[Closed] Cycling on roads, do you ‘filter’ past slow traffic?

It's called overtaking. And yeah, when safe and appropriate I do.

Jeeeez that ain't nice.

In that scenario i'll usually jump on the pavement. If not, then yes, probably exactly what they did.

Yes but I assume that drivers are likely to do stupid things! That’s hideous. It’s CCTV, hence the filming.

Yep, I overtake slow cars when it seems appropriate to do so.

Looks nasty that 😮

Yes always. However only when the traffic is stationary or less than walking pace and I will go past slowly overtaking each car in turn so there is not much of a speed differential.

Also look into each car to see if they are going to make a turn. Sometimes you spot indication they are going to.

WRT the video, odd that the first guy on the scene immediately opens the passenger door before doing anything else. Looks like he is trying to get the driver to stop as he runs across and maybe puts on the handbrake.

In terms of filtering. Yes I do it. I treat it as overtaking (regardless of side) and am very wary of other cars and what they may do. Keep looking, keep second guessing any moves, observe and respect anyone that is indicating. Still a risk though and there is some crazy driving out there.

CCTV

Doh! I saw the camera motion and heard ambient noise so didn't trust the title, now realise there is a timestamp and it’s a recording of a playback via screen. Thanks! Edited my OP.

(filtering)Still a big risk though and there is some crazy driving out there.

That’s my take home. I don’t often risk it these days.

possible use of car as weapon - 30 months :

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/london-cyclist-blasts-30month-sentence-for-motorist-who-used-car-as-weapon-a4261701.html

That does look nasty...and I do exactly the same every time I commute.
Rightly or wrongly, I feel safer on the right as people generally indicate and look if they’re turning right where people often just turn left without looking.

Jeaasuuss!! WTAF! Horrific!

But aside from having the share the planet with these zombies, yep always filter down the middle.

I got "doored" couple months back whilst rolling up the inside of stationary traffic, but it was a f...ing cycle lane. Builders mate decided to jump out in traffic, flung door, wham. My fault of course, being as I'm fair game (a cyclist).

Willing to bet that's some doddery old ducker that should have stopped driving years ago.  Horrible 🙁

But aside from having the share the planet with these zombies

Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault. Sure, arguably they should have looked.... But even if they did, doesn't necessarily follow that by the time they moved 4-5s later they'd have spotted the cyclist.

Past slow-moving traffic? No, never.

Past stationary vehicles? Only on two conditions: one, I need to be certain I can be in a position where I'm not alongside a vehicle when the traffic starts moving; and two, there needs to be a worthwhile benefit (ie a really big queue, at the very least longer than can get through the next phase of the lights). In effect this amounts to almost never.

There are times when I'll overtake slow-moving traffic as I would in a car, ie by moving into the oncoming lane and riding past (there is one place where this often happens on my way into work), but that's not filtering.

It's worth noting that different environments encourage different behaviour. When I used to ride in London I'd be more inclined to weave through queues, because otherwise you're just sitting still with an exhaust pipe in your face. Anywhere else I've ridden, there's rarely any point.

I try and go on the pavement if it's suitable. If not then I will overtake cars on the right if they are very slow moving into gaps where possible.

Anyone know what happened to the cyclist in the video.

in that sort of stop start situation I would be only overtaking as the cars were stationary or rolling to a halt - as they start to move I would be sitting alongside the gaps ready to move in - and of course as well as looking at and into the car I am overtaking looking as far ahead as I can to see what it going to happen to prepare for the next move.

Bez - In edinbugh there are places where you would filter past enough cars to save two changes of the lights or more - and queensferry road in rush hour you can overtake hundreds of cars.

Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault. Sure, arguably they should have looked

What?!?!?! Mirror, signal, action. The driver did neither of the first 2 so is entirely at fault. You can't pull a move like that without looking.

Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault.

A bit early to be on the sherry old boy?.

Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault.

Apart from not noticing they'd hit something and running a person over and driving with them stuck under their car for a good few seconds they were doing just fine yeah.

Good grief!!

Really hope the cyclist was/is ok

I filter past traffic every day.
I actually hit my hand on a parked car's mirror this morning as the gap was so tight. Amusingly, I was on a bit of road with white bicycles painted on it at the time.
It would be moronic to sit behind the queues of traffic on my commute - I'd be late for ****ing work.

I try not to ride on the road if I can help it, mainly because it's pants, but if it's unavoidable I make myself as wide as possible and filter if it's safe-ish. I'm pretty comfortable in traffic (uni years spent riding through Newcastle) but I'd prefer not to have to.

After the Focus (eventually) stops in the video - you can see that it was indicating. So that cyclist should've been aware of their intention to turn really.

I notice if an acorn or stone hits my car. I'm amazed they didn't notice the man and bike hitting them! And then continue driving up into that person's driveway 😣

weeksy

Subscriber
Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault. Sure, arguably they should have looked…. But even if they did, doesn’t necessarily follow that by the time they moved 4-5s later they’d have spotted the cyclist.

Not a driver I assume? It's always the manoeuvrers responsibility to check before carry out the manoeuver.

What TJ said. Speed differential is the problem.

Bez – In edinbugh there are places where you would filter past enough cars to save two changes of the lights or more – and queensferry road in rush hour you can overtake hundreds of cars.

Are you thinking that this somehow isn’t entirely compatible with what I said? 🙂

Hits the cyclist at 16 seconds and stops car at 21 seconds, that's 5 seconds, not even close to normal reaction times!

I do filter in traffic on commutes though, you have to these days with cycle lanes in many places, but you do have to be so aware of your surroundings, so knowing of the turns, looking for parked up vehicles and so on, and watching out for the idiots trying to stop you filtering by getting their cars right up against the kerb.

Anyone have a link to the law/code regarding filtering/passing (on the right?)

