get home in one piece, then all is good.xjay1337 said:
Don't be stupid and block it.
Many of us commuters will filter on the motorway at speed and many cars actually move to make space.
On the topic in London, I have to be honest I have been lucky in that I've never been actively blocked, only when 2 lanes of traffic come to a stop and both cars are towards the center lane. Which is annoying but we survive.
I'm just glad to get home each day.
Luckily over winter I've only had to go in twice.
If you "filter on the motorway at speed" then you should indeed be glad to get home safe each day. I would expect sooner or later you will get taken out and become another wittering biker saying SMIDSY and that how most bike accidents are caused by cars, when your own failures are more pertinent. Many of us commuters will filter on the motorway at speed and many cars actually move to make space.
On the topic in London, I have to be honest I have been lucky in that I've never been actively blocked, only when 2 lanes of traffic come to a stop and both cars are towards the center lane. Which is annoying but we survive.
I'm just glad to get home each day.
Luckily over winter I've only had to go in twice.
Dr Murdoch said:
RobM77 said:
Brrap's point was that later on the same cyclist will be holding him up, which is a valid point.
It appears this wasn't his point.There is a section of rural (ish) road on my route in, traffic backs up about a mile from a roundabout. Now, traffic heading towards said roundabout overtakes me on my bike , most knowing full well that shortly they'll be joining that queue of traffic and which will then slow me down (this is where I need to filter, unfortunately down the offside).
Thats just the way it goes, sometimes cars slow cyclists down, sometimes cyclists slow traffic down. As long as no one acts like a t
t, and we all get home in one piece, then all is good.
As I went on to say in my post, as a driver and cyclist you have to make a judgement as to what the best thing to do is.OverSteery said:
If you "filter on the motorway at speed" then you should indeed be glad to get home safe each day. I would expect sooner or later you will get taken out and become another wittering biker saying SMIDSY and that how most bike accidents are caused by cars, when your own failures are more pertinent.
we accept the risk and minimise where possible.many people do it.
we take responsibility should the worst happen
i / we don't need your condescension thank you.
That is more or less my commute OP and has been for the past 6 years. Hateful journey, although I only go as far as Ealing. I see the behaviour you describe day in, day out. The worst lot are the ones with the green disabled badges in the rear window. As they enter the M4 at Junction 4 or 4b, they'll cross the 4 lanes regardless of space and will happily sit halfway through a lane change, stationary, in traffic. Once they're in the former bus lane, they block filtering by driving on the near side while line for no obvious reason and once you hit the 40mph section, it's point the car at 45 degress, back to Lane 1.
I suspect I've seen you many times over the years OP, give me a toot if you come past a black X5, privacy glass, towbar with a red cover
We have roadworks to look forward to from J12 to J2 as they convert the M4 to a smart motorway, starting in March. Don't worry though, it's only estimated to take 5 years
I suspect I've seen you many times over the years OP, give me a toot if you come past a black X5, privacy glass, towbar with a red cover
We have roadworks to look forward to from J12 to J2 as they convert the M4 to a smart motorway, starting in March. Don't worry though, it's only estimated to take 5 years
brrapp said:
Renn Sport said:
To balance this out I have motorcyclists who stop me filtering past on my pushbike too.
I filter if on a motorbike and try to help motorbikes to filter if I'm in a car or van, but I have to confess, I'll try to block cyclists from filtering in some circumstances. If I've been in a queue of vehicles stuck behind a bunch of cyclists for a while, I've just got past, then come to a set of lights and the cyclists start filtering past the waiting traffic and I know I'll be stuck behind them for another mile or so then yes, I'll try to block them.akirk said:
no issue with bikes filtering properly - and move to allow it - so in traffic in London it makes sense...
just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
It's really not a good idea to try and block someone who is trying to filter, especially at motorway speeds. If they misjudge it or don't realise you're closing the gap it is going to get messy.just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
xjay1337 said:
Many of us commuters will filter on the motorway at speed and many cars actually move to make space.
Really? I don't think I've ever seen a car adjust their lane position to allow a motorcyclist to filter on a motorway. And bearing in mind the number of drivers who don't indicate or use their mirrors properly, why would you put yourself (literally) in a position most drivers would not expect you to be in?xjay1337 said:
akirk said:
no issue with bikes filtering properly - and move to allow it - so in traffic in London it makes sense...
just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
Don't be stupid and block it.just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
Many of us commuters will filter on the motorway at speed and many cars actually move to make space.
but are you really serious that you believe filtering to be okay within the same lane as a car at speed?! If so I would imagine that you have a very short life expectancy...!
The highway code is very clear for slow traffic
rule 88 said:
...Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low.
