The DEFINITIVE Non-Highway Traffic Filtering Survey

[Marcfolch]

Ok, so there have been tons of threads about traffic filtering over the years and answers ranging from "Major fine and points for stunting" to "Cops just ignore you". I am guessing that a lot of the variation comes from how and where people filter. If you're burning by the shoulder of a 400 series highway at 60kph this is not the same thing as slowly rolling by 4 cars at walking speed to get to the front of a traffic light.

So let's define a specific scenario and get everyone to sound off on a survey of their experience with LEOs to (hopefully) answer the question more clearly than before. For the purpose of this survey, traffic filtering is:
- On regular streets (Not a 400 series highway)
- When car traffic around you is fully stopped during the entire time you are filtering
- You are moving at 15kph or less
- There is at least 6 inches of space between any part of your bike and any part of the cars you are passing

So ladies and gents, when doing filtering like this have you ever gotten into trouble with the law?

 

[油井緋色]

I haven't but......

The "what ifs" are too risky.

 

[Marcfolch]

There is a lot of evidence that low aggression filtering is a grey zone. I have spoken with several LEOs and they seemed generally unsure of what law this is breaking even though GTAM members have found a case precedent which supports filtering having been a significant ticketable offense at least once.

What I'm curious to find out is whether this is usually treated in the field more like going 115kph on the highway (technically illegal but almost never enforced), or as a serious offence. I have a hunch that it's far more often ignored than actively pursued.

Again, we're not talking about erratic hooligan lane splitting all over the place in moving traffic. Clearly that's unsafe and going to get you a ticket eventually. We're talking about a pretty slow creep-up where there is space to safely pass. A lot less aggressive than the kind of stuff an average Toronto taxi does at least once very few minutes.

The best way we can get a clear answer is to build stats instead of relying on anecdotal accounts here and there. The more of you who participate, the more accurate and useful this will get. SO PLEASE PARTICIPATE!

It will benefit everyone if we get a few hundred answers here.

 

[PLau]

I only lane filter when there aren't any cops around (to avoid any issues), if I am turning right, and if there is space.

No option there.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Former user g4getmoney was charged under HTA 172, for lane splitting on (IIRC) The Gardiner. Ultimately he was convicted of something like improper passing but had to sell his bike, to cover the $1400.00 or so in impound and towing fees.

I thought that I would post that here, since he no longer seems to be around to do so, himself.

 

[Marcfolch]

The heads up is much appreciated Rob! I do however want to make a request to everyone to limit feedback to the specific description of traffic filtering I listed in the original post. I think most riders would agree that lane lane splitting on the Gardiner, and aggressive hooligan style weaving in the city is going to get you in trouble if a cop sees you.

What I want to find out is whether low aggression filtering at lights is mostly ignored by LEOs because it doesn't really endanger anyone. It can make a BIG difference in travel time in the core around rush hour.

Thanks to all for responding!

Former user g4getmoney was charged under HTA 172, for lane splitting on (IIRC) The Gardiner. Ultimately he was convicted of something like improper passing but had to sell his bike, to cover the $1400.00 or so in impound and towing fees.

I thought that I would post that here, since he no longer seems to be around to do so, himself.

 

[Red_Liner740]

What does endangering anyone has to do with revenue generating that cops do? In the end cops will throw the book at you and see what sticks if they're having a bad day, and it seems, they're always having a bad day.

Why risk it? I'll ride in the half open lane that parked cars leave but wont filter all the way to the front in between two lanes....even if the cop doesnt ticket you, all it takes is one aggressive, the-world-is-a-race-and-how-dare-you-go-infront-of-me jackass to ruin your day with a door or fender

The heads up is much appreciated Rob! I do however want to make a request to everyone to limit feedback to the specific description of traffic filtering I listed in the original post. I think most riders would agree that lane lane splitting on the Gardiner, and aggressive hooligan style weaving in the city is going to get you in trouble if a cop sees you.

What I want to find out is whether low aggression filtering at lights is mostly ignored by LEOs because it doesn't really endanger anyone. It can make a BIG difference in travel time in the core around rush hour.

Thanks to all for responding!

 

[nfq]

Former user g4getmoney was charged under HTA 172, for lane splitting on (IIRC) The Gardiner. Ultimately he was convicted of something like improper passing but had to sell his bike, to cover the $1400.00 or so in impound and towing fees.

I thought that I would post that here, since he no longer seems to be around to do so, himself.

It was on the DVP and to get to the Bayview/Bloor exit during rushhour traffic. I think he went a total of 50-70 feet on the shoulder between merge lanes, and the cop through the book at him when an improper lane ticket would have sufficed.

Yeah, not worth the headache if you're caught even ONE time, unless you have $5K at the ready to throw away.

 

[Marcfolch]

Well, regarding the money grab, you could say the same about all the cars which go 110KPH on the highway, or 55KPH in a 50 zone, or do a rolling stop at a 4-way intersection when there are no cars around. If LEOs want to throw the book and charge you, they can. Yet being charged for these things is pretty rare despite most drivers doing them regularly.

