Discussion
Gosh this might sound like a moan but can someone explain to me the logic behind some filtering moves? There has been many a time when driving my car the opposite lane has lots of stationary traffic and I can see the bikes progressing along filtering in between the cars. This can mean that sometimes the bike needs to be driven in the on-coming lane (the lane I occupy). This is understandable and correct, but what I find it hard to deal with is when the bike is still approaching me when really the rider should really now pull in.
Surely bikes filtering shouldn’t impede or play chicken with the oncoming traffic? I have had times when the rider has filtered back in and given an acknowledgment in way of apology, but this is rare.
So what’s the deal? Do other seasoned bikers notice it? Or am I about to erupt into a ball of flames and crash and burn?
Surely bikes filtering shouldn’t impede or play chicken with the oncoming traffic? I have had times when the rider has filtered back in and given an acknowledgment in way of apology, but this is rare.
So what’s the deal? Do other seasoned bikers notice it? Or am I about to erupt into a ball of flames and crash and burn?
You're right in that bikes shouldn't impede oncoming traffic when filtering and I can only explain the fact that sometimes they do by suggesting that some people (as in every activity) do it slightly more agressively then the majority or that (ditto) people sometimes make mistakes.
It would be nice to think that given sufficient room an oncoming driver would keep to the left in such a situation making filtering possible/safer but the way past discussions on this subject have gone this isn't something I rely on.
It would be nice to think that given sufficient room an oncoming driver would keep to the left in such a situation making filtering possible/safer but the way past discussions on this subject have gone this isn't something I rely on.
I see it all the time and whenever I see a biker and ambulance at the side of the road, wonder if that was the cause.
I always filter in the oncoming lane. Usually placed right in the middle of the oncoming lane so I can see everything and so it's crystal clear that I am in the their lane. I then make sure I'm out of the way before the oncoming traffic gets to me so they don't have to brake or swerve.
On the odd occasion I am blocked by some angry numpty who thinks it's amusing to leave me out there high and dry. When this happens I usually puul over as far as can and give the oncoming car a nod to appologise for being in the way, then be on my way.
By me initially being out in the middle of the road, nobody gets any surprises, even though it is sometimes an inconnvenience.
I always filter in the oncoming lane. Usually placed right in the middle of the oncoming lane so I can see everything and so it's crystal clear that I am in the their lane. I then make sure I'm out of the way before the oncoming traffic gets to me so they don't have to brake or swerve.
On the odd occasion I am blocked by some angry numpty who thinks it's amusing to leave me out there high and dry. When this happens I usually puul over as far as can and give the oncoming car a nod to appologise for being in the way, then be on my way.
By me initially being out in the middle of the road, nobody gets any surprises, even though it is sometimes an inconnvenience.
dern said:
You're right in that bikes shouldn't impede oncoming traffic when filtering and I can only explain the fact that sometimes they do by suggesting that some people (as in every activity) do it slightly more agressively then the majority or that (ditto) people sometimes make mistakes.
It would be nice to think that given sufficient room an oncoming driver would keep to the left in such a situation making filtering possible/safer but the way past discussions on this subject have gone this isn't something I rely on.
I think I would have to keep to the left otherwise it would end in tears. Otherwise Mr Sports bike would be on my bonnet or ricocheting off my offside flank.It would be nice to think that given sufficient room an oncoming driver would keep to the left in such a situation making filtering possible/safer but the way past discussions on this subject have gone this isn't something I rely on.
I happened once and I drew left to leave room which meant the biker behind in my blind spot got squeezed. Catch 22.. bloke behind is miffed because I had to squeeze him because the chap who was oncoming would have ended up doing a forward flip over my car.
Sometime I flash the optimists or the traffic bullys when they are coming straight on. It just seems inconsiderate.
However some guys filter like it’s an art form. I have noticed they are the ones who have the patience. Some guys rely on being bullish and taking risks.
m3psm said:
I see it all the time and whenever I see a biker and ambulance at the side of the road, wonder if that was the cause.
I always filter in the oncoming lane. Usually placed right in the middle of the oncoming lane so I can see everything and so it's crystal clear that I am in the their lane. I then make sure I'm out of the way before the oncoming traffic gets to me so they don't have to brake or swerve.
On the odd occasion I am blocked by some angry numpty who thinks it's amusing to leave me out there high and dry. When this happens I usually puul over as far as can and give the oncoming car a nod to appologise for being in the way, then be on my way.
By me initially being out in the middle of the road, nobody gets any surprises, even though it is sometimes an inconnvenience.
GOsh I'm glad its not me being mean.I always filter in the oncoming lane. Usually placed right in the middle of the oncoming lane so I can see everything and so it's crystal clear that I am in the their lane. I then make sure I'm out of the way before the oncoming traffic gets to me so they don't have to brake or swerve.
