Filtering in Germany

[bsidethecside]

Anyone here had any experience of riding through Germany recently? I ask as I'm crossing the country twice this year and whilst I know lane splitting (moving traffic) is off the agenda, filtering (stationary traffic) is legal. I have some big mileage days and will by necessity involve some autobahn as well as the fun bits.

Is the attitude okay for filtering? I also ask as I'm aware that on the autobahn, the drivers will pull over to create an emergency centre lane in the event of a stoppage, but I fear using that could lead to me not making new friends and getting blocked off.

[Pazuzu]

We tried a bit of filtering through stationary traffic and the Germans absolutely did not like it even though we were following a German bike at one point.

They tried to put out a roadblock for us but only managed to stop the tail end charlie who then had to empty everything on his bike for inspection while being told the fine was 100 euros each!

He managed to get some youtube footage to show them of filtering on the A2 going home from London, as they didn't believe it was legal in the UK, and they let him off with a warning.

We were all in the next services wondering where he had got to!

[the cueball]

I ride through Germany every year on my way down to Italy.

I used to live and work there too.

I always filter, never had any issues.

[bsidethecside]

Hmmm. I guess it will be do as the locals do and hope I don't get any aggro.

I do think that here in the UK, it's always a balance between being assertive without risking yourself and not being so timid as to invite the GTi pinhead to block you. I'll bookmark the Hants Police video on YouTube about filtering just in case ;-)

[iidentifyaswoke]

Following this thread.

I find the Germans a bit odd although I've only rode a bike there about 3 or 4 times. Definitely more sensitive about filtering than in the UK, even though you see German registered bikes doing it. Also overtaking, I've done completely normal, run of the mill overtakes on countryside roads a couple of time and the driver has increased speed after the overtake by a lot. So instead of me continuing along at about 10 or 20 km/h faster than they were going, I've had to go 40 or 50km/h faster to increase my distance from them.

[Andy XRV]

the cueball said:

I ride through Germany every year on my way down to Italy.

I used to live and work there too.

I always filter, never had any issues.

^^^^^^^^^

Having ridden thousands of miles in Germany this is also my experience.

What Germans don't seem to like is anyone riding or driving in a disrespectful way, either to the speed limit, other drivers or pedestrians. So when you filter, just do it sensibly and safely

[bsidethecside]

So don't be a nob. I can live like that :-)

I'm taking a GS with panniers that will be full of stuff, so will be a relaxed tour on my way to Poland. With all the kit, filtering is going to be a challenge, but what I'm not keen on is going to be sitting in traffic in a continental summer. Still, a good excuse to get some summer kit.

Edited by bsidethecside on Friday 24th February 16:01

[bogie]

I didnt realise filtering rules in Germany were any different to the UK and in the last 5 years ive ridden through Germany twice. There were 3 of us and we didnt need to filter in towns, the only time I can remember was when there were roadworks coming up and we were getting on/off a multi lane road. Filtered for a mile or two in stationary traffic, there was plenty of room, drivers seem considerate to us.

[Andy XRV]

bsidethecside said:

So don't be a nob. I can live like that :-)

Pretty well sums it up! :-)

Very jealous of your trip as I love riding in Poland. Where are you heading?

I've ridden along the Baltic coast to Gdansk and also from Berlin down to Auschwitz and then back through Czechia. Some of the most memorable riding I ever done.

[N111BJG]

I think it comes from a general dislike of bikers in Germany, which is deserved because a lot of German power ranger bikers always ride like they are lapping Nurburgring. All credit to them, their high speed riding is often very skilled, but they just seem to do it constantly & inappropriately.

[Jag_NE]

Germans seem to be massively rule orientated. If something is legal and as others have said, be considerate as you do it, I can’t see you catching any bother.

The British seem to do road rage and generally kicking off far better than any other nation so if you don’t get screamed at here I think you will be ok almost anywhere

[bsidethecside]

Andy XRV said:

Pretty well sums it up! :-)

Very jealous of your trip as I love riding in Poland. Where are you heading?

I've ridden along the Baltic coast to Gdansk and also from Berlin down to Auschwitz and then back through Czechia. Some of the most memorable riding I ever done.

It's a wedding in Chojnice (north-west Poland) and the plan is 3 days out & 2 back, mixing interesting roads and motorways to avoid flying. So, perhaps not the very best bits, but I'll see a bit of the countries I pass through. I use TomTom as a route planner and for relaxed touring, it's usually on the money coming in at 7 hr days which is perfectly do-able for me on the GS battle bus. I normally tour with mates, so going solo through Europe is a first for me. Having said that, I usually do most of the planning, so not a big concern.

My route is an early tunnel crossing, then through south Belgium / Eiffel and a night on the Rhine near Bonn. Day 2, some hilly bits through Winterburg & then Harz, overnight near Berlin and then last day through Drwaski Park to Chojnice. The return leg is go through north Germany staying in Luneburg and drift down along the Dutch coast to the overnight ferry home from Hook of Holland.

