Filtering and other road riding skills
Discussion
Hi,
My rather pimp hybrid/road bike finally turned up yesterday, so hopefully later this week I'll have my first crack at cycling to work. So, can anyone lend me some urban road craft tips?
One specific question I'd like to ask is about filtering. Say you're approaching a traffic light controlled cross roads with a single lane approach - the cars pulling up at the stop line could be going left, right or straight on. Obviously if you're turning to one side you filter down that side, but what happens if you're going straight on? Surely, on either side you run the risk of finding yourself going up the inside of someone turning off?
Next one is width restrictions - do you just try and slip back in to the main body of traffic?
And anything else really. I've no intention of becoming one of the stereotypical urban cyclists so villified on other parts of PH, but it would be good to make safe, rapid progress through the traffic.
My rather pimp hybrid/road bike finally turned up yesterday, so hopefully later this week I'll have my first crack at cycling to work. So, can anyone lend me some urban road craft tips?
One specific question I'd like to ask is about filtering. Say you're approaching a traffic light controlled cross roads with a single lane approach - the cars pulling up at the stop line could be going left, right or straight on. Obviously if you're turning to one side you filter down that side, but what happens if you're going straight on? Surely, on either side you run the risk of finding yourself going up the inside of someone turning off?
Next one is width restrictions - do you just try and slip back in to the main body of traffic?
And anything else really. I've no intention of becoming one of the stereotypical urban cyclists so villified on other parts of PH, but it would be good to make safe, rapid progress through the traffic.
dmitsi said:
Don't ride up the inside of cars waiting at a junction. Either sit behind and wait or pass on the outside like a normal overtake. I've seen someone go up the inside and get taken out by the door being opened for someone to jump out.
You should be able to make progress down the outside of the queue and move to the appropriate road position when you get to the junction. I wouldn't go the whole way down the outside and jump in right at the front as often the first car will be too busy looking for a gap to notice you. I tend to tuck in behind the first car and establish my road position there.Also, when filtering down the outside, I avoid being in the oncoming lane when there is traffic in it. If I have to wait a bit in my lane, then so be it.
One general principle is to try to make sure you always have an escape option if someone else does something stupid. Your option could merely be ensuring your overtaking speed isn't so high that you can't stop quickly. something I've seen before is a frustrated driver in a queue deciding to do a 3 point turn without checking his mirrors for the overtaking motorcyclist. You need to ride in such a way as to have a escape route if someone does something like that - hence me avoiding overtaking into oncoming traffic.
So the rule is basically never to filtering on the same side as an upcoming junction?
The thing is, if you're approaching a cross roads to go straight on and you filter past stationary traffic (on either side) I can't see them ever letting you back in to the main stream of traffic (so you're positioned in the middle when you actually reach the cross roads).
The way I assumed you'd do it - providing you can get to the front of the queue before the lights change - is to position yourself slightly forward of the stop line so thge drivers are aware of you, whichever side you're on. That way when the lights change you're in front and the decision to overtake you or hold back is theirs?
God, I'm nervous (and confused) just thinking about it. The thing is I guess you don't really have a chance to do anything but filter in rush hour traffic - doing jogging pace up a hill I'd give it 20 seconds max before someone following had a road rage attack if you chose to position your bike centrally like you would a car.
The thing is, if you're approaching a cross roads to go straight on and you filter past stationary traffic (on either side) I can't see them ever letting you back in to the main stream of traffic (so you're positioned in the middle when you actually reach the cross roads).
The way I assumed you'd do it - providing you can get to the front of the queue before the lights change - is to position yourself slightly forward of the stop line so thge drivers are aware of you, whichever side you're on. That way when the lights change you're in front and the decision to overtake you or hold back is theirs?
God, I'm nervous (and confused) just thinking about it. The thing is I guess you don't really have a chance to do anything but filter in rush hour traffic - doing jogging pace up a hill I'd give it 20 seconds max before someone following had a road rage attack if you chose to position your bike centrally like you would a car.
Ok, crossroads to go straight on, asusming a single lane of traffic queueing to the junction, this is what I'd do. Filter down the outside to the front of the car second in line. As the car at the front moves off, move forward and left to the centre-left of the lane. When there's a gap get across it quickly to avoid holding up the car behind. I'd position myself centre left as the car behind may be turning right and come alongside me - no problem.