In other situations filtering is basically overtaking - and has the same highway code constraints - only doing so when safe / when it is clear / when not in conflict with another road user / etc. etc.but filtering on a motorway at speed is the act of a fool - I have been in my range rover at speed - outside lane and with bunching traffic ahead decided to slow and pull into the middle lane - indicated, checked, checked again to find a biker undertaking me in my lane at probably c.90mph - had I not made that extra check who do you think would have done better out of a bike at 90 against a 2+ tonne range rover?!
Too many biker see filtering as a divine right - it is not, it is an acknowledgement of a basic observance of the highway code - overtaking, if you had two thin cars in a wider lane it is as legal to overtake or filter in the car as it is on a bike - filtering is not something new or special which trumps all other laws - it is no more or less than overtaking and it is the duty of the biker (person making the overtake) to be safe and legal.
and while it is up to the biker if they kill themselves, I would prefer they didn't involve me - so yes, if I see a stupid move on the motorway (car or bike) I will use road positioning to improve the situation - if the biker sees that as being blocked from their divine right to commit suicide, fine, but they didn't die against my car...
CaptainCosworth said:
Really? I don't think I've ever seen a car adjust their lane position to allow a motorcyclist to filter on a motorway.
I do this once or twice a day and always have done, provided it won't mislead car drivers (i.e. normally I do it up to the edge of the road, not towards a line when someone might think I'm changing lanes). I see others doing it too. If anything, it just shows a biker that you've seen them, which must be re-assuring to them.I have to laugh when I watch an American youtube video of an American car driver getting wound up because the biker was "lane splitting", ie. filtering but because it's not lawful to do in some states, it must therefore be dangerous and putting the children's lives at risk! It's just ridiculous.
I'm not a biker, but I see it as a perk of motorcycleship that you have the ability to filter and that's not something I want to take away from them as a car driver. Where possible I always pull to one side when I see a biker approaching in my mirrors, give them as much space as possible. 99% of bikers I see filtering do it in a courteous manner and will often give a wave if I've been able to make space for them.
I'm not a biker, but I see it as a perk of motorcycleship that you have the ability to filter and that's not something I want to take away from them as a car driver. Where possible I always pull to one side when I see a biker approaching in my mirrors, give them as much space as possible. 99% of bikers I see filtering do it in a courteous manner and will often give a wave if I've been able to make space for them.
RobM77 said:
CaptainCosworth said:
Really? I don't think I've ever seen a car adjust their lane position to allow a motorcyclist to filter on a motorway.
I do this once or twice a day and always have done, provided it won't mislead car drivers (i.e. normally I do it up to the edge of the road, not towards a line when someone might think I'm changing lanes). I see others doing it too. If anything, it just shows a biker that you've seen them, which must be re-assuring to them.CaptainCosworth said:
akirk said:
no issue with bikes filtering properly - and move to allow it - so in traffic in London it makes sense...
just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
It's really not a good idea to try and block someone who is trying to filter, especially at motorway speeds. If they misjudge it or don't realise you're closing the gap it is going to get messy.just don't be the biker who still thinks that filtering is legal at 70+ within the outside lane of the motorway sharing it with a 2+ tonne car - that I will block for safety reasons, I am not going to be involved in an accident because of some biker's arrogance...
xjay1337 said:
Many of us commuters will filter on the motorway at speed and many cars actually move to make space.
Really? I don't think I've ever seen a car adjust their lane position to allow a motorcyclist to filter on a motorway. And bearing in mind the number of drivers who don't indicate or use their mirrors properly, why would you put yourself (literally) in a position most drivers would not expect you to be in?Origin Unknown said:
That is more or less my commute OP and has been for the past 6 years. Hateful journey, although I only go as far as Ealing. I see the behaviour you describe day in, day out. The worst lot are the ones with the green disabled badges in the rear window. As they enter the M4 at Junction 4 or 4b, they'll cross the 4 lanes regardless of space and will happily sit halfway through a lane change, stationary, in traffic. Once they're in the former bus lane, they block filtering by driving on the near side while line for no obvious reason and once you hit the 40mph section, it's point the car at 45 degress, back to Lane 1.
I suspect I've seen you many times over the years OP, give me a toot if you come past a black X5, privacy glass, towbar with a red cover
We have roadworks to look forward to from J12 to J2 as they convert the M4 to a smart motorway, starting in March. Don't worry though, it's only estimated to take 5 years
Cheers! I am worried about this smart motorway malarkey! will add some serious time to my commuter (Bristol to London)..may need to consider a train if there are a lot of Average speed cameras. My commute is already getting on for 2 hours I suspect I've seen you many times over the years OP, give me a toot if you come past a black X5, privacy glass, towbar with a red cover
We have roadworks to look forward to from J12 to J2 as they convert the M4 to a smart motorway, starting in March. Don't worry though, it's only estimated to take 5 years
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