Are motorcycles allowed to drive between lanes?

prowla

almillar wrote: »

It is, and has been pointed out, and pointed to, throughout this thread if you'd have a read!

Erm, where?

Post #2 says yes (in stationary traffic) but doesn't substantiate it.

Post #5 refers to rule 88 of the Highway Code (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-motorcyclists-83-to-88):

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.

But that just says take care when you are doing it, not that it is legal.

Other rules in the highway code; rule 131 (for cars and motorbikes) states

Lane dividers. These are short, broken white lines which are used on wide carriageways to divide them into lanes. You should keep between them.

Rule 134 states:

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily.

Rule 151 states

In slow-moving traffic. You should not change lanes to the left to overtake

The above say keep in lane, don't keep changing lane and don't undertake.

As for the ones who do it at speed, they are putting themselves at risk, not least with reference to rule 166

DO NOT overtake if there is any doubt, or where you cannot see far enough ahead to be sure it is safe.

Someone mentioned if a car driver swerves around a pothole or obstacle; a biker going for a gap may not have proper visiblity of the road ahead.

I mentioned before that I don't mind bikers filtering in congestion (as per post #3), but it is not a right.

Actually, though, the Highway Code bears all the hallmarks of something what was written and then has disconnected updates inserted; perhaps it could be due for an overhaul.

Andy_L

They are all "should" rather than "musts" in the highway code which means they are guidelines rather than law. They can be used to support a charge of careless/cancerous driving or a portion blame in an insurance claim but are not in themselves illegal

brat

Filtering is just overtaking in the same lane. It needs to be done carefully with a speed differential proportional to proximity to be legal, and the burden of responsibility for safety lies with the filterer.

Cars filter past cyclists all the time, often at a speed differential that would anger them if the same was done to them by a motorcyclist.

RichardD1970

Oh god, here we go again. :wall:

The highway code specifically mentions how you should filter.

Would it do that if it wasn't legal?

Paradigm

Motorcycles filtering? I think this guys got it sorted....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dgv7Ny40v8

prowla

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Oh god, here we go again. :wall:

The highway code specifically mentions how you should filter.

Would it do that if it wasn't legal?

Well, that's a question, but amongst all of the "shoulds" it doesn't say that cars should make room for bikes to filter and it also says "DO NOT overtake if there is any doubt".

So, is there an actual rule of the road which covers bikes driving between cars in queues (filtering) and/or at speed?

As I mentioned, I will make space as a courtesy when in a queue, but I've not seen anything to say I have to.

RichardD1970

No one said you have to make room for them, it is up to the rider to assess the situation.

The question was CAN THEY LEGALLY DO IT.

The answer is yes.

marlot

prowla wrote: »

Erm, where?

...But that just says take care when you are doing it, not that it is legal.


Someone mentioned if a car driver swerves around a pothole or obstacle; a biker going for a gap may not have proper visiblity of the road ahead.

I mentioned before that I don't mind bikers filtering in congestion (as per post #3), but it is not a right.

UK law mostly works on the basis that something is legal unless it is illegal.

A car driver swerving should check their mirrors.

What makes you think it's not a biker's right to filter. WHen I did my bike test and advanced motorcyle training, my police instructors expected me to filter.

BeenThroughItAll

I have just spent the day with the local bike cops on a BikeSafe workshop. Filtering is legal, and I did it in front of my assigned observer on several occasions. I am not in prison.

prowla

marlot wrote: »

UK law mostly works on the basis that something is legal unless it is illegal.

A car driver swerving should check their mirrors.

What makes you think it's not a biker's right to filter. WHen I did my bike test and advanced motorcyle training, my police instructors expected me to filter.

I take your point on the first one there; that's a perspective for sure.

Regarding swerving, I was putting forward the scenario that the driver might be needing to avoid something, maybe a pothole or something in the road, and the biker may not have seen it and so put themself in a dangerous position.

I've never seen anything saying that motorists must give way to bikers who wish to filter, though (as already mentioned) I do tend to let them through when in a queue.

However, and as per some comments here, it may not even be clear what filtering is, in particular at what speed is it appropriate? It's not defined in the Highway Code, is it?

My opinion is that it's OK in queuing/stop-start traffic.