Hi, and a query about motorcycles
Discussion
Hi there,
Little bit of background - I am a New Zealand native currently residing in London.
I am required to drive for my job, and since arriving in the UK I have found there are some crucial differences in driving here and back home, both in terms of rules and volumes of Traffic!
Having perused this forum for some time, it seems to be a useful source of information on British road rules and behaviour, so I thought I would give it a go.
I have a few questions, but the first is this - Under what circumstances are motorcycles allowed to "queue-jump" up the wrong side of the road? I understand what they are doing and agree in principle, however on my daily commute I am sometimes forced into bus lanes to avoid collisions with motorcyclists who are heading straight at me, queue jumping up the other side of the road.
I hope that makes sense.
I dont think they shiould be forciing me into a bus lane just to avoid them, but I dont know where I stand legally on this.
Little bit of background - I am a New Zealand native currently residing in London.
I am required to drive for my job, and since arriving in the UK I have found there are some crucial differences in driving here and back home, both in terms of rules and volumes of Traffic!
Having perused this forum for some time, it seems to be a useful source of information on British road rules and behaviour, so I thought I would give it a go.
I have a few questions, but the first is this - Under what circumstances are motorcycles allowed to "queue-jump" up the wrong side of the road? I understand what they are doing and agree in principle, however on my daily commute I am sometimes forced into bus lanes to avoid collisions with motorcyclists who are heading straight at me, queue jumping up the other side of the road.
I hope that makes sense.
I dont think they shiould be forciing me into a bus lane just to avoid them, but I dont know where I stand legally on this.
Crimefighter said:
I dont think they shiould be forciing me into a bus lane just to avoid them, but I dont know where I stand legally on this.
Are they coming up from behind and making you move left? If so, stop looking in your rear view mirror. They won't hit you. Well most of them won't 
BertBert said:
Are they coming up from behind and making you move left? If so, stop looking in your rear view mirror. They won't hit you. Well most of them won't
Nah, they are filtering forward in a queue of traffic that is going the opposite way to me, so they are coming straight at me. Trouble is, when the roads are narrow, Im put in a position where I have to move over into a bus lane (on my left) to avoid them (on my right).
They seem to not mind occupying my side of the road, near the centre line.
I wondering if in that scenario, should they not be filtering due to safety? There doesnt seem much I can do about it anyway, since if I do nothing there will be a collision. Just want to know if what they are doing is wrong?
You have to be really careful when entering a bus lane even in what you would consider a emergency.In some parts of the country the bus lanes have cameras which operate in the time the bus lane is in operation,if caught in one during its time of operation there is no excuse even in a emergency you do not cross the solid white line. A lot of these bus lanes serve no purpose and are just used as a cash cow for the council,they can sometimes cause more congestion when drivers just see a bus lane and stay out instead of reading the signs and times when its in operation.As for the motorcycles filtering the other way this is a time when as real4star says in another topic "Priority should be taken".
Jaspermolly
Jaspermolly
Just slow down and keep your station. If you move over the biker will of course appreciate it, if you don't, he will generally have already seen a gap he will pull into when you make it necessary, and will pull back into his lane. (ignore all the above if it's a suit-wearing scooterist - he has almost no sense or skills)
motorcyclist for over 20 years, much of that in towns and cities, filtering every day
motorcyclist for over 20 years, much of that in towns and cities, filtering every day
What you are talking about is overtaking, which should be done safely, without any inconvenience to other road users, and in acordance with road markings.
'Filtering' is overtaking between lanes of traffic, a practice which is not legal, or illegal - yet! It has been illegal in most EU states for years. Many riders do not seem to know the difference between filtering (at low speed, between lines of stationary traffic) and overtaking on the inside - with the harrendous casualty rate for motorcyclists it will doubtless become illegal in the UK before long.
Look in the Highway Code for any reference to Filtering - you will not find any!
'Filtering' is overtaking between lanes of traffic, a practice which is not legal, or illegal - yet! It has been illegal in most EU states for years. Many riders do not seem to know the difference between filtering (at low speed, between lines of stationary traffic) and overtaking on the inside - with the harrendous casualty rate for motorcyclists it will doubtless become illegal in the UK before long.
Look in the Highway Code for any reference to Filtering - you will not find any!
Promethius said:
What you are talking about is overtaking, which should be done safely, without any inconvenience to other road users, and in acordance with road markings.
'Filtering' is overtaking between lanes of traffic, a practice which is not legal, or illegal - yet! It has been illegal in most EU states for years. Many riders do not seem to know the difference between filtering (at low speed, between lines of stationary traffic) and overtaking on the inside - with the harrendous casualty rate for motorcyclists it will doubtless become illegal in the UK before long.
Look in the Highway Code for any reference to Filtering - you will not find any!
Oh dear, suggest a little research before writing next time.'Filtering' is overtaking between lanes of traffic, a practice which is not legal, or illegal - yet! It has been illegal in most EU states for years. Many riders do not seem to know the difference between filtering (at low speed, between lines of stationary traffic) and overtaking on the inside - with the harrendous casualty rate for motorcyclists it will doubtless become illegal in the UK before long.
Look in the Highway Code for any reference to Filtering - you will not find any!
High Way Code - Rule 88
Manoeuvring. You should be aware of what is behind and to the sides before manoeuvring. Look behind you; use mirrors if they are fitted. When in traffic queues look out for pedestrians crossing between vehicles and vehicles emerging from junctions or changing lanes. Position yourself so that drivers in front can see you in their mirrors. Additionally, when filtering in slow-moving traffic, take care and keep your speed low.
Crimefighter said:
I dont think they shiould be forciing me into a bus lane just to avoid them, but I dont know where I stand legally on this.
They are not forcing you into a bus lane, you are letting them continue the overtake where they otherwise would not by moving into the bus lane, thereby creating a gap for them to continue the overtake. The standard of driving of most bikes - L plate pizza delivery bikes excepted - in London is quite good; they would not 'force' you into a bus lane, you are letting them in, even if you don't realise it. Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff