Why block filtering motorcycles...?

[supercommuter]

I ride a motorbike, drive a car/van and cycle so I like to think I have a good viewpoint of most road users. However, one thing I cannot get my head around is the car drivers who actively block motorcycles from filtering in traffic.

I commute into central London every day (on a motorcycle) which includes a long stint on the M4 and all the way in on the A4 and through the city. I would estimate I come across somebody who takes offence to motorcycles filtering and blocks them about 5 or 6 times a day. Actively making eye contact with me in their wing mirror and then pulling across to block the path (another 30 or 40 people oblivious to their surroundings on phones, eating cereal, watching the news or doing their hair - but that's another story..)

I have been directly next to peoples window before (as it is usually wing mirrors that stop progression) and said "what is the point?" only to get a response of "wait in traffic like everyone else mate"...I mean, its pissing down with rain and 1 degrees, it is pretty obvious I am not riding my bike to work for the love of biking and happen to be enjoying the added benefit of skipping traffic.

Will anybody admit to being that person or knowing somebody like this and shed some light on why they do it? It is so frustrating, but I try not to let it annoy me anymore otherwise I would be in a bad mood when I get to work everyday. Only time i get annoyed now is when somebody swerves into me mid filtering.

[supercommuter]

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.

Please explain more.

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....

[supercommuter]

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.

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?

Yes, I filter at motorway speed, on the motorway in the mornings and evenings when stuck behind some tool in the outside lane doing 60mph and there is a huge queue behind them. A lot of cars do move to make space as I filter between lanes 1 and 2. To them I always say thank you!

[supercommuter]

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

[supercommuter]

Piersman2 said:

Strange one this. I use the bike sporadically depending on where I'm working. The M4 is one of the haunts that I've used it most on over the last 15 years, most recently this last summer.

I can count on 1 hand the number of times I've had people purposedly pull across to block me when filtering, and conversely have lost count of the number of times people have moved over to let me through when on the bike.

So not sure what the OP is doing to trigger so much ire from those in the cars?

For the record, my bike is yellow, v-twin and has very, very loud cans, so maybe the car drivers are catching sight of me earlier and having the opportunity to move over, especially when they see me bearing down at great knots; I do tend to filter quite briskly.

I think your sporadic use may not expose you to the amount of motorists I do in my 240 mile round daily trip

I also ride a quiet CB500x commuter bike.

[supercommuter]

shielsy said:

akirk said:

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...

Great logic there. On grounds of safety its OK to block said motorcyclist, potentially causing a collision.

Or alternatively you could just carry on driving as you were and the bike would be passed you in 2 seconds.

Quite.

akirk - whats to say you misjudge the speed and decide to take it upon yourself to block the biker and kill him there and then? Nice judgement of a safe maneuver that would be.

To all the others who move out the way or just continue as they are, thanks! It makes life so much easier, especially in the cold weather at the moment!

[supercommuter]

akirk said:

supercommuter said:

shielsy said:

akirk said:

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...

Great logic there. On grounds of safety its OK to block said motorcyclist, potentially causing a collision.

Or alternatively you could just carry on driving as you were and the bike would be passed you in 2 seconds.

Quite.

akirk - whats to say you misjudge the speed and decide to take it upon yourself to block the biker and kill him there and then? Nice judgement of a safe maneuver that would be.

To all the others who move out the way or just continue as they are, thanks! It makes life so much easier, especially in the cold weather at the moment!

I think there is a misunderstanding here
- unfortunately the word 'block' used by the OP is not ideal - it implies that the biker has a right of way which is being prevented by a car driver, that is very inaccurate.
- equally the word filtering is often used incorrectly - it is meant to imply making use of space between traffic which is generally going slowly and where there is an option for a biker to go between carefully - the discussion above has morphed - a biker doing what I am refering to is not filtering - they are undertaking within the same lane... that is very different...

there are no circumstances ever when undertaking at c.90mph within the same lane, to the left of a car in lane 3 which is in the process of moving to lane 2 makes any sense - it is suicidal.

So, if I see a biker doing that up a stream of traffic from behind then yes I will position my car to ensure that there is safety and the biker doesn't believe that a gap exists when in fact no gap is present. That is not blocking as that implies that a safe gap existed - in the scenario I am discussing there is no safe gap - however that doesn't stop some bikers - road positioning is a core part of driving well - making sure there is absolute clarity for other road users so that they know what you are doing and your intentions - that could mean closing down a perceived gap, it could mean slowing down to provide a gap, it could mean moving to another lane earlier than otherwise - in all cases it has nothing to do with trying to frustrate a biker, but ensure safety for myself and those around me...

if a biker sees that as being blocked then that is a perception issue for the biker - being blocked is a car preventing what would otherwise be a safe overtake / filter - I am referring to instances which are clearly not safe - and dealing with them predictively ahead of the biker arriving where I am... And lets not pretend that all bikers are good riders - I see some fantastic bikers out there and it is a delight to help give them space to progress, but there are sadly far too many bad riders (as there are car drivers, but bikers are more vulnerable), I live in the Cotswolds and see some horrendous misuse of the roads around here, and having arrived on the scene at a biker fatality, I would prefer to do what I can to prevent it - if a few biker warriors on a forum get uppity about it and claim that is being blocked - so be it

Nope, I am not misunderstanding you. I think you behave immaturely on the road and I do hope it does not result in death or serious injury to the biker you cut up or you after they get up. Have a lovely day.

