Filtering tips: something to add

I am always pleased to see the motorcycle press publish sound advice on riding, as it may save an inexperienced rider from being crippled or killed. So I read with interest your clear guide to filtering, which is the way we get the most advantage from using two wheels in town.

But I would like to add to your advice. Passing moving traffic is different to passing stationary traffic so the need to continuously adapt as you filter in stop start conditions is vital. As traffic slows down and stops, pedestrians love to sprint through without looking (are they always late?) and cyclists will move to the outside to maintain their speed if blocked on the inside and, of course, they rarely have mirrors. As the traffic moves off again, watch for opportunistic lane changers and U-turners frustrated by the inevitable delays we all endure.

I firmly believe that when passing moving traffic the rider should travel only a little faster, say 10mph, than the vehicles he is passing so as to be able to stop for the unexpected, particularly if there is not much width to spare. If the speed differential is greater then the rider must be wider as you have pointed out. Road position is everything for safe riding.

Another piece of advice to the new rider; however hot the weather, always wear gloves, the protection of the hands is second only to the head in importance! Richard Lee,

Mitcham

Hi Richard, good points to add to our article on filtering, thanks for sending them in – and we absolutely echo the sentiment about gloves. Fingers can be really mangled in a spill if you don’t wear gloves. TC