Reply to: Motorcycles and lane weaving

[SpontaneousOrder]

Interestingly I was reading the other day that it isn't illegal to undertake, just not recommended by the highway code. It's generally a bad idea, as well as hanging around near the tail end of a left hand drive lorry as they cannot see you.

My view with bikers is to give them room. I've got two tons of metal around me, they have nothing. All said and done I really don't want to face the prospect of being the driver that sent them on to the next life. No matter who's "fault" it was.

There is no such thing as "undertaking", just like there is no such thing as a "PSC".

Passing on the left, though, is considered dangerous if it's accompanied by a lane change specifically to accomplish it.

[Danglekt]

When traffic has completely stopped or is crawling under 5mph I filter at around 15 to 20 mph which doesn't sound like a lot but is a heck of a lot better than 0 to 5 mph.

This is exactly what I do.

[ContractorOnAMotorbike]

Why are there so many accidents with filtering then?

There are accidents while filtering usually because either cars change lanes without checking their mirrors or some motorcyclists filter too fast and don't give themselves a chance to react.

I typically filter not very much faster than the cars/vans on either side of me which gives me a reasonable chance of doing something in case a car/van driver does something unexpected.

When traffic has completely stopped or is crawling under 5mph I filter at around 15 to 20 mph which doesn't sound like a lot but is a heck of a lot better than 0 to 5 mph.

Having loud (louder than stock) exhausts on one's motorbike also helps in making other drivers aware.

[ContractorOnAMotorbike]

I am seriously considering getting a hi vis jacket printed with something along the lines of

YES - I can Filter, but when it rains, I get WET

Car drivers are in lovely luxury, bikers choose to be in more discomfort (especially when cold/raining) for the express purpose of being able to get through the traffic.

Doing so at reasonable speeds (I won't filter above 40mph full stop) and keeping an eye out for morons who really should be more aware of their surroundings seems to keep me safe enough, but I have had a few pull across on purpose on me, a few drift across as they are on phones (one was on an IPAD!) and one guy last week decided to filter past me in his car cos he got the hump and nearly wiped me out - big man in a large tin can taking risks with someone else life - PRI(K!

If we couldn't filter we wouldn't commute on bikes, but we can, so we do, and all car drivers need to be aware or face the claim when their poor driving causes an accident.

Very valid point about not filtering beyond 40 mph. My commute from Hertfordshire to Canary Wharf would take a *lot* longer than just under an hour if I didn't filter and pretended to be a car.

When done safely filtering shouldn't annoy/disturb/piss off other car drivers.

So far I have found that 99% of car drivers are ok. The odd dozy driver is typically on his/her phone or just not paying attention.

[Danglekt]

I am seriously considering getting a hi vis jacket printed with something along the lines of

YES - I can Filter, but when it rains, I get WET

Car drivers are in lovely luxury, bikers choose to be in more discomfort (especially when cold/raining) for the express purpose of being able to get through the traffic.

Doing so at reasonable speeds (I won't filter above 40mph full stop) and keeping an eye out for morons who really should be more aware of their surroundings seems to keep me safe enough, but I have had a few pull across on purpose on me, a few drift across as they are on phones (one was on an IPAD!) and one guy last week decided to filter past me in his car cos he got the hump and nearly wiped me out - big man in a large tin can taking risks with someone else life - PRI(K!

If we couldn't filter we wouldn't commute on bikes, but we can, so we do, and all car drivers need to be aware or face the claim when their poor driving causes an accident.

[d000hg]

Also if car drivers in the UK drove like they do on the continent, pulling in when not overtaking, then there would be less need to undertake, which is a different thing to filtering altogether.

In that scenario e.g. a motorway aren't the cars all doing the speed limit (at least)? You get a better traffic flow using all the lanes.

[Chuck]

It's an additional hazard.

AYCOTBAD?

[PurpleGorilla]

Motorcycles and lane weaving

http://youtu.be/eu7QD1K3g4c

Blue(soontobe)toast on his bike...

[PurpleGorilla]

phew. I would hate to be intolerable by passing safely by and not getting in your way.

Why are there so many accidents with filtering then?

[PurpleGorilla]

Why?

WTF has it got to do with you?

Is your journey being hampered in any way whatsoever?

Does someone filtering past you add a single second to your journey time?

Do you also hate pedestrians who walk past you when you're stuck in a queue?

It's an additional hazard.

[bluetoaster]

... but I can tolerate it.

phew. I would hate to be intolerable by passing safely by and not getting in your way.

[Chuck]

Filtering as you describe is irritating for a car driver

Why?

WTF has it got to do with you?

Is your journey being hampered in any way whatsoever?

Does someone filtering past you add a single second to your journey time?

Do you also hate pedestrians who walk past you when you're stuck in a queue?

[Scrag Meister]

WBlueToasterS

Perfectly safe when done at sensible speed.

The biker should also keep an eye on the speed as is all to easy to keep filtering as the traffic flow increases.

Also if car drivers in the UK drove like they do on the continent, pulling in when not overtaking, then there would be less need to undertake, which is a different thing to filtering altogether.

[PurpleGorilla]

I also filter regularly. It saves me a huge amount of time in my daily commute. I keep my speed below 20 and filter when traffic is stationary or slow and filtering is safe provided there isn't a car driver taking offence and being intent on closing the gaps on purpose.

Filtering is is legal and is promoted by the police riders I have ridden with, it is just making progress when done safely. There is a fine line between filtering and undertaking when speeds increase, at which point the biker finds themselves subject to dangerous driving complaints. 90mph between lanes on a motorway is clear dangerous driving.

Filtering as you describe is irritating for a car driver, but I can tolerate it.

As you say, 90 mph undertake with a weave on is unacceptable and dangerous.

[vwdan]

#JealousCarDrivers