Filtering laws? (UK)

[mikesaa309]

Not sure if this should be in off topic or bike chat. I'm curious to know if it's legal to filter on solid white lines including in the situation where you have to cross them. Would jump to the conclusion and say no but then if you look at the highway code it says you can cross them (if necessary) if you pass a cyclist, a vehicle travelling 10 mph or less or stationary traffic:

Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26

So providing traffic is stationary or is moving 10 mph or less would it not technically be legal? I haven't filtered on solid white lines, I wait till they've ended just in case with dash cams and what not. But just curious. Have seen other bikers cross the line to filter just wondering what views are and whether anyone knows for sure whether it's legal or not?

[gsxbarmy]

In essence what you say is correct as a basic approach. However, those rules are tempered according to the situation, i.e approaching a level crossing and the point where you may filter to.

The "filtering past traffic doing 10mph or less" is an interesting one, as I think that only applies to actually pass the obstruction, i.e. when you actually get behind the object doing that speed; filtering past traffic on solid lines prior to that point is illegal. However it is legal if the traffic is actually stopped.

I generally work on a basis of traffic stopped I can filter, traffic moving I can't when it comes to solid white lines on the basis of err on the side of caution as I can't recall every situation - I need to read up on it all again

[Mick_J]

When I was an active member and observer with the IAM we often had this discussion with the police and as Barmy suggests it's often down to the situation and who is looking.  Technically it's legal but you have to make sure you have a safe place to get back in on the correct side without affecting other road users.
Some police riders were okay with it saying that as long as you are not hammering down the wrong side and can easily and safely re-join the traffic on the correct side without causing other road users to brake or turn to avoid you it's okay, some were not saying the rules are written to avoid long ques of traffic by allowing cars and bike to pass horses, cycles and slow vehicles on a moving carriageway, not for traffic jams where it would be inappropriate to overtake.  I do it but make sure I always have a place to fit into and that the traffic is at a standstill.

[Mister Fishfinger]

I'm a pretty cautious filterer and tend not to cross if I'm not sure, but I think I am in the minority round here. Not sure if it's the relative lack of police on the roads but in the South East of England I reckon you can do whatever you like .

[MarkN]

I'd agree with Fishy on all counts. Notts police have no traffic dept and haven't had for years, probably why we have such poor standards on the roads around here and, by the sound of it, in the South East 

[Kiwifruit]

My degree of filtering is very carefully monitored by management 

[Mrg]

i think some people take the piss when they filter ... ive seen them pass by me at speed and dodge between traffic doing 50 and weave up and back accross both lanes, and show the finger to cars that dont ,move out of there way ,, and i see this every day i go to work. the other day i was in the car and i heard this bike coming .. i was overtaking a truck 18 wheeler half way passed ,, and this bike came between us both and craccked it up a gear and speed off like we were not there crazey if you ask me ...they give us a bad name 

[KiwiCol]

short term rider, temporary human being.