Ixion FAQ

How are you supposed to filter?

Important places where you shouldn't filter - at junctions, approaches to zebra crossings, by HGVs which will leave you no escape route if they turn, by high-sided vehicles which block your view of any other traffic (including pedestrians crossing by dodging through traffic) and lots, lots more!

Take it really easy for the first few months in urban traffic, or you are guaranteed to have an accident.

The key to survival is active observation and preemptive action well in advance of anything happening.

> How should I filter with this junction layout?

The road layout is not such an important thing, in my opinion.

More important is judging the traffic and searching for clues (not just *noticing*, I mean actively *searching* for clues) like:

1. the vehicles (for width, blindness, blindenning (hiding peds, cyclists and motorcyclists), and acceleration),
2. the occupants (for attitude - eg minis with nuns rather than minis with boy racers are less likely to race you or squeeze you off the road - but don't count on it! Nuns can be quite insane too.)
3. the lights (for when they'll change) If you know the light sequence you can time things conveniently. But even if you think you know the lights sequence, always think of where to move for safety in case their sequence has altered.
4. Peds dodging through the traffic, or crossing at the front. You can sometimes spot feet if you look past under the chassis of a vehicle in front, and shop windows reflecting things can help. But don't count on anything but a direct view for deciding whether a path will remain clear.
5. Motor/cyclists filtering through near you. I make room for couriers 'cos they're generally too damn nutty, and besides, time is money for them.

The lane for "left turn only" was actually supposed to be "right turn only" in the diagram ie like this:

 Traffic Lights      ---------------------------
                     / |        |        |        |This lane
                    /  |  ----  |  ----  |  ----  |right Turn ONLY
                   /   | |    | | |    | | |    | |
                  /    | |    | | |    | | |    | |
                 |     | |    | | |    | | |    | |
                 |     |  ----  |  ----  |  ----  |
                 |     |        |        |        |
                 |     |  ----  |  ----  |  ----  |
                 |     | |    | | |    | | |    | |
        Bus      |     | |    | | |    | | |    | |
        Stop     |     | |    | | |    | | |    | |
                 |     |  ----  |  ----  |  ----  |
                  REPEAT for about 15 Car lengths 
                 |     |        |        |        |
                  \    |        |        |       /
                   \   |        |        |      /
                    \  |        |        |     /
                    a  b        c        d     e

If you're far enough away from the lights in front, weave through from c to d etc if you need to. A short wheelbase bike with lots of lock-to-lock steering is best at this. Keep an eye out for the lights changing and traffic moving. I love sticking my bike through a bumper to bumper gap, and getting past a car driver who's sniffing fumes from the car in front and thinks he's not left enough room for a bike to filter through. Oh, yeah, don't try this with HGV's unless you're sure the driver is watching you, 'cos they can run into you and over you, without noticing a thing.

Watch out for left-turning traffic in a and b especially, where indicators are optional or even random (so it seems). Be prepared for dodgy brake lights pretending to be indicators. Don't overtake the front car(s) on the inside in a and b unless you've got an escape route handy.

As you get to the front, become more and more paranoid, checking the front wheel angles of cars, checking for peds throwing themselves under your wheels from their hiding places, and BELIEVE that noone will see you unless you are right in front of them. Go over the stop line while the lights are red if you think it will make you more visible and be prepared to plonk yourself in front of a car that is several car lengths behind the front car if the lights change before you get to the front, rather than cranking the throttle open and hoping you'll get through quickly.

Remember, overtaking at junctions is (generally) forbidden, and junctions are where the most prangs happen, so don't take risks. Use your brain. Road domination means something different from road intimidation. Dominate when appropriate - it tends to keep you safer and more visible but assume you are invisible to someone unless you are in front of them. Especially with HGV's and the like.

xxx

PJ

Lynda said:
>  When I trained with BMF we called the left side between cars and
>  pavement DEATH ROW. ie if you want to live don't travel down there.

'cos I cycle a lot, I know what to look for when I filter along death row on a motorbike. Anyone without this experience, beware.

>  Some how biking in London always seemes safer than in other cities,
      Cycling too, for that matter, despite the remarks in this post.

PJ

I once drove into the back of a Range Rover with my bicycle on High Street Kensington. The Rover had braked sharply without warning while I had glanced sideways. The back end of the Rover lifted enough to jam the front tyre of my bike solidly between the bumper and the ground. Nnngh. I had to get off and lean my bike sideways to get it free, much to the amusement of a little girl on the pavement. xxx

PJ