Riding in cities/large towns

I have sat stationary in the traffic amongst the cars on the Euston Road/Marylebone Road/Westway, on my way out of London at 5:30pm, and just marvelled at the rest of the bikes. Some of the guys that ride in London every day are just nuts! I took the train today and missed a train home by a few minutes and had half hour to wait for the next one, so I went outside and just stood and watched all the bikes filtering and flying along for half an hour.

I can't do that myself, I am quite happy and confident to ride in and out of London, filter, and duck and dive, but not at the same speed as the guys who do it every day. It's something you get more used to and more adept at the more practice you have. For me as you say there is just too much information to process in too short a space of time, so the way to give yourself more time is to slow down.

Whilst the 'slow down' advice is good, if you don't move with the flow of the traffic, you come into conflict with the traffic, so it's OK to not filter, and OK to move with the traffic as if you were in a car, but I'd caution against city riding if you find yourself holding other vehicles up. That's when impatience sets in, and it only takes them to expect you to do something, and you don't do it, for them to run into the back of you, for instance, they expect you to run a yellow light, and you decide to brake for it. City drivers tend to drive very close and leave very little margin for error. If you find yourself holding stuff up, ride in and out at a quieter time of day until you've got a bit more confident.

Because of there being little margin for error, sometimes it's better in a city, if you think you path is clear ahead, but the danger is in your mirrors, take up your place and own your space on the road, and DON'T use your indicators. If the driver behind is left wondering what the hell you are going to do next, he'll leave more space. If he THINKS he knows what you are doing next, he will take up the position that gives him the best forward progress once you are cleared out of his path. If then you don't do what he expected, or he guessed wrong, accidents can happen. You need to be very sure of yourself when doing this though, and be very careful where/when/in what situation you apply it. So I'd say it's a technique for use further down the line for you.

You said sometimes you don't filter stationary traffic. If the traffic is not moving filtering through it is relatively safe, so long as you are watch for other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians that could come across your path. Then once at the front, you use the power of the bike to get away first and into clean space. This is much safer than starting moving whilst mixed up in-between other vehicles. I learnt this in Mexico city, where you really didn't want to be stuck in the melee and chaos that took place when traffic started moving again and everybody was jostling for space and ignoring lane markings.

If there is a space - somebody will fill it! Always beware if you have a bit of empty road next to you, you'll look and it's clear, but with a few seconds some idiot will have filled it, in a vain attempt to get one car length further ahead. In London that space will be filled by 3 or 4 two wheelers, before you can say 'scooter'.

London is a different to any other city in the UK I think. Birmingham can be pretty manic, as I'm sure can Manchester, and some of the other bigger cities. (Mexico city is something else altogether!!)

One of the things I really notice, is that drivers in cities are so used to powered two wheelers, with scooters zipping around the place, that they loose the consideration and sense of vulnerability for two wheelers, that other drivers have outside of the cities. It's every man for himself, they give you no room, and if you get knocked off then that's your look-out.

The other thing is you have to watch pedestrians. Especially if they have a mobile phone to their ear! They will just take a quick glance down the road, and because they don't see a large vehicle they just step out.

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

DON'T use your indicators.

sorry Ralph but i totality disagree with that one m8. that's just an excuse for the driver behind to say 'sorry m8 you never indicated, i thought you were going straight on' when he smashes into you as you gave him no indication of your intention of manoeuvre (sp). most cage drivers are morons in a city don't give them an excuse.

I love riding in London - I suppose because I've commuted for the past 21 years. It can be a bit of a laugh with some of the couriers, but I also think the biggest help is I generally know where I'm going.. hated riding in Leeds/Manchester though when I had to go there.

I also think the met plod are alot more tolerant with bikes than other forces..

oh and ALWAYS use your indicators in London, it can really be difficult to ensure its clear where you going - dont give anyone an excuse.. not a pop Ralph - just experience..

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

for instance, they expect you to run a yellow light, and you decide to brake for it. City drivers tend to drive very close and leave very little margin for error. If you find yourself holding stuff up, ride in and out at a quieter time of day until you've got a bit more confident.

