Filtering/lane Splitting A Legal Grwy Area

[LoneWally]

Right I need a bit of help here regarding filtering. Been doin it a fair old while now but was speaking to someone who said somthing about its not legal to filter past the lead car at lights. Besides establishing if it is true or not can you also comment the bits you know legal and the bits that aren't. May make it into a vid

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Filtering is legal, passing the lead car could put you over the stop line and could also put you in harms way as the reason the lead car is stopped may not be the reason you thought it was. If you are confident with filtering it can be a lot of fun and great for your slow speed control of the bike. Be mindful switching sides of the lanes you are filtering that you are not popping out in the path of another filtering bike. Be respectful of the cars stuck in the traffic and don't expect them to move out your way, in fact, expect them to pull into your way. eyeball their wing mirror to see if they have noticed you and their front wheel to see if it turns in on you. Don't filter at high speeds. Do as I say, not as I do! ;-)

 

[Lurch]

Nutshell:

Filtering is NOT illegal.
Filtering isn't always legal.
Passing the lead car at a crossing can be illegal.
Filtering is at your own risk, and because a car didn't check their mirror before moving in to you doesn't mean that they are automatically in the wrong.
Filtering is in essence overtaking, especially if done between two lanes of opposing traffic flow.

That help?

 

[lupin]

So even in a county that has had filtering for years, you still aren't sure of the rules it seems.

Its terrible over here, the rules vary from state to state.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

Nutshell:

Filtering is NOT illegal.
Filtering isn't always legal.
Passing the lead car at a crossing can be illegal.
Filtering is at your own risk, and because a car didn't check their mirror before moving in to you doesn't mean that they are automatically in the wrong.
Filtering is in essence overtaking, especially if done between two lanes of opposing traffic flow.

That help?

the first 5pts on my first licence can confirm the above!

 

[Lurch]

So even in a county that has had filtering for years, you still aren't sure of the rules it seems.

Its terrible over here, the rules vary from state to state.

There's no written piece on how to filter legally. Then again, you can drive down a road at the speed limit and get prosecuted depending on the outcome, so nothing is cut and dried.

Where people come unstuck is when they decide filtering is a right instead of a privilege, and that you can do it all the time, in all conditions and at any speed. Use your common sense, be considerate, keep yourself and others safe, pretty much what it takes to filter.

 

[Hippo-Drones]

if you bash wing mirrors, you doin it wrong!

 

[Matt Leech]

Filtering was the first skill that I was determined to master after passing my test, and now it's immense fun to hear kitty shriek from the pillion position when she thinks we can't make a gap

 

[2WV]

Nutshell:

Filtering is NOT illegal.
Filtering isn't always legal.
Passing the lead car at a crossing can be illegal.
Filtering is at your own risk, and because a car didn't check their mirror before moving in to you doesn't mean that they are automatically in the wrong.
Filtering is in essence overtaking, especially if done between two lanes of opposing traffic flow.

That help?

The above is spot on. Just remember to be cautious when you filter and know what gaps your bike can and can't get in to. Also worth mentioning if another biker is filtering towards you from oncoming traffic and your side of the traffic is moving and his isnt, give way to him when its safe to do so. If both sides are moving. usually one of you will commit first. And always say thank you (simple hand gesture) to the vehicles that DO move out of the way(if safe to do so).

You'll find the more you filter the better and more pro you will be at it. But always remember to NEVER put yourself in harms way. There's absolutely nothing wrong with waiting and being patient for the gap instead of forcing it! (which i see tons of bikers do on a daily basis)

 

[Lurch]

My Drift battery was flat as I was going from Northolt to Greenwich the other day through town. Probably a good job, as there may have been incriminating footage!

Made very good time though!