Safe and unsafe filtering.

[LeedsRider93]

Filtering, most of us do it, and I hope we all recognise how quickly things can go wrong when we aren't paying attention

When I was heading home on the motorway today, filtering through the rush-hour standstill traffic on the M62, it got me thinking about what other people percieve as safe and unsafe. What would you say is safe filtering, and what would you see as unsafe?

Personally I see motorway filtering as, in most cases, unsafe. There are too many articulated trucks and high-sided vans for a safe biker middle lane. I hate doing it, but I recognise that if I don't a 1 hour 5pm journey would turn into a 2 hour waiting game. Not something I have the time or patience to take part in. On the other hand, filtering on your normal A-road is a doddle, something I look forward to and enjoy doing. So therefore I see it as safe. Naturally this depends on a variety of factors, from road conditions to the types of vehicles you're sharing road space with. So this leads me to the question...

What do you see as safe and unsafe filtering?

 

[Bikermole]

I agree no filtering is safe.
The moment we see filtering as safe, we relax, and then something happens, because we aren't paying attention.
I recently filtered through 30 miles of traffic on the M25, it took 2 hours, and I was mentally destroyed

 

[UnstableBoy]

I live in NJ usa... people here will get mad at bikes filtering (lane splitting/sharing) and someone WILL try to block you. why... because apparently here people see it as in insult that you are passing them when they are stuck... :shock:

 

[LeedsRider93]

I live in NJ usa... people here will get mad at bikes filtering (lane splitting/sharing) and someone WILL try to block you. why... because apparently here people see it as in insult that you are passing them when they are stuck... :shock:

You sometimes get the same in the UK too, cagers don't like bikes passing them! :x

 

[ToySoldier]

as said filtering in general is not safe but i felt much safer my first time on the m25 filtering then i have on any other road i even made a video lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9D8aE5IQT4

 

[DodgeRider26]

I had a guy cut me off one day and yell at me in traffic about how unsafe bikes were and how he didn't think I should be riding one. When I asked why he swerved in front of me he said he was trying to teach me a lesson. I wasn't filtering at the time... just driving exactly the speed limit in the outermost lane (right hand lane here... left lane for y'all UK folks).


Generally I don't give a flying flip whether someone else thinks my behavior is safe or not, so long as I know I'm being safe. I'll do what I need to in order to protect myself. Their opinions be damned. If a cager wants to block me from filtering because they don't think it's safe then all they've done is prove to me they are a danger. I'll pass them on the sidewalk if I have to. No need to allow them to further endanger my safety.

I would only filter passed stopped cars at a red light. Never while they are moving.

 

[JeanBaptiste1664]

I sometimes filter past moving traffic, but it depends on the speed and width of the lanes ... never over about 30 mph traffic speed though, don't feel I have the grunt to get out of the way on the 125.

Got quite pissed off by a guy in a Range Rover cutting me off to stop me filtering; I asked why and he said if he had to wait then I should too, I managed to get past him a bit later when the car in the inside lane gave me loads of room and he beeped at me and shouted something out of the window ... I really don't understand the anger?! I mean, I bloody love the Shadenfreude of filtering past stationary traffic, but there's no need for cagers to react so badly to it! I didn't pre-bike! :?

JB

 

[TrailChaser]

I would love to be able to filter in traffic were I live legally but don't because it's illegal. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't give a rats ass what the laws are. My concern is that people in general are hypocrites and feel the need to play police officer when they see someone doing something illegal that they can't do.(but wish they could) That tends to make people open doors on you or pull in front of you ect.(because in their pea brain they feel that even if they cause you to crash they will be in the right)
Those same people probably speed every time they drive, don't use their blinkers, or come to complete stops at stop signs. But don't you break the law or they feel the need to "do something about it."

The only time I will butt in where the law is concerned on the road is for litterbugs, and people who endanger my life. I just ask litterbugs if they would rather me follow them back and record them picking up the trash they tossed out, or if they'd rather I just turn over the video to our local prosecuting attorney. Which brings a minimum fine of $100, but up to $1000 and that's not including the community service that they tack on to the fine.(community service will obviously be picking up trash on the roadside)

 

[TheDiabeticBiker]

Well from a drivers point of view it is jealousy that makes them block bikers. I move over and keep checking my mirrors for bikes at all times. Plus, if you think on it this way: long tail back on the motorway/interstate etc cars are bumper to bumper and theres a group of bikes single file that = to more traffic on the road and more time you have to wait. So, if bikes filter through that means there's less vehicles on the road which in turn means less time stuck in traffic. Simples.