Motorcycle filtering question

[underwhelmist]

The pic below shows part of my route home from work, which is frequently backed up with stationary traffic. I commute on my bike, so have no problem filtering past queueing traffic on the central area which is bordered by a dashed line. However as you can see the central hatched area changes at this point to being bordered by a solid line (it's also painted red, although I don't think that has any particular significance in the highway code).

I don't filter on this section because I know entering the hatched area bordered by a solid line is a no-no. I do see bikes doing it sometimes, but it's not for me. What's the opinion on using the cycle lane to filter (carefully and slowly!) past stationary/slow moving traffic on the left? There are very few junctions on the left.

[Somewhatfoolish]

underwhelmist said:

What's the opinion on using the cycle lane to filter (carefully and slowly!) past stationary/slow moving traffic on the left? There are very few junctions on the left.

Don't. The speed you would have to do to do it safely means it isn't worth it - I'd be looking for such a clear response from literally every driver that you might as well walk... it's not just junctions on the left you need to worry about. What happens if they see another bike filtering normally or an emergency vehicle in their mirror and move to the left for example?

Wouldn't personally have a problem with you going down the middle though - yes you shouldn't cross a solid line but can't see you getting pulled if you do it sensibly.

[underwhelmist]

Somewhatfoolish said:

What happens if they see another bike filtering normally or an emergency vehicle in their mirror and move to the left for example?

Good point.

Somewhatfoolish said:

yes you shouldn't cross a solid line but can't see you getting pulled if you do it sensibly.

Hmm, not convinced - rule 130 says "If the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency.", which seems like it would be inviting a pull to me.

[Somewhatfoolish]

underwhelmist said:

Hmm, not convinced - rule 130 says "If the area is marked with chevrons and bordered by solid white lines you MUST NOT enter it except in an emergency.", which seems like it would be inviting a pull to me.

It's absolutely illegal sure, but I find it very unlikely that police would pull you for it. Of course it can't be ruled out and there may be specific police who would but I just think in practice they have better things to do. This depends on your location too - probably wouldn't do it in North Wales (not cause I know the police there but I know their reputation) and I definitely wouldn't do it outside of the UK.

Broadly speaking on a motorway I will do ????mph past a non obvious unmarked vehicle (how could I possibly know?), 85mph past an obvious unmarked car, 80mph past a marked one, and 75mph past a camera van. I think going onto the solid lines there so long as done sensibly is equivalent to doing 80mph in "scofflaw" terms. So as long as you are only dealing with human police and not e.g. some kind of council sponsored thing or whatever then you should be fine. But it is at your own risk obviously.

Don't go down that cycle lane though!