I know what you mean about that...I've ended up running amber lights because I know damn well the car behind is so far up my ar5e there's no room for braking. Doesn't happen often but if it's in wet weather I'd rather not take the risk of jamming the brakes on and taking longer to stop anyway with a car kissing my licence plate

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

You said sometimes you don't filter stationary traffic. If the traffic is not moving filtering through it is relatively safe, so long as you are watch for other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians that could come across your path. Then once at the front, you use the power of the bike to get away first and into clean space.

AHEM, have you forgotten I'm on a YBR Ralph?

Originally Posted by Bibio

sorry Ralph but i totality disagree with that one m8. that's just an excuse for the driver behind to say 'sorry m8 you never indicated, i thought you were going straight on' when he smashes into you as you gave him no indication of your intention of manoeuvre (sp). most cage drivers are morons in a city don't give them an excuse.

Thats OK mate, I dont expect everyone to agree with everything I post.

It was actually a retired police rider from Kirkcaldy that took me through that technique. London is very different to Edinburgh or Glasgow anyway. You can often find in London that somebody is following behind you leaving a little gap, and as soon as your indicator goes on they completely close that gap and sit on your rear wheel in anticipation of getting past you. You've had to put your indicator on because perhaps you have pedestrians waiting to cross the road your turning into, but if one of them then steps out causing you to brake, the guy behind is already less than six inches off your rear wheel. Crossing a main road at a staggered junction is particulrly bad, 'cos you accelerate out of the junction to turn left, then immediately slow to make a right hand turn. The guy behind has accelerated out behind you, assuming you were going left down the main road, and is still looking right towards the oncoming traffic.

You could argue scenarios where not indicating may be dangerous all day long, but there is no right or wrong answer, you have to use your experience, anticipation skills, understanding of the behaviour and expectations of the drivers around you, and apply that to the situation you are faced with there and then. This is why I have commented on the technique, but suggested that MYC doesnt use it yet.

Watch every car,
Every gap for pedestrians
Know the width of your bike
Never ride faster than you can stop
Use the facility of a motorcycle to cut down every back road possible and get yourself through the cycle barriers as theres less cars.
Get to the front at every traffic light.
Generally, have your eyes absolutly everywhere. I didn't pay attention to signs, takes your eyes of what really matters, the road and paths around it.
Get a bike with ABS!!! Vital in the wet, on oily roads, with drains and white lines everywhere.

Or you can go the other way, which was to ride like a madman. I had more problems riding at slower speeds than hammering it everywhere!! I had no problems hammering it around town, I could really get a hustle on, but some of those courier boys Would leave me standing. Still, I only run over 1 person, went over 1 bonnet in 8 years, so once you know what your looking for, faster is better Don't wait, don't think, just do it. By the time you think, its already happened or you've lost your chance, see a gap, go. If someone doesn't like it, turn round and see what their problem is, give them the bird, carry on knowing you'll be home soon.

[Stu]

I find it helps to keep my eyes shut.

Originally Posted by Daimo

Watch every car,
Every gap for pedestrians
Know the width of your bike
Never ride faster than you can stop
Use the facility of a motorcycle to cut down every back road possible and get yourself through the cycle barriers as theres less cars.
Get to the front at every traffic light.
Generally, have your eyes absolutly everywhere. I didn't pay attention to signs, takes your eyes of what really matters, the road and paths around it.
Get a bike with ABS!!! Vital in the wet, on oily roads, with drains and white lines everywhere.

Or you can go the other way, which was to ride like a madman. I had more problems riding at slower speeds than hammering it everywhere!! I had no problems hammering it around town, I could really get a hustle on, but some of those courier boys Would leave me standing. Still, I only run over 1 person, went over 1 bonnet in 8 years, so once you know what your looking for, faster is better Don't wait, don't think, just do it. By the time you think, its already happened or you've lost your chance, see a gap, go. If someone doesn't like it, turn round and see what their problem is, give them the bird, carry on knowing you'll be home soon.

i also find that going faster helps very strange at first but going slow filtering just dosn't work for me

I remember when I first learnt to drive, and had to go into central london for work, I used to come home with a banging migraine from the pure concentration I had to exert.

Now, it doesnt bother me at all. Only thing that bothers me is the traffic itself

Only been into C London on the bike a handful of times (5 or 6?), but I dont find it all that different to the car except I dont have to hang around as much

Practise, experience, nothing can replace it!

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by Stu

I find it helps to keep my eyes shut.

I think that just about sums up your riding "style"