Filtering, How Fast?

It’s perfectly safe when done properly.

 

Outside of any legal argument or liability I always ride as if I am 100% responsible for my safety. It is a state of mind that keeps me safer.

 

I tend to stick to10 - 15 mph above the speed of whatever is travelling slowly. I've had plenty of numpties pull across to try to impede progress. Once took off a wing mirror because of it - with my boot - while in queues on the way to a ferry.
You've got to treat everyone else on the road as a homicidal manic out to kill you all the time.
Because of a few experiences I have camera's on the bike and cars. They've been useful in the past apportioning blame - ie proving it was the numpties fault.
I really don't like the current standard of driving or attitude of drivers generally.

 

In my previous situation I had a white helmet with neon green and visible jacket but a van still managed to pull out of a junction and proceeded to drive on my side had nowhere to Go but slam on still hit him head on around 20mph and no I was not speeding as I was turning on the next junction to the petrol station, his reply after I flipped over the van was 'sorry mate I didn't see you' and he was correct because he only looked left not right!....... I have realized you cannot control all outcomes but can always minimize risk.

 

the number of car drivers that i've seen deliberately moving in front of a filtering motorcycle ...... go slow guys

 

Since U turns are essentially illegal on most road i would say the driver is at fault mind you these days i certainly wouldn't filter fast more than about 15-20 mph as the driving standards are pretty appalling compared to what they where.....unless your clairvoyant.

 

One of the reasons to have a bike for me is to be able to filter through traffic - but stick to no more than 15mph above what it's doing and get back in lane once it's moving 20+.

Used to be a courier in London in the 80's but out of practice these days, and possibly a bit wiser too, so move out of the way for the faster boys and girls when I'm down there.

M25 amazes me - have to say I think a lot of the riders I pull over for there are going too fast.

You've gotta leave room for error - not yours, but other people's.

DS

 

Same for me, when i had a longer commute, filtering cut a 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minute car drive into a 45 minute ride. The time was also far more predictable than in the car. For me it was the prime reason for riding to work. The only incident i had was a BMW deliberately (yes) swerve into me as he pulled away from some lights that were just changing as i was getting to the front of the queue, luckily that gave me space to swerve and he just whacked my mirror. I would have given chase but he was quite clearly prepared use his vehicle as a weapon.
I know someone who was filtering and someone pulled out of a side road turning to the other direction because someone in the queue was letting them out. They were quite a while in hospital. I know where it happened and there are often hold ups there, the junction is always there. I never said to him but i felt the incident was entirely predictable and would have been avoided by any reasonable observation and im afraid due to the nature of his injuries it rather suggests he was going way too fast too.
Its just mainly a case of doing it at the right place at an appropriate speed though it is tiring as you do need to maintain super human levels of concentration and is very often a good idea to rejoin the main traffic crawl for a rest.
Filtering on a slow moving or stationary motorway is even more tiring i find and is even more the preserve of people resenting the fact you can filter and try to block you. But also conversely you get ore people also pulling over to give you more room.

 

I would have to chase it up, but I think there is research suggesting dark/light clothing makes little difference to whether you would be seen. Lights, horn, low speed (both of traffic and oneself), being able to stop quickly etc are probably more effective.

 

Ah....https://www.bmj.com/content/328/7444/857

 

I do filter regularly slowly again 10 maybe 20. But i hate it. You end up riding on stupid white lines gravel and eventually you will find them the one. I am stuck in traffic and you are not passing me and they will do all in their power to stop you. Only last week i had Mr. Kn-b in his transit van and he came short of knocking me off. I ended up breaking his mirror with my handle bars. He rammed on his brakes. Great i passed him gave him a wave and carried on.
Regards
Joe.

 

That is what I was told by a police observer on a ride safe course. No more than 20 mph faster than the traffic and only when they are going up to 20mph themselves. So in effect 40mph would be the maximum. I tend to stick to 10-15 mph faster than the traffic I am filtering through.

 

Traffic levels are still lower than normal in most areas at the moment thanks to the Covid situation but, sadly, 3 lanes of slow moving congested traffic on motorways is becoming the norm on the busier routes like the M1, M6 etc. You get the "bunching up" phenominan where it looks like there may be an incident up ahead with traffic slowing to walking pace or even stopping at times but then it clears to nothing, It"s purely down to vehicle numbers. When this happens I go into filter mode, main beam on and observation into overdrive. Blasting down a fast A or B road has it's hazards but Motorway filtering is a different level. Let's be honest, you don't need any special training for it, there's nothing technical about it, it's just observation, observation, observation. When speeds pick up to around 30-35 I usually stick in a lane. Oh, did I mention observation?

 

This thread has just reminded me of a filtering "incident" last year heading south on the M6 on the return from Scotland. Traffic stopped and me filtering between lanes 2 and 3 when I approached a convertible Porche in lane 2 with the top down. The driver was on her own, a gorgeous looking blonde lady with a cleavage you could dive in and legs all the way up to her microscopic shorts. Naturally I deemed the situation too hazardous to proceed so had to sit there for several minutes.
Another big + for observation.

 

Whilst filtering is legal, there is case law regarding this very thing, 15 MPH is the maximum you should be filtering, there is a lot that comes into play, junctions, pedestrians, cyclists and much more, advanced observation is the key, a driver even if performing a u turn caused a collision contributory factors would come into play, the speed of the rider filtering and other hazards that could have been foreseen, all taken into account for contributory blame, it sucks but that's how it is, also what a rider is wearing, for example hot weather no gloves, tracky bottoms etc etc, can reduce any compensation, apart from your helmet no other kit is mandatory, but wearing such clothing will reduce your compensation. At one point if you run into the back of someone you would be held responsible, not any longer, more case law. It's a minefled if you are a victim of a mindless car driver who caused a collision whilst filtering. Get good legal representation straight away from a solicitor who understands motorcycle accidents. Keep safe everyone.

 

.........and a helmet camera.

 

In aus i think it is 30km and cars are moving slowly and you cant use the footpath bicycle lane which i have done and dident see the car turning into a side street hit the car and was my fault for using the bicycle lane