Filtering and traffic light queues?

[Wonderbadger]

Hi,
I am new to motorbikes, although I have driven a car for many years and wondered what the rules or advice are regarding filtering when approaching traffic lights. The majority of my ride to work is through town so the only time to be saved is if it is possible to avoid some of these queues (given that there are no alternative back street ways to avoid where the lights are). I hardly ever see bikes waiting in the queue as I have been doing, instead choosing to overtake all stationary traffic and sit in the green area at the front of the queue which I thought was alledgedly for pushbikes. The roads are often not wide enough to filter past part of the queue then to hang back to feed back in shortly before the lights so the only options seem to be all the way past or wait in the queue. Does moving into the green area not constitute jumping a red light as you are crossing the stop line to get to that point and should it really be used by bikes in the first place?

Sorry if this is a really basic question but I can't seem to find a specific bike related answer anywhere online (this may of course be a fault between myself and google!)

Thanks
Andy

[YEN_POWELL]

Technically, riding into the cycle reservoire when the signal shows red is jumping the light (3 points I believe), although there are plans to allow motorbikes into them in the future. There is an experimental combined cycle/motorbike reservoire nearby my workplace.

[jarl]

Yes, moving past the first stop line is technically illegal when the light is red. You'll be really unlucky to get done for it. And yes, the bicycle thing is technically for bicycles, but again, you'll be really unlucky to get done for it!!

Filter down the middle and either wait with cars on each side and beat them off the line (might get a bit iffy if you're on a 125, mind) or swing in in front of them (in front of the stop line). Sometimes there'll be a space big enough for you to get in just before the lead car.

My general rule of thumb is to avoid slipping in front of a car that's already significantly over the stop line. If that happens and there's no room to slide in behind it, I'll just wait until the lights change- a gap will open up between the first and second cars as they accelerate which you can sidle into, but it's not ideal. Also, check the front of the que- you don't want to filter only to discover there's a cyclist stealing your place at the front of the que, that's really not ideal!!

[Critch]

I have filtered past police and never had a problem or a warning,

One piece of advice offerd to me by a Traffic Cop, who is a mate.


Do not overtake the lead vehicle within the confines of the zigzags of a pedestrian/pelican crossing, always pull behind the lead vehicle,

they kind of frown upon it

the reasons,
1 )It may have stopped to allow pedestrians to cross.

2) The lead Vehicle is less likely to try and race you, when the lights change


He also advised to do this at normal traffic lights, see point 2 above.

I always do as above, but not at normal traffic lights.

Never Cross the solid white line, or chevrons. as stated in the highway code (somewhere) i also try to adhere to this.

[Wigan Chris]

I have filtered past police vehicles in a number of situations and never had any problems, and my missus works with traffic coppers and they have expressed no problem with it either. theyre only advise is road sense, filter appriately for the situation and youll be fine.
I tend to err of the side caution when filtering to the front of traffic light queues, staying behind the line when possible. only time i tend to sit infront of the first car is when im riding with someone else and it allows them to filter into the normal "at the white line" position behind me, if this makes a safer spot for them (after a good look round for rozzers and cameras i might add)

[StumpyFingers]

One of the things I look for when I approach a queue is, Is there anywhere I can pull in if I need to. It is great to zip past the queue but if you end up on the wrong side of the road by a traffic island with nowhere to go then you are in trouble. I have seen it happen with cars overtaking a queue of traffic to cut in front of that lorry sitting in the queue, when they get there they squeeze in and find it is a left hooker and the driver cannot see them. I have even seen someone cut in between two objects thinking they were between 2 lorries only to get between the lorry and its trailer.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

... I have even seen someone cut in between two objects thinking they were between 2 lorries only to get between the lorry and its trailer.

Oh! That could be serious!

[Curzon]

There are no hard and fast rules on filtering. everyone has their on opinion as to what is legal, or more importantly safe to do so.

Here are my thoughts on the subject.

First of all try to judge if it safe to do so, is the traffic stationary, or moving slowly. If traffic is flowing at more than say 10 mph then in the eyes of the law / insurance companies you are likely to be considered to be undertaking, which is illegal.

Also is there plenty of room to get through safely, especially if you have panniers etc fitted! Watch out for drivers itching to jump lanes.

Consider the balance of risk Vs benefit. i.e. How much will you gain by taking the risk of filtering. If you are only say 3 or 4 cars back from the front and the lights are likely to change soon, is it really worth it? If the queue stretchs as far as you can see, and there is no significant sign of progress in the traffic then by all means go for it if it is safe. as the potenial benefit is large.

Also when you get the to front of the queue, don't be to hasty to scream away from the lights the second they change.. Have a good look both ways before you cross the junction and consider their may be some d***head who has decided to jump the red light from a side junction. I've seen it happen a number of times!

[Monsieur]

Filter at a speed that you feel safe with - always be prepared to stop for someone who wants to pull out in front of you, car or pedestrian.
Have your foot hovering over the back brake.
Give a cheery wave or leg shake to drivers who make room for you.

[Recycler]

Technically, riding into the cycle reservoire when the signal shows red is jumping the light (3 points I believe), although there are plans to allow motorbikes into them in the future. There is an experimental combined cycle/motorbike reservoire nearby my workplace.

Bike tax discs specify class is 'bicycle' - wonder if anyone's used that as a defence.....?