Getting back into a queue is no problem at all. As the queue moves gaps always appear. Your bike is a lot shorter than a car and can fit into much smaller gaps.
edit: Crossorads with lights - then yes, much as you've described. Although beware of still being filtering a few cars back when the lights change.
Getting back into a queue is no problem at all. As the queue moves gaps always appear. Your bike is a lot shorter than a car and can fit into much smaller gaps.
edit: Crossorads with lights - then yes, much as you've described. Although beware of still being filtering a few cars back when the lights change.
Edited by ewenm on Monday 18th May 12:38
As you come up to a junction pass on the driver side as you would with a car. If the cars start to pull away while you're there you have to be ready and alert for it. Cars don't pull away at the same speed and you're on a bike with a quicker burst of acceleration (This is when you must be doing the right things with speed and gearing). You should be looking for the gaps as they start to appear and then pull back in. Either sit right behind the car in front (if you can keep up) or over to the side. If the road is busy enough to filter past lots of cars, then they're not going to be moving too fast. If there are fewer cars that might go quicker, you must anticipate this. Best advice is to just wait behind them all in this instance.
Be safe, you will lose a fight with a car.
Be safe, you will lose a fight with a car.
So many necessary skills and techniques. ask the motorcyclist too.
Get the right bike - not a full sus mountain bike. A nice road-friendly machine with thin slick tyres will be much easier and faster to ride on tarmac.
Prime rule: look everywhere. Look behind you before slowing, turning, pulling out, pulling in, starting. Any change of speed or direction demands a shoulder check.
Other than that:
1. never undertake trucks or buses.
2. don't assume the cycle lane is the safest place to ride
3. be assertive. don't ride in the middle of the lane, but if you need space, take it.
4. but if you can safely let cars past, do so.
5. signal your intentions
6. get in the right gear before you stop, rather than as you pull away
7. take a bottle of water
8. leave the helmet and hi-vis at home and you'll notice that cars give you a wider berth.
9. have fun.
Get the right bike - not a full sus mountain bike. A nice road-friendly machine with thin slick tyres will be much easier and faster to ride on tarmac.
Prime rule: look everywhere. Look behind you before slowing, turning, pulling out, pulling in, starting. Any change of speed or direction demands a shoulder check.
Other than that:
1. never undertake trucks or buses.
2. don't assume the cycle lane is the safest place to ride
3. be assertive. don't ride in the middle of the lane, but if you need space, take it.
4. but if you can safely let cars past, do so.
5. signal your intentions
6. get in the right gear before you stop, rather than as you pull away
7. take a bottle of water
8. leave the helmet and hi-vis at home and you'll notice that cars give you a wider berth.
9. have fun.
I had the "pull out of a queue without using mirrors" driver this morning. 
Fortunately I'd kept to my rule of always having an escape route so had room to avoid her.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is pedestrians - they have a habit of stepping into the road without looking. This is another reason not to overtake queues down the inside as the peds will see the stationary traffic and just step out without checking for bikes.
Fortunately I'd kept to my rule of always having an escape route so had room to avoid her.One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is pedestrians - they have a habit of stepping into the road without looking. This is another reason not to overtake queues down the inside as the peds will see the stationary traffic and just step out without checking for bikes.
londonbabe said:
Get the right bike - not a full sus mountain bike. A nice road-friendly machine with thin slick tyres will be much easier and faster to ride on tarmac.
Yep, which is why (for the commute) I shall be trading my Orange for this rather pimp device:
Picked it up at the weekend and the photos don't do it justice, it looks extremely shiny in the flesh! Basically I had a full road bike on order and then tried the trip on my full susser and realised just how third world our roads are, and also that the hills weren't quite as bad as feared, so decided a hybrid was best. It is fully rigid with some virtually slick, skinny tyres on though.
Drove in today (in my defence I'm still sorting out access to the place I'm going to store the bike...) and once again I just thought 'god, I wouldn't like to try and ride through this lot!'
It's not central London, so kamikaze pedestrians aren't usually an issue (although I think I'll be riding on the outside wherever possible anyway) but it's about as dense as traffic can be while still moving significantly quicker than a bicycle on the level or uphill stretches! Fortunately, virtually all of my major junctions are right-handers. The only one that still concerns me is straight on at the traffic-lighted cross roads and straight on at the roundabout.
