Tips for my commute

[illusion]

Hi,

So I passed my cat A practical last week and went and bought a GS500, and have just started riding to work this week. I need some advice and tips on what I should and shouldn't be doing cos its a bit confusing at times and if I start copying what others do I'm likely to end up getting a royal rogering from the fuzz!!

My commute is mostly down the A1 from North London to Angel Islington, then past Old Street to Commercial Road. So a bit crazy for me at the moment with not much experience.

1) I know you aren't supposed to filter if there are solid lines and you would have to cross or straddle it, but what if there is a hatched area between the lanes, contained within broken lines?

2) When you filter to the front of the queue, do you pull up in line with the front car, or can you nudge slightly ahead of it? And can you raz off in front of it?

3) Most people pull up at the front of the queue in to the green cycle area. I know you are probably not supposed to do this but what is the chance of getting pulled for doing it?

4) What is the deal with filtering down the left hand side of traffic? In my mind its undertaking which I thought you weren't supposed to do.

5) Bus lanes!!!! It's well frustrating sitting in traffic traffic whilst bikes cane it past you in the bus lane. Everyone seems to do it, what are the chances of getting busted? And do the cameras work on bikes i.e do they catch you from behind?

Cheers in advance for any replies.

[dave1rs]

hatched area with broken lines can be crossed.

you shouldnt go in front of the car in front(i do sometimes)thats your choice wether too or not.

i doubt you would get pulled for the green area..unless you being there was stopping bikes getting into it.

never undertake.

and people do get done in bus lanes its just not worth it imo.

[.....]

I always go at least in line with the car in front - that way I know I can get away in front before the car has a chance to move over or any other dangerous (to me) manouevre.

Don't filter down the left, next to the curb. EVER! It is asking for trouble. Bus lane cameras will soon put a stop to using bus lanes as well

Be careful riding in the hatched areas as well, especially when wet. They tend to have a layer of mucky crap on it thrown there from car tyres - can be very slippy and dangerous, especially if you have to brake hard. Also white lines are extremely slippy as well.

Don't follow others - you could be behind a very experienced biker and could get into trouble. Instead see what they do and learn from them, and go at your own pace. If you are filtering and there is a biker close up behind you, get over when you have a chance and let them by

[stinkwheel]

Look ahead, beware of approaching side roads/junctions when you are filtering as cars will just pull accross. Always remember that if you are filtering, the onus is on you to watch what everyone else is doing, chances are if there is an accident, you will rightly or wrongly be considered at fault.

You can use broken chevrons "If it is safe to do so."

I generally just pull alongside the car at the end, remember not to filter past the last car on zig-zag markings. Technically, if you cross the white line on a red light, you have just jumped the light and could be done for it.

Take it canny, filter slowly and only where there is a lot of space at first. It's not a race, the person who finishes in one piece is the winner. Slow riding is one of the most dificult skills on a bike (U-turn anyone?) but you will get good at it with practice.

As the sign on my Grannies wall used to say "If in doubt. Don't."
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Inspire]

Watch out for cabbies doing u-turns and buy a yellow bib to make yourself as visible as possible. As the person above said, it's not a race so don't take any risks!

[Sparks!]

Filter slowly and cautiously at ALL times, even if you feel you can filter faster.. I've seen people do this and then hit the side of a car pulling out of a side road without seeing it.. entirely the bikes fault too... just be careful and you'll be fine.
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[Bendy]

Angel - Old Street - Commercial Road. Ooooh nice spot to learn in!

Get the local knowledge... it might be correct to be in one lane, but if the locals all use the other, go with that. Get on the map and look for handy shortcuts, or follow that guy that you pass early on and later always find in front of you. Don't give an inch - you've got to be as aggressive as everyone else and round there, that's 'very'.

[illusion]

Thanks for the replies guys, most useful!! Another quick question (possibly stupid) - why would I need to pull my clutch in to start my bike up, even though it is in neutral? I've not seen this before on any of the other bikes I have used.

Cheers, D

[mchaggis]

Safety switch, designed to stop you starting it with drive engaged. You can get false neutrals and still be in gear. In my experience though, you'd be more than a bit stupid/ unlucky to actually come to any harm by attempting to start your bike in gear with the clutch out.

Eventually the switch will bite the dust and you'll need to bypass it, or you'll just get annoyed enough about it that you'll bypass it anyway.
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I must not be a troll...
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[illusion]

Ahh cheers, clears that up

[biggerjohn]

The only thing i would add as a biker that started commuting into London in the New Year is take things in your own time.

Watch the other riders for tips but don’t blindly follow them they may be a complete nuttier with a death wish.

When you do get to the top of the queue and find yourself next to a car have a good look at the driver and see if he/she has seen you and act according to the body language of the driver. If it a boy racer keep out of his way or an older person make sure you give them plenty of room as even if there looking at you they may not SEE you. You will get the idea of what I mean very quickly.

Never do anything you think is dangerous (honestly listen to yourself)

And remember you don’t have to get to the front of every queue and trying to may find you between two very large vehicles that are now moving now the lights have changed.

Only other thing is to remember to have fun you may be on your way to crappie old work in crappie old London town but no of that matters as you’re on a bike and RIDING

[tintin]

I always make sure I have at least my mirrors in front of the car windscreen if I am at the front of the queue, You will always accelerate away quicker than the car. I will always use the green cycle section, never been done, they are brilliant!

If you are at the front between a car and a traffic island and another bike comes up behind you, always try and move up a bit and let him get to the front as well, it's really annoying if you are behind and you get stuck behind the car as the lights change.

If you are coming up to the front of a queue and the traffic starts moving watch out for all the crap by the traffic island, I managed to lock my front up the other week when I had to brake suddenly.

Always park nice and close to another bike in the bike park, or if it's empty start at one end of the bay, never dump your bike in the middle of the bay (it stops other bikes fitting in as well.) Try not to always park in the same bay, and make sure you have a bloody good lock, and try and lock the bike to something solid.

ALWAYS - watch out for the guy in the traffic who suddenly decides he is going to turn right or do a U turn, these are the ones that kill you.
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The older I get the better I was

[Kris]

Watch out for pedestrians stepping out from behind parked buses.
Follow another bike through the line of cars for added visability.

Other than that - just take your time and remember your lifesavers
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[WILDECELT]

GOLF

Go Like Fuck only joking take heed of the posts there is some good advice in them.
my advice is ride how you feel comfortable with, the rest will come naturally in time with experiance everyone rides different,don't feel pressurised by other bikers or road users just do your thing