filtering, right or wrong?

mikey72

skivenov wrote: »

I'd agree there, legal issues aside, it's not who's right, it's who gets hurt most, and I'd say filterring is the one time above all others that you're most vunerable. Everyone drives with their eyes closed these days so on a big bike you can make a bit of vroom vroom noise to wake them up when filterring, but on a scooter (particularly my electric peugoet), you've just got to be so careful

If you're making a vroom vroom noise you're filtering too fast.

I wouldn't hear it over the stereo anyway, and if the gap I'm going for is small, don't depend on me to check the mirror first and miss it.

mkirkby

mikey72 wrote: »

, don't depend on me to check the mirror first and miss it.

Seeing behaviour like this just about everyday, you can be assured that anyone who has been riding for a while would never expect you to check your mirrors. That's why I'm still here and don't hit all the people who do switch lanes in front of me without looking.

Unfortunately there are still the novices who would rush through, over confidently not expecting such behaviour in which case you should expect to be in a pretty bad position when it comes to apportioning blame. Some would go to the guy that was hit and maybe going too fast, but then failure to adhere to the simple rules of the road "Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre" would also see the car driver taking some of the blame.

mkirkby

YoungBusinessman wrote: »

I filter on my bike, always thought it is legal if you do not cross over a solid white line down the middle of the road.

Not always the case. Always avoid if possible but as long as the line of vehicles is stationary and you can be absolutely sure of getting back to your own side before anything coming the other way reaches you, it is perfectly legal to cross the line:-

Highway code rule 129:
"You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle"

The police instructor on the bikesafe course said that if you're over the line for a length of time, there would be in issue but nipping over for a second or so as long as it's safe, wouldn't be an issue.

marlot

When I sat my bike test, I didn't filter past the 6 or so cars at the lights. I passed, but part of the feedback I got was that I should have gone past them. "what's the point of riding a bike if you don't take advantage of the benefits?"

Wongsky

The way I see it, filtering is very much like overtaking - the risk and responsibility is mainly on the person doing it. That doesn't mean that no other users could be without blame, but you have to make sure you're doing it safely - yes, people might open doors - and that might well be their fault if they're not observing correctly / completely - but then, they may not have natural expectations of somebody filtering.

And in some cases, the people doing it (filtering) seem oblivious to where there could be risk - unsighted people trying to cross carriageways, where traffic has left them a gap to do so, or people emerging from side roads. Good practice would mean we wouldn't overtake in such scenarios - so it also shoulders the burden on those filtering making sure they can react to such things happening.

To my mind, I think of it like this - if you take on additional risk - like overtaking, or like filtering, then you shoulder the responsibility of being extra-specially observant and aware, due to the type of maneouvre you're doing. Some wise and savvy sages appear to get that, some foolhardy and oblivious, don't seem to.

lovinituk

joolsybools wrote: »

This is BS from the copper, there is nothing wrong with filtering but it should be done with extreme caution taking extra care when passing junctions.

LOL... keep up!! We already determined that 2 days before your post!!

mkirkby

Wongsky wrote: »

The way I see it, filtering is very much like overtaking - the risk and responsibility is mainly on the person doing it. That doesn't mean that no other users could be without blame, but you have to make sure you're doing it safely - yes, people might open doors - and that might well be their fault if they're not observing correctly / completely - but then, they may not have natural expectations of somebody filtering.

And in some cases, the people doing it (filtering) seem oblivious to where there could be risk - unsighted people trying to cross carriageways, where traffic has left them a gap to do so, or people emerging from side roads. Good practice would mean we wouldn't overtake in such scenarios - so it also shoulders the burden on those filtering making sure they can react to such things happening.

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Brallaqueen

Sorry everyone, didn't mean to start an argument!

Mkirkby is absolutely right, at the end of the day I'm a lot more vulnerable than a car driver so should have been taking extra care.

YoungBusinessman

Surely passing a stationary vehicle is not a slow moving in traffic vehicle?