The driver could well have looked but the cyclist may have been in his blind spot. I am not sure how good the side mirrors are on modern cars but I have those blind spot mirrors on mine. Hopefully all new cars do too.

I do filter in traffic on commutes though, you have to these days with cycle lanes in many places, but you do have to be so aware of your surroundings, so knowing of the turns, looking for parked up vehicles and so on, and watching out for the idiots trying to stop you filtering by getting their cars right up against the kerb

This. Obviously.

Anyone have a link to the law/code regarding filtering/passing (on the right?)

Overtaking?

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road-overtaking.html

I actually hit my hand on a parked car’s mirror this morning as the gap was so tight. It would be moronic to sit behind the queues of traffic on my commute – I’d be late for **** work.

Aren’t you basically saying you get out of bed too late and as a result you’re in such a rush that you crash into things? 🙂

Bez - you saying it rarely acheives anything - my experience is it saves a great deal of time. thats all

Not convinced for a second the car driver was much at fault.

So if you were driving along and went to overtake 2 cars and the car in front of you pulled out as you were passing them to overtake the first car and put you through a hedge and into a field or smashed you into a wall the first thing you'd do providing you were still alive is to go over to apologise to the driver who'd just taken you out!

The wisdom of passing moving traffic on a bike is another thing, it needs to be done slowly and very carefully if at all. Personally I'd only pass stationary traffic.

Legally the car driver is clearly in the wrong. However if I was that cyclist and applying the rules of reflective practice ie "what went wrong, how could I have avoided this going wrong" then two things immediatly come to mind. going too fast too close and overtaking moving traffic

WTF. Yes, carefully.

An odd path they took (presumably turning into that drive?) and very odd that they don't hit the brake on impact.

is that someone filming a CCTV screening with their mobile? background noise and voices and handheld drift of the image

Anyone have a link to the law/code regarding filtering/passing (on the right?)

I've 100% seen the Police respond on fb comments stating cyclist are fully entitled to filter, and it's not breaking the law.

Also, this article discusses motobikes, but cyclists are afforded full use of the road too, so same applies.

https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/filtering-motorbike-whats-law/

Text here..

In 2006, a judge ruled in the case of Davis vs Shrogin that, “a filtering motorcyclist passing stationary or very slow-moving traffic could not be to blame if a collision occurred if the rider had no chance to take avoiding action.”

Checking the Highway Code, under Rules for Motorcyclists, Rule 88 states, ‘Manoeuvering. You should be aware of what is behind and to the sides before maneuvering. Look behind you; use mirrors if they are fitted. When in traffic queues look out for pedestrians crossing between vehicles and vehicles emerging from junctions or changing lanes. Position yourself so that drivers in front can see you in their mirrors. Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low.’

Then in Rule 160, where the advice is aimed more at other vehicle drivers, it clarifies this with, ‘Once moving, you should be aware of other road users, especially cycles and motorcycles who may be filtering through the traffic. These are more difficult to see than larger vehicles and their riders are particularly vulnerable…’

So, it’s clear that the Highway Code has specific provisions that cover filtering.
It means, the next time a car or van driver gets a little antsy on the subject, you can respectfully shove their, “Shouldn’t even have been riding there, mate!” back down their throats with a “Highway Code, Rules 88 and 160. Mate.”
You are allowed to filter, and other road users (including yourself, remember) should be aware of motorcycles filtering.

I tend to get on the right if possible and often in my commute I'm on the wrong side of the road as traffics all one way.

Feels far safer than being squeezed into parked cars....

Bez if you where stood n a mirror hit you you'd be apoplectic with anger.

my experience is it saves a great deal of time. thats all

Yeah, but we’re saying the same thing.

What I said is that I do it in certain conditions. Leaving work we used to regularly have a mile of queuing cars. Clearly it would be daft to spend 30 minutes in that instead of riding past it, so that’s what I did.

And like I said, busy city centres throw up those sorts of scenarios more often. I just happen not to encounter it much these days because I don’t ride through a city at rush hour.

Thanks scotroutes. I’ve bolded where I foresee the ‘differences’ in interpretation and choices between cyclists and other vehicles. Where does ‘overtaking’ become ‘filtering’ or is it the same thing?

167
DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example

approaching or at a road junction on either side of the road
where the road narrows
when approaching a school crossing patrol
between the kerb and a bus or tram when it is at a stop
where traffic is queuing at junctions or road works

Bez if you where stood n a mirror hit you you’d be apoplectic with anger.

Probably, yeah. What’s that got to do with this thread?

Aren’t you basically saying you get out of bed too late and as a result you’re in such a rush that you crash into things?

Nope, cos I know how long it takes to get to work. If I wanted to sit behind traffic I'd take the car. (sorry, can't see if your emoji is winking, or what (shite forum innit))
It didn't even hurt, so hardly a "crash" 😛

Not a driver I assume? It’s always the manoeuvrers responsibility to check before carry out the manoeuver

Of course i am. But we don't see many aspects of it... Like for example what's down the road where the cycle comes from. If that's a bend, then as the drive first looked the cyclist wouldn't have been there, the cyclist then checks forward and makes the manouver, in the time it's taken to first look, to make the move may be 3-4s as they were checking the front, then the cyclist comes down the road and makes us the distance the car driver couldn't see as they were round a curve...

It's why we call them accidents, they're not deliberate. In hindisght i'm sure the car driver wishes they'd looked a 2nd time.... (or indeed a first) but we can't change that.

IMO it's a fairly easy mistake and with blind spots etc you can see how it happened.

two things immediatly come to mind. going too fast too close and overtaking moving traffic

3 - ignoring the indicator of a car you're overtaking. That's the crucial one for me. It's rare that the ****ers indicate, so when they do, take notice!!