Filtering Through Traffic? Lane Splitting? Cycling Night Commuting Bike Blogger
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Should filtering or lane splitting be legal? In many countries it is legal. Filtering through traffic allows all modes of transportation to more efficiently travel together by occupying a smaller space on the road. Traffic engineers have to consider the use of all modes of transportation so they play nice together in a safe but efficient manner. Being doored is no fun though. I do not recommend filtering past long buses, streetcars, and trucks - also known as lorries - because these vehicles have large blind spots and can pinch you in a second. I do not live in very busy city though so I am not sure what I would do in a rush hour traffic jam, especially if there were no safe bike lanes or other bike infrastructure. One of the perks of being a cyclist is being able to squeeze past things and go where cars cannot. During this video I got into an argument with myself over whether filtering through traffic and lane splitting is OK. I noticed multiple bystanders stared at me with confusion. LOL Thanks for watching! And please subscribe! http://www.bikeblogger.com
Comments
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or just pick up the bike and walk when you must
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it depends where you live, its all about awareness when riding a bike. sometimes i lane split when i see its possible or traffic is bad ahead or traffic is heavy
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5:37 "smell of skunk..." I actually quite like that smell.... unless it's really intense. I once rode through a patch of air that had just been sprayed -- not pleasant! Nice to know wildlife abounds in suburbia though.
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I think if you are stuck behind a line of cars one will eventually filter. I think if you go slow and you are aware of your environment you ought to be ok.
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If the other drivers have to pass you twice because of it, I think it's rude.
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In California I know it's legal. Not sure about other states. Common in Europe, especially in the UK. +CycleGaz and +BikersPOV are pros at it.
My view is this: if traffic is gridlocked or generally very congested, with short distances between traffic lights, then yeah I would probably be filtering. In that situation a bike is generally faster than a car so why not take advantage? But when traffic is generally free flowing, with longer distances between lights and momentary stops only for lights, then I would absolutely stay in the traffic lane and take my place in the queue. The other bad part about filtering (and edge bike lanes, and bike boxes/ASL's) is that you end up making motorists who already passed you (hopefully safely) have to pass you again, and possibly again and again if there are lots of lights. That will make people start to get pissed off and more likely to give you a punishment pass. Not a good situation.
Rear end crash? I find that highly unlikely. I always pay close attention to traffic behind in my mirror. Along with my bright flashing rear lights getting their attention, I also turn back and look straight at the driver of an approaching vehicle for a second or two. Never had an issue. They always stop and usually leave plenty of room between me and their car. If I see a car that looks like they're not slowing down, I can easily maneuver out of the way, whereas another car cannot.
It really only makes sense in urban areas with short distances between intersections, or if there's a crash or something that makes a huge traffic jam. -
Hey I just got a used 2006 Trek 1000 bike... Since we live so close* could we meet up sometimes and cycle together.
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Hi BikeBlogger! How I envy never having to ride filtering through traffic. But like you said, it totally depends where you live. You are blessed where you are with smooth traffic flow. The biggest factor is that you have so much less stress. Of course in places with heavy traffic, it's definitely a lot more stressful..Or should I say engaging (you kinda have to experience it)--But not as stressful as when you are stuck inside a car.
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Living in NYC... Lane splitting for dayzzz
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Ya, plenty of crazy filtering videos come up in the sidebar list; a lot of them from London by the look of it. It all looks a bit like anarchy rules as there seem to be bikes weaving in and out and around two or three at a time; don't know how a driver could possibly keep track of them all.
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Filtering is actually safer cause you have no chance of being rear ended or rear ending anyone else, you do have to be cautious of people opening doors but you shouldn't be moving fast enough to where you can't stop in time anyways, that's just my opinion tho
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It's not really a question of legality, but rather a question of one's sanity.
:) ...Some of us are a bubble left of plum. -
hey BB how many miles you putting in a week just curious, i put in about 80-100 any more than that my legs start getting sore
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At 2:40 you might just as well have gone across at the red light as it wasn't any more legal to go right and then u-turn in the middle of the boulevard was it?
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Hi BB sill looking for that fixed gear video 👌
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Narrow cycling infrastructure? :)) check my video from yesterday (and other videos) to see cycling "infrastructure" made in ROmania :( So sad...
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There's a time and a place for filtering. Just use your brain and stay as safe as you can.
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there no sound
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