The hotel near Berlin is on a lake and has its own brewery. Luckily the day after Berlin is shorter at more like 5 hrs on the bike!

[Birky_41]

I filter everywhere including Germany which I've been pretty much every year at least once since 2017

No issues I've found so far

[Bodo]

Filtering in Germany is technically overtaking on the right, and thus not legal. Even when the traffic is static in any sort of queue.

The rules allow to pass traffic between central reservation and the left lane on the Autobahn, but not realistic as the minimum lateral distance of 1m during overtaking can often not be maintained. Also, during traffic jams drivers on the Autobahn will try to leave space for emergency vehicles (called Rettungsgasse) between the left lane and the next. Thus cars on the left lane will move closer to the central reservation, and cars on the next lane will move more to the right.

In real life, bikers are filtering carefully during traffic jams on the Autobahn, and I've never witnessed cars closing the gap for bikes (but for other cars!); quite the opposite happens more often - opening a gap for bikes.

[bsidethecside]

Bodo said:

Filtering in Germany is technically overtaking on the right, and thus not legal. Even when the traffic is static in any sort of queue.

The rules allow to pass traffic between central reservation and the left lane on the Autobahn, but not realistic as the minimum lateral distance of 1m during overtaking can often not be maintained. Also, during traffic jams drivers on the Autobahn will try to leave space for emergency vehicles (called Rettungsgasse) between the left lane and the next. Thus cars on the left lane will move closer to the central reservation, and cars on the next lane will move more to the right.

In real life, bikers are filtering carefully during traffic jams on the Autobahn, and I've never witnessed cars closing the gap for bikes (but for other cars!); quite the opposite happens more often - opening a gap for bikes.

Thank you - that was one salient piece of info I needed. My trip is going to involve Autobahn by necessity and it's likely to be hot, so I don't fancy sitting still in the sun for any period of time.

[black-k1]

N111BJG said:

I think it comes from a general dislike of bikers in Germany, which is deserved because a lot of German power ranger bikers always ride like they are lapping Nurburgring. All credit to them, their high speed riding is often very skilled, but they just seem to do it constantly & inappropriately.

I don't think I've ever encountered any form of "dislike" while biking in Germany. If anything, all encounters have been positive. I've not had any issues filtering and have found most other road users helpful and, importantly, aware that that there is a bike near them.

As has been said, be careful and considerate, don't take the piss, and you should have no issues.

[NAS]

Bodo said:

In real life, bikers are filtering carefully during traffic jams on the Autobahn, and I've never witnessed cars closing the gap for bikes (but for other cars!); quite the opposite happens more often - opening a gap for bikes.

Isn't the gap opening meant for emergency services to be able to get through to (what is usually the cause of the traffic jam) the crash in front?

[Bodo]

NAS said:

Bodo said:

In real life, bikers are filtering carefully during traffic jams on the Autobahn, and I've never witnessed cars closing the gap for bikes (but for other cars!); quite the opposite happens more often - opening a gap for bikes.

Isn't the gap opening meant for emergency services to be able to get through to (what is usually the cause of the traffic jam) the crash in front?

Yes, that's the aforementioned Rettungsgasse. But I haven't seen filtering being limited to certain lanes, or Rettungsgassen always being created. Lanes are usually 2.75 to 3.75m wide, so safely filtering between passenger cars at lower speeds should be feasible (unless in roadworks).

[Andy XRV]

bsidethecside said:

Andy XRV said:

Pretty well sums it up! :-)

Very jealous of your trip as I love riding in Poland. Where are you heading?

I've ridden along the Baltic coast to Gdansk and also from Berlin down to Auschwitz and then back through Czechia. Some of the most memorable riding I ever done.

It's a wedding in Chojnice (north-west Poland) and the plan is 3 days out & 2 back, mixing interesting roads and motorways to avoid flying. So, perhaps not the very best bits, but I'll see a bit of the countries I pass through. I use TomTom as a route planner and for relaxed touring, it's usually on the money coming in at 7 hr days which is perfectly do-able for me on the GS battle bus. I normally tour with mates, so going solo through Europe is a first for me. Having said that, I usually do most of the planning, so not a big concern.

My route is an early tunnel crossing, then through south Belgium / Eiffel and a night on the Rhine near Bonn. Day 2, some hilly bits through Winterburg & then Harz, overnight near Berlin and then last day through Drwaski Park to Chojnice. The return leg is go through north Germany staying in Luneburg and drift down along the Dutch coast to the overnight ferry home from Hook of Holland.

The hotel near Berlin is on a lake and has its own brewery. Luckily the day after Berlin is shorter at more like 5 hrs on the bike!

IIRC there are some very nice scenic roads between Berlin and Chojnice so enjoy your trip! Much better option than flying!