1. Wear bright colours to make sure the drivers can see you.
2. Don't sneak up inside or outside drivers in case they don't see you.
3. Have a bell/airhorn so you can get attention if the drivers/peds don't see you.
4. Make your intentions clear and drivers will work around you.
5. Don't ride like a prat. Like motorcyclists, the occasional bad apple cyclist makes it worse for all the good apples.
2. Don't sneak up inside or outside drivers in case they don't see you.
3. Have a bell/airhorn so you can get attention if the drivers/peds don't see you.
4. Make your intentions clear and drivers will work around you.
5. Don't ride like a prat. Like motorcyclists, the occasional bad apple cyclist makes it worse for all the good apples.
londonbabe said:
8. leave the helmet and hi-vis at home and you'll notice that cars give you a wider berth.
Not sure I agree with this one (unless I am reading it incorrectly). Id suggest if you are more visible then cars will see you earlier and therefore give you more space. Making your journey deliberately more dangerous isnt a good idea.Another tip would be to spend a bit of time finding the best route. The main roads are not always the quickest. Try to find quieter back roads that will be safer as well. Or roads that are particularly wide.
Firstly - "londonbabe" - I agree with most of your points, but I have to disagree with this one -
I would say the two most important things are, to be seen (I have my flashing rear red light on every time I ride) and anticipate what other road users may do (turning, changing lane, stopping, etc) and then be ready to react to these actions (hands on brakes, escape route).
Filtering up the left side of traffic - as said before, with buses and lorry - no! But with cars and smaller vehicles then I am happy to filter up the inside and be very prepared to stop if needed (In case they turn left without warning). Once you get to know your route, you will start to learn traffic lights cycles and be able to tell when the lights are about to turn green and therefore when cars are about to pull out and then you can decide whether to filter past or not.
londonbabe said:
8. leave the helmet and hi-vis at home and you'll notice that cars give you a wider berth.
Yes, some people will give you a wider birth, but I don't think it makes up for the fact that people won't see you as well (if at all) and the head saving capacity of a helmet. If you read about accidents, all the drivers involved in hitting cyclists say "I didn't see him/her" I would say the two most important things are, to be seen (I have my flashing rear red light on every time I ride) and anticipate what other road users may do (turning, changing lane, stopping, etc) and then be ready to react to these actions (hands on brakes, escape route).
Filtering up the left side of traffic - as said before, with buses and lorry - no! But with cars and smaller vehicles then I am happy to filter up the inside and be very prepared to stop if needed (In case they turn left without warning). Once you get to know your route, you will start to learn traffic lights cycles and be able to tell when the lights are about to turn green and therefore when cars are about to pull out and then you can decide whether to filter past or not.
londonbabe said:
8. leave the helmet and hi-vis at home and you'll notice that cars give you a wider berth.
I understand the theory on this one, but for every numpty that drives close to a highly visible rider, there's another one that still doesn't see him/her. Best to give yourself the best possible chance of being seen (and of surviving the almost inevitable stack when one doesn't and takes you out).Personally, I commute with flashing lights front and rear at all times of day & year and in all weathers.
LED lights these days can be very bright and the batteries last for months, so why not use 'em?
ewenm said:
mikee boy said:
2. Don't sneak up inside or outside drivers in case they don't see you.
Does that mean don't overtake queues of traffic on the outside? 
Isn't that one of the key advantages of cycling in rush hour?ewenm said:
mikee boy said:
2. Don't sneak up inside or outside drivers in case they don't see you.
Does that mean don't overtake queues of traffic on the outside? Isn't that one of the key advantages of cycling in rush hour?Jesus! I went for a reckee last night and it was the first time I'd ridden the route to work during the week.
I realise this isn't the case, but suddenly it feels like I'm the only driver in the world who gives a s
t about cyclists!
It's not difficult to tell that a cyclist approaching a line of parked cars is going to start pulling out to pass them. I'd like to think I always account for this when I'm driving, but shockingly no one else seems to.
Even on a short ride at 7pm in the evening there were 3 or 4 occasions when, for example, I saw someone about to join the main road from a side turning, slowed down in case they pulled out in front of me and then, sure enough, they did. I also had the classic case of someone nipping past me and then immediately cutting across my path to turn left. At one point a moped overtook me as it was being overtaken by a car and the three of us had to squeeze into one lane. AND I had my first ever car door opening - fortunately I'd seen him and I was far enough out.
