Cyclists undertaking: what's the penalty (if any)?

SouthLondonUser

Being undertaken by cyclists at junctions and bends in London has become so common that I have started wondering: is it even an offence? What penalty, if any, can cyclists receive for this? Does it actually ever happen (that cyclists are caught and fined)?

It often happens when I’m riding my motorcycle and a bicycle undertakes me while we both go through the same bend. However, a few days ago I was at the Elephant and Castle roundabout in London, driving a car; I was in the leftmost lane, waiting at the red light to, well, turn left, when I saw in the mirror a cyclist filtering like a madman (it can be legal if done sensibly – he wasn’t doing it sensibly) and stopping at my left. When the light turned green, he undertook me and went straight instead of turning left; the sheer stupidity was so baffling my jaw dropped to the floor. The lane was clearly marked with left arrows to indicate you can only turn left, but, even if it weren’t, undertaking a car that has been signalling to go left is just ridiculously stupid.

Note I don’t mean to turn this into yet another “us vs them” type of rant; I don’t need cyclists to remind me they are vulnerable and that car drivers are guilty of more nefarious offences. I am genuinely asking what can, theoretically and realistically, happen when/if a cyclist gets caught pulling a stunt like this.

[Deleted User]

They can end up being killed or seriously injured.

Castle

Careless Cycling perhaps?
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/29#commentary-c1397220

caprikid1

No law against it, as a motorcyclist I am sure you "Filter" I am surprised you would even raise the subject.


http://www.cyclelaw.co.uk/overtaking-and-filtering-whilst-cycling

caprikid1

I would add that the road in many junctions is changed to allow this practice.


"Advanced stop lines have been introduced on many roads in the UK. These are areas that are reserved for cyclists at junctions and they allow cyclists to start off first when the traffic starts moving. Often cyclists will need to filter through stopped traffic in order to reach the advanced stop lines, however, it will sometimes be better practice to wait behind other cars at a junction than to squeeze through a precarious space next to the kerb in order to reach the cyclists area. Cyclists should keep in mind that undertaking on the left is dangerous even where vehicles are stationary or where there is a cycle lane on the road."

elverson

Highway Code - Rule 72 (this is in the "Rules for Cyclists" section):

When approaching a junction on the left, watch out for vehicles turning in front of you, out of or into the side road. Just before you turn, check for undertaking cyclists or motorcyclists. Do not ride on the inside of vehicles signalling or slowing down to turn left.

I've interpreted this as:
- "Undertaking" on the left isn't illegal in itself
- On many roads in London, there is a cycle lane to the left of the general traffic lane. It's not unusual for the cycle lane to be moving faster than the traffic lane, particularly in rush hour
- Regardless of the above, you shouldn't ride up the inside of a vehicle indicating left (as described by the OP).

Generally if I'm cycling up to a junction behind a car and I see the lights ahead turning to red, I know I've got time to safely "undertake" the car and wait in the advanced stop line before the lights turn green again. Otherwise I'll generally wait behind the car (even if it's not indicating) to be sure.

RichardD1970

caprikid1 wrote: »

No law against it, as a motorcyclist I am sure you "Filter" I am surprised you would even raise the subject.


http://www.cyclelaw.co.uk/overtaking-and-filtering-whilst-cycling

Not filtering though.

The lane is clearly marked as a left hand feed only, but the cyclist went straight on.

(as a cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver)

SouthLondonUser

caprikid1 wrote: »

No law against it, as a motorcyclist I am sure you "Filter" I am surprised you would even raise the subject.


http://www.cyclelaw.co.uk/overtaking-and-filtering-whilst-cycling

What part of " [filtering] (it can be legal if done sensibly – he wasn’t doing it sensibly)" wasn't clear?

First of all, the main issue wasn't his filtering, but his undertaking to go straight, while I was going left. Secondly, he was not filtering sensibly because he was just too fast for the road conditions - and I say so as a motorcyclist who does filter in traffic: the lights had just turned red, there was no need to filter at that speed: going a bit slower would have still got him to the front of the queue before the lights turned green, but would have decreased the chances that cars might not have seen him, or that he might not have seen some of the idiot pedestrians who occasionally cross the road away from the zebra. Again, I say this as a motorcyclist who does filter.

elverson

At some junctions I'd cycle in the left lane even to go ahead. For example in the junction below (heading south east), lane 1 is very lightly used and you can cycle across to the bus lane, which helps traffic in lanes 2 and 3.

https://goo.gl/maps/m6zsAwFspZN2

SouthLondonUser

This was the spot. I was on the leftmost lane, and the cyclist was to my left, NOT in the advanced stop box, or whatever the space for cyclists is called.

https://goo.gl/maps/gcUzs5nCnvy

If he had been in the cyclists' box it would have been fine, but this way he risked being killed. I am all for Darwinian selection - I simply don't want to be involved in idiots' attempts at improving the species by removing themselves from the gene pool.

elverson wrote: »

I've interpreted this as:
- "Undertaking" on the left isn't illegal in itself

You mean if both the cyclist and the other vehicle go through the same bend? Are you sure it's not illegal? It may not be, but it certainly is dumb: I never do it on my motorcycle, even though a motorcycle is faster louder and more visible than a pushbike.

custardy

interesting you posted a cycling question in the motoring forum?