On the odd occasion I am blocked by some angry numpty who thinks it's amusing to leave me out there high and dry. When this happens I usually puul over as far as can and give the oncoming car a nod to appologise for being in the way, then be on my way.
By me initially being out in the middle of the road, nobody gets any surprises, even though it is sometimes an inconnvenience.
Yeah its nice when you know the biker is doing something safe and clean.
NineOneSeven said:
However some guys filter like it’s an art form. I have noticed they are the ones who have the patience. Some guys rely on being bullish and taking risks.
The experienced patient ones usually get there fastest because they properly weigh up the maze of routes and weigh up the risks against progress.The bullish ones are so focussed on one route and go so fast that they oftenn come to a grinding halt.
I've been known to sit in both camps, but I'm more patient these days (but with speed
)I would be one of the first to admit to being occasionally caught out when filtering past slow or stopped traffic.
I see a gap further ahead, there's nothing coming and move out to go for that gap.
Suddenly a car or whatever the closes the gap and, at the same time as a car starts to approach me.
All that you can do is make yourself as small as possible or find another gap.
I usually wave an acknowledgement to the approaching vehicle and accept that I've encroached into their space.
Will I stop filtering though? - hell no.....
I see a gap further ahead, there's nothing coming and move out to go for that gap.
Suddenly a car or whatever the closes the gap and, at the same time as a car starts to approach me.
All that you can do is make yourself as small as possible or find another gap.
I usually wave an acknowledgement to the approaching vehicle and accept that I've encroached into their space.
Will I stop filtering though? - hell no.....
I would never play Chicken with on-coming traffic, I usually dart from gap to gap when the coast is clear. Sometimes the gap you were aiming for closes and you have to push back in. I don't like doing it, and it must be annoying for the car driver, but the fact is I won't be there for long and I certainly won't be holding them up...In London, generally speaking car drivers are used to our antics and just let us get away with it... outside London you can tell people aren't used to it and don't like it!
Man you guys are more honest then I expected. I was expected to get flamed.
Anyway I don't think bikes should stop filtering as it would cause more traffic. The whole point of commuting on a bike is to avoid congestion and make progress as the rider.
I just feel riders should do it safely and considerately. Some bikes are BIG!
I feel really embarrassed for the odd rider who has to paddle backwards to allow traffic past.
Anyway I don't think bikes should stop filtering as it would cause more traffic. The whole point of commuting on a bike is to avoid congestion and make progress as the rider.
I just feel riders should do it safely and considerately. Some bikes are BIG!
I feel really embarrassed for the odd rider who has to paddle backwards to allow traffic past.
m3psm said:
NineOneSeven said:
Man you guys are more honest then I expected. I was expected to get flamed.
Most of us drive cars too, so see it from both sides
I also never try to filter and hold up cars on the other side of the road. but I also find cars on my side of the road don't like bikes filtering and try their hardest to not allow you to move in when oncoming traffic is coming
Edited by RemaL on Thursday 19th June 15:13
What kinda roads and traffic are we talking about here? I can't see where "playing chicken" gets us except to the infirmary (if we're lucky). By the same token, wtf is with car drivers who try to deliberately close the gaps so I have nowhere to pull into? It's not like I'm going to impede your progress.
I filter every day to quite a large extent and I'd say 90% of drivers just let things happen around them, whether through choice or simply inattention. 9% of drivers are very switched on to bikes and are real gents. 0.999% are idiots, but harmless enough. That remainder are f
king idiots who deserve everything they get, and probably more. 
Filtering is not illegal in the UK.
There is no law against "undertaking" here.
I filter every day to quite a large extent and I'd say 90% of drivers just let things happen around them, whether through choice or simply inattention. 9% of drivers are very switched on to bikes and are real gents. 0.999% are idiots, but harmless enough. That remainder are f
king idiots who deserve everything they get, and probably more. Filtering is not illegal in the UK.
There is no law against "undertaking" here.
hiccy said:
By the same token, wtf is with car drivers who try to deliberately close the gaps so I have nowhere to pull into? It's not like I'm going to impede your progress.
I had an altercation with van man this morning. I was cutting through the traffic from the A13 to the Rotherhithe Tunnel. He saw me coming and deliberately closed the gap as I got to it. With a bit of cunning manoeuvring I managed to get in front with a shake of my head to display my dismay. No mirror loss or abuse (as he was built like tank and I was approaching a potential bottleneck) to provoke the situation further, then I was on my way through the tunnel.He started tailgating me initially, but rolling off the throttle with no brake lights soon got him to back off and for the rest of the tunnel he kept back so that was the end of I thought.