ALL THAT IN UNDER AN HOUR OUTSIDE PEAK TIMES!
Don't get me wrong, none of them were exactly near death experiences, but it shows how much more aware you need to be to use the road on two wheels, particularly when you're slower than other traffic. The upsides are that the Kona is significantly quicker up the hills than my mountain bike and the peculiarly upright seating position affords great visibility.
I realise this isn't the case, but suddenly it feels like I'm the only driver in the world who gives a s
t about cyclists!It's not difficult to tell that a cyclist approaching a line of parked cars is going to start pulling out to pass them. I'd like to think I always account for this when I'm driving, but shockingly no one else seems to.
Even on a short ride at 7pm in the evening there were 3 or 4 occasions when, for example, I saw someone about to join the main road from a side turning, slowed down in case they pulled out in front of me and then, sure enough, they did. I also had the classic case of someone nipping past me and then immediately cutting across my path to turn left. At one point a moped overtook me as it was being overtaken by a car and the three of us had to squeeze into one lane. AND I had my first ever car door opening - fortunately I'd seen him and I was far enough out.
ALL THAT IN UNDER AN HOUR OUTSIDE PEAK TIMES!
Don't get me wrong, none of them were exactly near death experiences, but it shows how much more aware you need to be to use the road on two wheels, particularly when you're slower than other traffic. The upsides are that the Kona is significantly quicker up the hills than my mountain bike and the peculiarly upright seating position affords great visibility.
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 20th May 10:39
Chris71 said:
Jesus! I went for a reckee last night and it was the first time I'd ridden the route to work during the week.
I realise this isn't the case, but suddenly it feels like I'm the only driver in the world who gives a st about cyclists!
It's not difficult to tell that a cyclist approaching a line of parked cars is going to start pulling out to pass them. I'd like to think I always account for this when I'm driving, but shockingly no one else seems to.
Even on a short ride at 7pm in the evening there were 3 or 4 occasions when, for example, I saw someone about to join the main road from a side turning, slowed down in case they pulled out in front of me and then, sure enough, they did. I also had the classic case of someone nipping past me and then immediately cutting across my path to turn left. At one point a moped overtook me as it was being overtaken by a car and the three of us had to squeeze into one lane. AND I had my first ever car door opening - fortunately I'd seen him and I was far enough out.
ALL THAT IN UNDER AN HOUR OUTSIDE PEAK TIMES!
Don't get me wrong, none of them were exactly near death experiences, but it shows how much more aware you need to be to use the road on two wheels, particularly when you're slower than other traffic. The upsides are that the Kona is significantly quicker up the hills than my mountain bike and the peculiarly upright seating position affords great visibility.
That all sounds incredibly familiar! Get used to it I realise this isn't the case, but suddenly it feels like I'm the only driver in the world who gives a s
t about cyclists!It's not difficult to tell that a cyclist approaching a line of parked cars is going to start pulling out to pass them. I'd like to think I always account for this when I'm driving, but shockingly no one else seems to.
Even on a short ride at 7pm in the evening there were 3 or 4 occasions when, for example, I saw someone about to join the main road from a side turning, slowed down in case they pulled out in front of me and then, sure enough, they did. I also had the classic case of someone nipping past me and then immediately cutting across my path to turn left. At one point a moped overtook me as it was being overtaken by a car and the three of us had to squeeze into one lane. AND I had my first ever car door opening - fortunately I'd seen him and I was far enough out.
ALL THAT IN UNDER AN HOUR OUTSIDE PEAK TIMES!
Don't get me wrong, none of them were exactly near death experiences, but it shows how much more aware you need to be to use the road on two wheels, particularly when you're slower than other traffic. The upsides are that the Kona is significantly quicker up the hills than my mountain bike and the peculiarly upright seating position affords great visibility.
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 20th May 10:39
mouseymousey said:
Chris71 said:
Stuff about unboservant drivers
That all sounds incredibly familiar! Get used to it I think this is why drivers are so surprised when a cyclist gets very annoyed at some minor indiscretion by the driver - it's the accumulation of all the incidents that have happened so far that takes them over the edge.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff