Filtering to the front of traffic...and then some?

[maxp]

I've noticed on countless occasions this afternoon, when some bikers were filtering through a queue of cars stopped at traffic lights on red, they would continue filtering past the car(s) at the very beginning of the queue and then come to a stop a few feet ahead of said car.

The problem as I see it, that in doing so, would often involve them crossing a solid white line, albeit only slightly, which isnt exactly legal.

Now obviously in the biker's mind, they are thinking something like 'im much much faster off the line than you mr car, so I am of no concern to you'

but i'm interested the thoughts of riders on this forum to this practise?

Do authorities turn a blind eye to it? As tempting as it is, I can't help but feel its overwhelmingly cheeky (probably not the right word to use)

https://i.imgur.com/6eFdA32.png

Pic for reference (green arrows indicate motorcycle's stopped position, coloured blobs are cars (obviously!))

[recman]

I've never been nicked for it.

Not too bothered what car drivers are thinking in this instance tbh.
Some want to try and race or rather see how fast my bike is from a standstill.

[ADSrox0r]

I've done it in front of a plod and they never batted an eyelid.

[Clanger]

Always do it. Never had an issue, not once. And I've been riding for many many many many years now. Only issues might be when there is no extra set of traffic lights, so craning the neck to see the red light change might be a minor setback.
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[yen_powell]

I usually do it and get properly in front of the lead car so he can't try and cut me off, done so for many many years. It is technically jumping a red light though, so therefore endorsable.

However, since Johhny Cyclist started dying in his droves in London in the last 2 years, mostly at Bow roundabout, the old bill have started hanging about to either nick or talk to cars and bikes crossing the line on a red, especially where there is a cycle reservoire.

Saw all four arms of the the Mile End lights with an individual policeman or traffic warden last week. They were only talking to offenders, didn't see any tickets being handed out.
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[Boris the spider]

I have always went to the front as you describe.

If I can move the bike back a bit to within the stop line.

I do.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Do it sometimes. It's safer than getting squashed between the traffic.
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[G30]

Always. I also sit in cyclist lanes. I don't give a shit.
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[Rogerborg]

I deliberately don't do it. I tend to stop with my front wheel about level with the front cars' front doors. I even avoid inpinging on invalid "cycle boxes", because the intent is clear.

First, it's an offence to cross the line, and also to pass the car nearest to a light-controlled pedestrian crossing.

But my main issue is that it's ostentatiously saying "I've just skipped past you". There's not an awful lot of bikes in Glasgow and the drivers haven't all got it in their heads that a filtering bike is not in the same queue as them. I've even had some angry beeping while filtering through traffic. I say! Sir! There's a queue! Surely that cannot be legal! I shall beep to summon a Constable, sir!

That doesn't mean that I'm not through the gap and ahead of them within 3 nanoseconds of the lights changing, mind. If they want to dawdle, that's their business.
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[The Disapproving Brit]

In That London they are apparently cracking down on bikes using the cyclists box, so I wouldn't do it there. Personally, I don't generally do it if I'm the only bike filtering, which is most of the time. I just pull up level and give a bit if rev to make sure they know I'm there. That said, I have very loud pipes so no danger of them not hearing me. On a quieter bike I'd be more inclined to pull further forward to be sure they've seen me.
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[covent.gardens]

I do it all the time. I know it's illegal but I do it for safety reasons, you are much safer if you establish yourself at the front of the queue where you can be seen by all. I don't think I'd do it in London because I've heard on here and in a vlog that they are cracking down on it (obviously they don't "get" why people do it, or don't care as fines equal profit).

[Dave70]

As others have already said, I also do it to make sure they've seen me, as much as anything else.

[Pete.]

[Rogerborg]

[DottyDuck]

I always do it to make sure the person in the car sees me. Also if i was in between and slightly over then the car may try to get ahead of me and run over my foot. (which is not good) so i do it to show that i am in control (if that is the right word to use)
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[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I don't do it and tend instead to just kind of hover parallel though maybe slightly ahead of (i.e. a wheel's length) the first car. Bike's so annoyingly loud they can't not know I'm there and just want me gone, out of there lives for good.

It's not that bad, of course - but you won't convince Mavis and Derek of this.
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[davebike]

Best practice is to stop behind and to the right of the first car
As said crossing the solid white line and that includes the one before a bicycle box is an offence lightly fixed penalty £100+ 3 points
Big purge in London last year is still on I think and Some London councils can give a non points ticket for this from CCTV !

Dave
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[esullivan]

I try very hard not to do this, but sitting immediately between two vehicles on the line does put us in a vulnerable position. When the amber light goes and the two cars try to (sedately) "race" each other off the line, the very last thing on their minds is the bloke in the middle. I've been batted by side mirrors and even had my foot run over once in this situation.

If it's tight (the left and right cars are close to the line) and I'm not holding back another filterer behind me, I'll just avoid getting into the situation and hang back, just behind the lead cars. I'll still typically get away, but avoid the first wobbles. Usually one lane moves first or something, I can weave out passed the front of the queue.

As I've said before, though, there are a couple of intersections on my route that are just too dangerous to wait at the line. Idiot, frustrated drivers, crap in the road, traffic islands... I pull into the cycle box and just hope a cop isn't around.
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[chris-red]

In London they did crack down on this recently, it's easy enough to avoid, if you see a high vis in here a bike box don't go in it. If a copper comes up to you after you have entered the box, and you know they haven't seen you enter it just tell them the light was green when you entered it.

I did very briefly consider not going in it to keep the cyclists happy. However coming home from work the first day in my new mindset I stopped next to a taxi outside the bike box. 4 cyclists appeared 1 went straight through the red and went left, another went straight through and straight across, the third went out into the middle of the road and stopped there to turn right, the final cyclist stopped with half her wheel hanging out the box. I decided never to stop before the box again.

I have biked in and out of london for 7 years now. I always go in the boxes if It's safer in 7 years I have been spoken 2 twice by PCSO's once because my front tire was on the line We briefly argued as to whether I was in the box or not then the lights changed and I fucked off. The second time was when the started the crack down I pulled up fully in the box then one fo the dayglo brigade appeared and told me they won;t be doing anything this time but in future it'll be ? Points ? Fine, I can't remember. I said fair enough and was on my way.

They seemed to have stopped policing those boxes so it is happy days again.
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[clancy]

I always do it, especially if it's to avoid sitting between two lanes of traffic.

That way you can't get cut off or squeezed by either lane as they pull away, as they nearly always try do to, simply sit a foot forward over the line and your the first to pull away, no danger then
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[MC]

Dunno about that, had a bus drive at me whilst the lights were still red once
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[G30]

The cycle boxes should be motorcycle boxes that cyclists are allowed in.
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[Clanger]

[yen_powell]

[-Matt-]

I avoid it when possible - but often do end up doing it. Either because its a positon i feel safer and more visible in, particularly if theres tall vans with poor visibility etc. If its a busy town i'm much more cautious as a lot of people run out treating the area as a crossing point, but generally if its clear and i feel safer, i'll go forward a bit.

Would be more cautious riding in London and some other large cities for fear of fines and the like.