Skipping The Queues at Traffic Lights
Discussion
This is an interesting topic. Maybe dull as dishwater to others but I am fan of minimising risk.
I flirt between parking my bike alongside traffic but just slightly ahead or right in front depending upon the design of the traffic lights. A friend of mine was riding with me and remarked he felt I should always go in the front rather than just alongside as it is safer and is the dominate road position and thwarted idiots trying to race me off the lights and perhaps into incoming traffic!
So now I try to get in front. However in London the cycle bays are often enforced and so I often find I am alongside cars rather than in front.
I flirt between parking my bike alongside traffic but just slightly ahead or right in front depending upon the design of the traffic lights. A friend of mine was riding with me and remarked he felt I should always go in the front rather than just alongside as it is safer and is the dominate road position and thwarted idiots trying to race me off the lights and perhaps into incoming traffic!
So now I try to get in front. However in London the cycle bays are often enforced and so I often find I am alongside cars rather than in front.
OK, temping fate here but ….
I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
LeftmostAardvark said:
A good way to gauge car driver's attitude to you is when filtering on a stationary motorway. If they adjust their position to assist you they're probably not pissed off with you, if they try and block you, then they probably are. I would generally say the ratio of help:hinder has always been far in excess of 100:1.
Agreed...you can certainly tell the drivers that use their mirrors. TBH I don't think I've ever had a driver intentionally try to block me....it's just that some of them only check their mirrors once a month!!black-k1 said:
OK, temping fate here but ….
I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
Ah ha! The old front wheel in the box technique! Yes I am practioner of the same technique, which allows you to be in front and yet not in the box. I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
I like it.
By the time my reasonably fast BMW car hits 30 most bikers and scooters are long gone.
Although I have been fooled by the odd supers sports with the rider in full gear who then rides like he is on a restricted 50cc scooter.
Have come close to rear ending as I expected them to tear off into the distance.
Although I have been fooled by the odd supers sports with the rider in full gear who then rides like he is on a restricted 50cc scooter.
Have come close to rear ending as I expected them to tear off into the distance.
Commuting on a CG125 meant I had to think smart about filtering and what I could do to stay safe. It'd go off the lights quickly but after the initial jump to 30mph, pretty much anything else would sail by.
I'd usually try to get a gap between the first and second cars in the line and angle my front wheel into the space to make it clear that I'm taking that space. I'd usually look towards the driver and make eye contact with a nod so I knew they were paying attention.
Sometimes, as I moved towards the 1st/2nd gap, it would close up and I'd have to pull in front of the first car. I'd rather get a telling off for being over the line than get squashed becuase I'd been alongside the lead vehicle. I'd also never, ever pull in front of a tall vehicle (LGV or HGV) unless I could get a good couple of metres in front of it. I'd worry about the driver not noticing me and squashing me.
I feel more comfortable on my Triumph, which is a lot noisier and more obtrusive than the tiny Honda was.
I'd usually try to get a gap between the first and second cars in the line and angle my front wheel into the space to make it clear that I'm taking that space. I'd usually look towards the driver and make eye contact with a nod so I knew they were paying attention.
Sometimes, as I moved towards the 1st/2nd gap, it would close up and I'd have to pull in front of the first car. I'd rather get a telling off for being over the line than get squashed becuase I'd been alongside the lead vehicle. I'd also never, ever pull in front of a tall vehicle (LGV or HGV) unless I could get a good couple of metres in front of it. I'd worry about the driver not noticing me and squashing me.
I feel more comfortable on my Triumph, which is a lot noisier and more obtrusive than the tiny Honda was.
Renn Sport said:
black-k1 said:
OK, temping fate here but ….
I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
Ah ha! The old front wheel in the box technique! Yes I am practioner of the same technique, which allows you to be in front and yet not in the box. I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
I like it.
As long as no one is skulking around waiting to ticket I'll use the box as funnily enough its safer.
I use the diagonal approach where limited space and no box exists on particular junctions all on a case by case basis.
Basically the golden rule is if you are pulling in front of anything stationary in London get the f**k on with it away from the lights when they change! Its called the london brisk getaway - which might be called a almost semi racing start in more sleepy parts of the UK.
sjtscott said:
Renn Sport said:
black-k1 said:
OK, temping fate here but ….