[supercommuter]

Piersman2 said:

supercommuter said:

I think your sporadic use may not expose you to the amount of motorists I do in my 240 mile round daily trip

I also ride a quiet CB500x commuter bike.

I've spent plenty of time commuting up and down the M4, probably 10K miles in total over the years, still can only recall about 4 or 5 knobbers moving over on purpose.

I assume it's more to do with the bike, or maybe I'm gone before they realise I'm there; but not sure what you're doing 'wrong' to trigger one every 50 miles or so.

It will remain a mystery I am afraid. But I am not the only one, all the bikers in my office have this a couple of times a day at least. A mixture of coming past Reading in queued traffic on the motorway and Central London. After about 80,000 miles in the last couple of years on this commute, I am no slouch at filtering and finding spaces, so i doubt its the latter.

Ride safe

[supercommuter]

FazerBoy said:

Dog Star said:

I've been riding since 1984 and I've probably come across this less than once a year on average. Whatever it is - it's a very rare thing to happen.

I totally agree with this.

To give some idea of my credentials for that statement I should say that I passed my bike test in 1982 and between then and now have probably owned over forty motorcycles of all shapes and sizes - mostly large capacity sports bikes.I currently have a Triumph Speed Triple R and a BMW F800R and have put an order in for the new Fireblade.

I have always lived in London and have commuted daily to work by motorcycle through some of the heaviest urban traffic in the country. I have also done many tens of thousands of miles of motorway riding, A-road blasts etc etc.

I don't sit in traffic when filtering is possible and yet I can honestly say that in all my experience I can barely recall one or two episodes where somebody might have intentionally prevented me from passing them. On the contrary, I find that many drivers almost go out of their way to give me more space - even though I generally don't need more space and would be happy for them to maintain their course. On some journeys my wrist starts aching due to all the little waves of acknowledgement I've given to drivers pulling over in their lane to allow me past!

My filtering is smooth, unobtrusive and at a safe speed for the circumstances (certainly no more than a 20mph speed differential). My aim is to flow through the traffic without causing any other road user to have to alter his or her course. In most cases I'm past before they even realise it. When I need to ensure I am visible to another road user to ensure my safety (and theirs) then I do so in a manner which says 'I'm here' not 'Get out of my way!'. I am not overtaking or filtering in an aggressive manner nor tailgating etc.

My guess is that riders who are frequently being blocked are riding in a manner precisely the opposite of that detailed in the previous paragraph.

Thanks, but no, you guess incorrectly and even if it was the opposite and i did ride like a lunatic - how would the person I am approaching ahead know that and then decide they are going to block me? I ride a standard piped commuter bike and do approx 40-50k miles per year on it. M4 then straight into central London between 6am-8:30am. My credentials are very similar to yours, although I would hazard a guess I spend a tad more time on the road than you, which may be why I am exposed to more idiots.

There could be any number of variables as to why I notice more idiots without your "I am the epitome of biking" response.

Edited by supercommuter on Thursday 19th January 10:23

[supercommuter]

FazerBoy said:

Nah, if it's happening to you 'five or six times a day' then you're doing something wrong...

Or you just sit in traffic queuing / blocking other filtering bikes. Could be either or I guess...

[supercommuter]

jaja4421 said:

I ride for the commute into Manchester and find people either stay where they are or move out of the way - maybe it's a London thing? - I've never been deliberately blocked as far as I know although the number of people who 'drift' across the white lines while texting or checking facebook is getting insane!

Sorry to confirm, my numbers include these types of incidents as well. Although I do often have people intentionally block me and the others I am with. I don't get it in Bristol. Just London and just in the morning. Very odd.

[supercommuter]

Piersman2 said:

Prizam said:

yonex said:

I always move over. Probably 3 in 10 riders say thanks.

As a biker, i say thanks.

Just remember, on a bike your hands are very busy. Especially when filtering. Often bikers don't get a chance to say thanks.

Indeed, but I'll always try and give a little sideways nod of the head if my limbs are otherwise engaged.

Right or left leg out for me, depending on which lane of traffic moved over

[supercommuter]

Bunfighter said:

When I'm in the fast lane I always steer into the central res in heavy traffic.

Why be spiteful? Bikers trade off filtering with bad/horrible weather.

This is a good response.

The amount of times i have been sat in traffic saturated and been given the "wait in traffic like everyone else does" look is beyond me. Like I am riding the bike for the love of biking haha