When I came out of the tunnel to the roundabout I slowly pulled up to let the traffic clear and find a gap. As I pulled onto the roundabout I saw the van roar up my right hand side as if to turn right. I assumed he just wanted to call me a w
r, get things off his chest and be gone to the right, so I let him have his moment.Instead he veered towards me trying to force me into the left hand lane. I decided to call his bluff so moved towards him until I was leaning on his wing. This left him two options; wind his neck in and back off, or mow me down (for which I had a contingency plan/escape route). He obviously decided that in the end, filtering wasn’t punishable by death and backed off, or he realised it was rush hour and there were thousands of witnesses.
I left him high and dry facing the barriers on the roundabout as he ran out of road. What a cock though.
If I had been a newbie with more aggression that skill (of which I see many) I could have quite easily ended up under his van just because he deemed filtering inappropriate.
The flip side is that upon seeing how aggressive he was, I could and should have backed off and let him go about his day. I have a problem with bullies though and had just seen him cut up several cars so decided to make a stand.
Be careful out there kids
There are some unbalanced people driving big lumps of metal around and if it comes to the crunch, you will always come off worse.m3psm said:
hiccy said:
By the same token, wtf is with car drivers who try to deliberately close the gaps so I have nowhere to pull into? It's not like I'm going to impede your progress.
I had an altercation with van man this morning. I was cutting through the traffic from the A13 to the Rotherhithe Tunnel. He saw me coming and deliberately closed the gap as I got to it. With a bit of cunning manoeuvring I managed to get in front with a shake of my head to display my dismay. No mirror loss or abuse (as he was built like tank and I was approaching a potential bottleneck) to provoke the situation further, then I was on my way through the tunnel.He started tailgating me initially, but rolling off the throttle with no brake lights soon got him to back off and for the rest of the tunnel he kept back so that was the end of I thought.
When I came out of the tunnel to the roundabout I slowly pulled up to let the traffic clear and find a gap. As I pulled onto the roundabout I saw the van roar up my right hand side as if to turn right. I assumed he just wanted to call me a w
r, get things off his chest and be gone to the right, so I let him have his moment.Instead he veered towards me trying to force me into the left hand lane. I decided to call his bluff so moved towards him until I was leaning on his wing. This left him two options; wind his neck in and back off, or mow me down (for which I had a contingency plan/escape route). He obviously decided that in the end, filtering wasn’t punishable by death and backed off, or he realised it was rush hour and there were thousands of witnesses.
I left him high and dry facing the barriers on the roundabout as he ran out of road. What a cock though.
If I had been a newbie with more aggression that skill (of which I see many) I could have quite easily ended up under his van just because he deemed filtering inappropriate.
The flip side is that upon seeing how aggressive he was, I could and should have backed off and let him go about his day. I have a problem with bullies though and had just seen him cut up several cars so decided to make a stand.
Be careful out there kids
There are some unbalanced people driving big lumps of metal around and if it comes to the crunch, you will always come off worse.Better to use your escape route and just gesticulate and curse in your helmet. It's not as if he's going to hold you up for long.
V8NRG said:
That sounds like a very risky move and whilst I’d probably do the same in a car, i think your nuts to do that on a bike. The probability of injury or just escalating the situation is to high.
Better to use your escape route and just gesticulate and curse in your helmet. It's not as if he's going to hold you up for long.
You are of course right. You can take the boy out of couriering, but you can't take the courier out of the boyBetter to use your escape route and just gesticulate and curse in your helmet. It's not as if he's going to hold you up for long.
Old habits die hard.The sensible thing to do was let it go though. I've always been bad at making the right decision though (on so many levels)
m3psm said:
I always filter in the oncoming lane. Usually placed right in the middle of the oncoming lane so I can see everything and so it's crystal clear that I am in the their lane. I then make sure I'm out of the way before the oncoming traffic gets to me so they don't have to brake or swerve.
BikeSafe teaches exactly this. If this was inherently dangerous - they wouldn't teach it.I admit though that most car drivers would not have attended a bikesafe course and would not realise that this is the safest place for a bike to be.
The filtering I find myself doing these days is the undertaking of cars on the dual-carraigeway. I try to be patient but when 10 cars are in the overtaking lane overtaking one lorry and I just know that when the front car pulls in (assuming he does) the rest of the cars will then try and overtake him. 10 minutes later and the 10 cars are now in reverse order and they all catch up with another lorry. I just haven't got the patience to sit and wait to be honest or the mental fortitude to sit behind diesel dave as he floors it and envelopes me with black soot but doesn't go any faster.
m3psm said:
He started tailgating me initially, but rolling off the throttle with no brake lights soon got him to back off and for the rest of the tunnel he kept back so that was the end of I thought.
A technique I have used to ‘back off’ those who are tail gating is a ‘poppy’! 
(Only works on older bikes with carbs.) Leave the throttle open but momentarily flick the kill switch to off then back on again. You will get a substantial ‘BANG’ (even better in a tunnel) and about 30cm of flame from the exhaust. (High level cans work best!) Tends to back tail gaters off a bit! 
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff