Cars stopping short of the stop line

[blue_painted]

Since my return to biking and filtering to the front of the queues I've seen a lot of cars stopping a bike's length (or more) short of the stop line.

I'm not complaining as it gives me somewhere to wait for the lights to change but ... why? Just why are they doing it?

It seems to be connected to the look of total surprise when the light finally changes from red to red+amber, followed by fumbling for the handbrake and gear stick.
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GP-100 -> CB250RS -> CBX550F2 (pause) KR1S -> RD350YPVS -> ZX6-R (pause) CD200 ->Mash 400 -> T100 (current) & (R1100RT scrapped pile o' shite) (CB250 Nighthawk - SORN in shed) Meteor 350 (current)

[Rogerborg]

Unless you're actually moving through the queue, then what do you gain by stopping right on the line?

The White Van Man in the next lane revving and rocking forward and backwards over the line while shouting "Come on, come onnnn!" ? He'll still be right next to them when they join the back of the queue at the next set of lights.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[chris-red]

[Rogerborg]

[blue_painted]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Rogerborg]

[andyscooter]

ive just ridden round brum



it was shit

traffic lights speed cameras and buses ffs
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[NJD]

[base]

[chris-red]

[Kal]

I've noticed this myself, they always look surprised when I filter past them.

I think that a lot of car drivers genuinely don't know that they aren't at the line
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

[Pete.]

[andyscooter]

[talkToTheHat]

Exit of junction wasn't clear when lights changed becasue traffic. cba to move
Braked. Stopped short becasue abs didn't kick in. CBA to move.
As above, but stalled.
Offset from vehicle in other lane hides phone better
Lurking winscreen washers.
Motorcyclist anticipated
Owns motorcycle
Died of heart attack and you didnt notice
Is unmarked bacon wagon and the lights have zigzags
Has just bought dashcam and is pretending to be bacon
Is properly marked police car
Driver is to distracted by the thought of being the pig at one of Cameron's private functions or is otherwise off in fantasy land. That isnt gears and handbrake you see him fumble for.


Back to serious though, i'm not sure about the rolling blowthrough. I'd rather get in front than be alongside.

In south yorkshire i find the lights that are sequenced are set for a fairly leisurely platoon speed, so if i nail it away from one set of lights i'll have to stop, so getting to the front isnt as useful as getting close enough to the front to leave with the next set of lights. If it's proper busy, nailing it away from one set of lights is often mot an option as traffic from the jumction ahead is still sorting itself out.

The caveat is, as ever, detecting the numpties that will cruise at 25 on a 40mph+ dual carrigeway becasue they are turning right in 4 miles time amd getting past them or the pedant who will sit along side them in the inside lane becasue they cannot tell advisory instictions from mandatory instructions or last looked at the highway code when it was illegal to pass on the inside. Was it in the 1970s the law changed in this?
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Bandit. does. everything.