Another filtering casualty

[Martin#30]

Filtering through the 10 miles of M4 westbound standstill traffic this morning, pulled in to let a narrower GS go past, 2 minutes later see said GS implanted into the side of a lane changing Clio. Stopped to help, everyone fine, bike less so.

Go steady out there all when filtering. Expect sudden lane changes with no signalling. Car drivers are simply not able to see us when filtering between a load of cars with their headlights on.

Yes we are allowed to do it, yes the car driver's insurance will have to cough up, but that does not help when standing at the side of the road with a busted bike and a sore leg.

Sorry for the rant.

Martin.

[Boomer]

I'm with you Martin.
When I used to filter every day I used to watch idiots blow past me like I was parked.
Several of those ended up in a wreck or else at the side of the road with Mr Plod giving them their performance award. 

Filtering is a skill and a damned hard one at that.
You need to be hyper-aware, assume that NOBODY has seen you, and ride accordingly.
I watch front wheels and doors as those are the biggest threats.
If the cars are stationary, watch the doors.
If they are moving watch the front wheels as they can't change lanes without turning the wheels.
After 1 hour of filtering I will pull over and take a break. It's  exhausting and very stressful.

[mecki]

 
Looking at the front wheels is just essential when filtering.
Doors are a lot harder to spot and usually it's already too late when you see it. 
Luckily there are a lot less idiots who open their doors than those changing lanes without indicating on motorways. 

[Rusty]

Nice that you stopped Martin ....... You are all so right ... One has to have the reactions of a cat when filtering and if poss stay really wide if not then just keep looking at them car wheels !

[Ros]

Talking about filtering...

What are your experiences in France and Italy?

When I lived in Paris, i had a... Ahem.... V-max for a while ( my sister's ) and every day I went from the south of Paris on the Périphérique to the north west. As some of you will know, this is a 3 lane 80km/h road with very narrow lanes. At 8am it is mostly stationary. For the first couple of weeks I was filtering like a brit, you know, slowly and carefully. But the French bikers go screaming past me at 80 or 90 and apply a LOT of pressure to get past you.
However, a lot of car drivers in France get out of the way and they appreciate a little 'thanks' with a cock of the leg when you tear past them.
After a bit, You get a false sense of security and I ended up following the French until I could get to work in about 10 minutes...  Looking back, that is some scary shit - particularly considering the brakes on the 'max. 
Bear in mind that filtering is also illegal in France, but one time there were 3 police cars trying to filter with the lights and sirens etc. and I was following them... The police woman in the back of the last car waved me past when a suitable gap appeared.... ?!

I have to say, even though they filter very fast in France, car drivers seem to be much more aware of bikers and they do move out of the way even if you don't 'ask' for anything.

Italy is a completely different ball game.

There is no consistency to the filtering. Bikes and scooters go for any gap they can see, weave in and out, overtake on the inside and use the hard shoulder to pass traffic. Car drivers are very often on the phone and no-one seems to give a shit about anyone else.  People rarely indicate their intentions. It's downright dangerous, but people still filter very fast indeed.  I see a LOT of bike accidents here due to filtering and undertaking mishaps.

Even when I'm driving in the car I am not comfortable because you just don't know where the next bike or scooter will come from. Left? Right? Sometimes in front!

It is my opinion that if all bikers were to filter in the same way, fewer accidents would be seen because the car drivers would eventually know what to expect.  I find it infuriating and dangerous here in Italy on the main roads.

Maybe I'm not used to it yet? 

I really am concerned that I will become as complacent here as I was back in Paris on the Périph...
Riding in Italy is not yet a 'comfortable' experience...


Blimey that was difficult typing all that on the Shytepad...

Cheers


Ros

[Boomer]

Go ride in Rome for a week.
When ya get back you will feel much happier riding in Milan or Turin or on the Autostrada.
They all CRASY in Roma! Si, Crasy!! 

[Debs]

I always filter in France with the French bikers and I agree that the car driver are a lot more respectful towards us..

First time I went in to Lille on a Monday in the heavy morning traffic, I was shocked when all cars pull to one side to give you the room. Even over took a Police Car who didnt bother me 

[Ros]

 

Yeah I drove through Napoli a few years back. That was unbelievable! 

[coman37]

I came home via Paris on my last Euro jaunt, Hit the Peripherique at 4pm on a Sunday, as i said in my write up it was a mix of Ghost-Rider and the Bourne Identity, scary as xxxx but what a buzz> Just remember you've got the panniers out there

Coman

[Kwikasfuki]

Golden rule of filtering: everyone is out to kill you

I've seen some idiot maneuvers like using the whole motorway as a filter. With the GTR being so wide you're forced to take it nice and easy. Unfortunately if there's a bike filtering behind you  it given them opportunity to progress quickly due to the gap you've just made for them. Then they do what white van driver does and come right up behind thinking they know how to filter. That's when I pull in, let them overtake and watch some epic fails.

[Essex Boy]

Have to filter everyday to and from work in the City on my GTR. The width is definitely a problem and I have to occasionally dart sideways into a  gap to let my slimmer biked brethren through.

I tend to have a self made rule that I filter up to a max of about 40mph but after that pull in and run with the traffic. I know that even at 30 or 35 I couldn't possibly react quick enough in 10 yards say to miss a twat who suddenly goes from one lane to another, but ho hum to get into London or out at a reasonable pace you have to do it.

One of my funniest experiences was on the way home a few years ago on the A12, filtering between 2 lines of slow moving traffic when a Fiesta driving 'kid' swapped from lane 2 to 1 about 20 feet in front of me and didn't look. His passenger must have screamed at him as quarter tonne of bike bore down on his passenger side window. The driver looked at what he was screaming at, I pulled the bike around the back of the Fiesta missing him, only to duly watch him sail straight into the back of the Lorry in front that was now stationary.

...a little justice.

Any one that you admire for being a faster 'Filterer than you'......is living on borrowed time. It's not a skill to drive at 60 mph between 2 cars travelling 4 feet apart. Any one can do it.

The true skill would be to watch him (or her) miss the lane changing moron who does it 20 feet in front of you at 55mph.

Essex Boy.

[Wirralmark]

Rule of thumb: only filter if its legal to overtake (ie not on zig-zags or solid white lines etc) and I'm almost sure the law states that max speed for filtering is 30mph. That's max speed, not traffic speed plus 30

Mark

[O.C.]

Personally I hate filtering, and only feel safe doing it when traffic is at a standstill.

Fortunately living where I do I rarely use motorways and filtering through a flock of sheep isn't normally an issue 

[Lonewolf]

Rule of thumb: only filter if its legal to overtake (ie not on zig-zags or solid white lines etc) and I'm almost sure the law states that max speed for filtering is 30mph. That's max speed, not traffic speed plus 30

Mark

There was a recent court case possibly at the beginning of this year which set the bench mark for what is now considered an appropriate speed for filtering. I have the details of it on the laptop which I'll find later. It makes the difference between 100% liability being placed on the car driver in the event of an Rtc down to the degree of blame being switched to the bike rider in the event of an Rtc. It might sound boring but it can make a significant difference to your claim and any compensation you might be due.

[MarkyMark]

I always move over for faster filterers when I get a gap.

I always give slower filterers respect - there is no standard speed for filtering, so if your slower than me, good on you for your discipline and self control. I won't come up behind you and rev my engine pressing you to go faster or get out of my way.