Car drivers delibarately block your path
 

As a overtakes you and gets to the red traffic lights, you notice the driver has made a gallant attempt to get his car right close to the sidewalk so you cant get past (but of course he doesn't realize you can make a little maneouvre and go along the other side.

I used to think nothing of it, but now I think some of them do this deliarately to cut you off so you dont get ahead of them again and slow them down.

It doesn't bother me, but am I over thinking this ?

I think unless there's a bike lane there, drivers aren't expecting anybody to come on their right. With a bike lane I'll scoot up to the front, but with no lane I get behind the last carin line and take my turn like everybody else. Seems more courteous, and I like to think it's appreciated.

Unless it is grid lock I stopped filtering at traffic lights.

I just take the lane in the order I arrived and move with thraffic through the light. I figure thats a dozen less cars that are to to try to force their way past me in the next 1/4 mile. This method tends to keep me between packs of cars because of the cycles of the lights and lowers the amount of cars that attempt to pass me before the next light. That mans idiots like the ones you mention only have to pass me once and lessens the chance of cage rage.

Grid lock...I'm starting to ride like Joeybike. Gridlock that idiot driver will never catch you again.

I was just talking with a friend that hit the back of a car because someone passed him right at a light. Then slammed on the breaks and cut him off. He ended up on the trunk of the car next to that one.
I have seen it. It sucks, but I take my turn at red lights and stop signs. unless I am turning then I filter up to the turning lane. If I was in a major city I think I would play the game differently though, I know I drive differently in them.

Crabs in a bucket... crabs in a bucket.

Cats in a pillow case, cats in a pillow case.

If the driver is turning right, it's the correct way to do it (assuming the driver isn't slamming the brakes without adequate space).

I never pass on the right. If only a few cars at the light, I take my place behind the car in front of me, or if I am going to filter forward, I do so to the left of the stopped cars in the right lane. If a driver has moved right, I am going to assume that he is either wanting to make a right turn, or is making more room for me to pass him on the left - either way, no problem.

Passing a line of cars on the right is a really good way to get right hooked. As others have stated, the safest play is to get in line like everyone else where you are very visible to the car behind you and you can see what the car in front of you is doing.

mustang1, since you are in the UK, change right to left in my post :)

When this happens, I just pass on the left (if there is room) and park it right in front of the car until I am able to cross the street. If the driver was so eager to block my way to get ahead, he/she will have to think again because I will make them wait. I do it all the time while on my scooter. People get pissed but that is okay. The road is not theirs.

+1

I can usually get a good jump from the light on most 4 cylinders! Gotta watch those Toyota's though!

If cyclists are going to "be" traffic, shouldn't they obey the laws of traffic? ie: Another car can't pass a string of cars on the right to get around them and pass them at a light. That's one of the things that pisses drivers off about cyclists; going to the front of the line at every light.

If we're allowed to take the lane, it follows that cars should be allowed to take the curb.

I ride as far right as I can. If cars pass me coming up to the light, it's because their rate of speed is greater than mine. If the light turns red, they stop. I'm still on the right but now my speed is greater than theirs so I pass them until I get to the light and then I stop too. Pretty simple.

It used to bother me. Now I just go around and save my rage for when I get to work.

Please tell me you work at the DMV?

If that happens just before the intersection lights with two or three vehicles in front of me , then I just wait.If there is a very long line up of traffic then I pass on the left and weave my way to the right next to the curb, or a bike lane if there is one.

I'd rather not have any cars have to overtake me twice if I can help it. If I can make it through the light why create conflict by filtering?

Does anyone around here actually NOT filter if they arn't sure to make the light?

I have never filtered at all at a light regardless of the situation. If I'm not going to make the light, I merge into the lane to avoid right hooks, and stay in the left tire track until I get past the center of the intersection after the light turns green.

Yes.

I usually don't. If I'm going straight and I'm at the front of the line, I take the right-most through lane. If it's also the right turn lane, I'll creep up and to the left and wave cars through to make the right turn, but only if they bother to use their blinkers. If I'm not at the front, I almost always line up behind a car and wait my turn like the rest of the vehicles.

Oh yeah and don't filter forward into a giant lorrie blind-spot, they may not be blocking you but instead oblivious and about to turn or do something random.

It's not a matter of over-thinking, because as a commuting cyclist, you have to outthink the masses; but to continue to maintain it in your thoughts is a waste of your own energy. You got it, you know it, file it away in the 'useful info' section of your commuter brain and roll on.