I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
Ah ha! The old front wheel in the box technique! Yes I am practioner of the same technique, which allows you to be in front and yet not in the box. I commute into London daily and filter to the front, often having to put my front wheel into the cycle box. I’ve had a few plastic policemen (PCSOs) jump up and down on the pavement while pointing at me. I simply shout to them that I can’t hear what they’re saying as I have earplugs in! I have occasionally had to repeat that as they keep gesticulating but it’s not long before the lights change and I’m off!
I like it.
As long as no one is skulking around waiting to ticket I'll use the box as funnily enough its safer.
I use the diagonal approach where limited space and no box exists on particular junctions all on a case by case basis.
Basically the golden rule is if you are pulling in front of anything stationary in London get the f**k on with it away from the lights when they change! Its called the london brisk getaway - which might be called a almost semi racing start in more sleepy parts of the UK.
Plastic police – we’ll they’re a different matter!
I pop myself between the first and second cars - with enough visible space to show that i am not touching them.
I find personally it is safer as i am more visible to the cars behind me, i do not have to race off the line to keep in front of the front car, and i do not antagonise other road users by pulling in front of them.
I always happily say thank you as i pull away - but that's just me avoiding potential conflict.
I'll happily go round the other car further up the road if they are dawdling.
I find personally it is safer as i am more visible to the cars behind me, i do not have to race off the line to keep in front of the front car, and i do not antagonise other road users by pulling in front of them.
I always happily say thank you as i pull away - but that's just me avoiding potential conflict.
I'll happily go round the other car further up the road if they are dawdling.
LeftmostAardvark said:
No argument, I know could be seen as a little inconsiderate (although actually isn't as I'm gone before any of the car drivers have even registered I'm in their way). Trouble is, I feel I have to ride this way in order to minimise the impact of anyone else's driving - it is defensive. Of course it helps that I ride a mahoosive black cruiser with unsociably loud pipes - I think they're just pleased that I go away quite quickly and stop vibrating their windscreen.
I'd probably be overtaking you again pretty quickly, seems to happen a lot with people that ride cruisers.Front, as above two posters.
I find it dangerous to pull along side a car as most car drivers wont be thinking to look / can't see you, better to be in front of them and visible so they don't accidentally weave into you or change lanes as soon as the lights change.
Never had any issues with front wheel over the line / in the box etc from Police
I find it dangerous to pull along side a car as most car drivers wont be thinking to look / can't see you, better to be in front of them and visible so they don't accidentally weave into you or change lanes as soon as the lights change.
Never had any issues with front wheel over the line / in the box etc from Police
Mr2Mike said:
I'd probably be overtaking you again pretty quickly, seems to happen a lot with people that ride cruisers.
In a car? As per other comments, I make sure other bikes can get to the front too, so if you were on a bike you'd have a clear road to out accelerate this lumbering beast.olly22n said:
Or in between first and second, and get a jump on them at the lights.
I was never shy in filtering and queue jumping, probably best that I don't road ride anymore tbh
Exactly this. You don't wind up the car at the front by "blocking" him. If he's steady off the line just pop him in the first couple of yards, if he wants a race then let him win up to the next thing in 50 yards and sail past. I was never shy in filtering and queue jumping, probably best that I don't road ride anymore tbh
My method works in Normaltown but in London you might be overrun by other motorbikes. In London of course you should be on a pushbike and treat the whole Highway Code thing like it doesn't apply to you - which of course it doesn't.
k off to the side, thanks.The absolute worst is when a tiddly bike filters up to the front, pulls over in front of you and then sets off at a glacial pace...argghh!!!
Which is why I like to pull up level to the front of the car so the diver can see you, then go on the Gr of the green light. I usually find if you aren't a slouch, you can get 3 or 4 bikes away before the car has really started.
If the car is going to try it on and make your life difficult, either add a bit of gas to really get away or just let him go and slot in behind him. Pound to a penny if he's gone off fast, the 2nd car won't have and you'll have acres of room to drop in to.
I find, and it's a personal thing, that if a bike comes to the front and puts himself across me, to then be tardy on the getaway is a bit annoying..
Which is why I like to pull up level to the front of the car so the diver can see you, then go on the Gr of the green light. I usually find if you aren't a slouch, you can get 3 or 4 bikes away before the car has really started.
If the car is going to try it on and make your life difficult, either add a bit of gas to really get away or just let him go and slot in behind him. Pound to a penny if he's gone off fast, the 2nd car won't have and you'll have acres of room to drop in to.
I find, and it's a personal thing, that if a bike comes to the front and puts himself across me, to then be tardy on the getaway is a bit annoying..
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