A few more "Illegal" things that generally get ignored unless you're being confrontational:
- Following too closely
- HIDs or other lighting kits that are outside of legal colour/brightness/projection specifications
- Overly loud exhaust pipes (like on many motorbikes)

LEOs deliberately choose to go after the infractions they consider to be more serious because they create risks for the general population. The question here is "Does this activity fall into the serious, or No-Harm-No-Foul category for most LEOs?"

I hear what you say about the theoretical risk of a crazy driver trying to kill you and I've probably read/heard some of the same stories you have about this. No doubt it is real and does happen. But like the risk of being kidnapped by a serial killer, it probably seems a lot more common than it actually is, exactly because it makes such a great story to tell.

Being a biker is not about avoiding all risks, in fact most of us do it in part BECAUSE it is more risky. However being a smart/safe biker is about properly understanding and choosing which risks you take. I'm not saying anyone here should or should not filter. All I want to do is collect all the unbiased real data I can find on riders' experiences in this area.

This means cutting out hypotheticals and "I heard the cousin of my brother's friend's grocery bagger got his entire head cut off at 10kph by a side mirror" stories. It it hasn't happened to you, it's hearsay.

What does endangering anyone has to do with revenue generating that cops do? In the end cops will throw the book at you and see what sticks if they're having a bad day, and it seems, they're always having a bad day.

Why risk it? I'll ride in the half open lane that parked cars leave but wont filter all the way to the front in between two lanes....even if the cop doesnt ticket you, all it takes is one aggressive, the-world-is-a-race-and-how-dare-you-go-infront-of-me jackass to ruin your day with a door or fender

 

[arekzjawin]

There should be one more option:
I have gotten at least one 10 min talk with a high rank officer in an unmarked vehicle, but no fine.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

It was on the DVP and to get to the Bayview/Bloor exit during rushhour traffic. I think he went a total of 50-70 feet on the shoulder between merge lanes, and the cop through the book at him when an improper lane ticket would have sufficed.

Yeah, not worth the headache if you're caught even ONE time, unless you have $5K at the ready to throw away.

Thanks for the correction. I tried to find the original in the archive, but failed.

 

[Marcfolch]

Agreed, not worth the risk to ride on the shoulder of the DVP or any other highway. You're just asking for trouble doing that. However the title of the thread is "NON-HIGHWAY traffic filtering". Specifically low aggression filtering at a light when there is space to do this safely.

I'm not trying to discourage participation and comments, and I really appreciate your sounding off, but for this poll/discussion to be of any use to anyone, we have to stay on topic. When you write about a bad experience someone else had doing an activity that's different than we're talking about, it just confuses the issue and we end up with the same mess of rumours and speculation as we've always had.

It was on the DVP and to get to the Bayview/Bloor exit during rushhour traffic. I think he went a total of 50-70 feet on the shoulder between merge lanes, and the cop through the book at him when an improper lane ticket would have sufficed.

Yeah, not worth the headache if you're caught even ONE time, unless you have $5K at the ready to throw away.

 

[Marcfolch]

There should be one more option:
I have gotten at least one 10 min talk with a high rank officer in an unmarked vehicle, but no fine.

Good point. Anyone know if (and how), I can add a new question to an existing survey?

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Good point. Anyone know if (and how), I can add a new question to an existing survey?

How's that?

 

[markopas]

How's that?

Didn't you have a thread stickied for "Lane Filtering" which was the be-all, end-all for this type of question and that it's illegal?

 

[PLau]

Didn't you have a thread stickied for "Lane Filtering" which was the be-all, end-all for this type of question and that it's illegal?

This thread doesn't discuss the legality of lane filtering - just the experiences of people who do lane filter to see how many actually get charged with something if they do lane filter.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

This thread doesn't discuss the legality of lane filtering - just the experiences of people who do lane filter to see how many actually get charged with something if they do lane filter.

And that's why it's still standing on its own, rather than being folded into the sticky thread.

 

[Marcfolch]

Was at Ashbridges bay last night for the fireworks and traffic was a complete mess for kilometers going in for the show and going out. Plenty of LEOs and plenty of bikes doing filtering around stopped traffic, but I didn't see anyone getting pulled over or ticketed.

Bikes were definitely the vehicle to use for this kind of traffic, except for the fact that it started pouring about 15 minutes after the show ended so everyone got soaked. If anyone from The Weather Network is watching, that was NOT <1mm of rain!

 

[Macs]

Done this downtown in front of TPS during afternoon rush hour and they gave me the "It's your butt" shrug.
Done this on the weekend downtown and got a talking to from TPS about how car drivers won't be looking for me and warning me about road ragers.
Done this in York Region and received a "Pass on right, not in safety" I was in the left hand portion of the right lane. Cop said he wanted to give me Careless but he knew it wouldn't fly in court. Ticket is still in the system so we'll see.

 

[markopas]

Was at Ashbridges bay last night for the fireworks and traffic was a complete mess for kilometers going in for the show and going out. Plenty of LEOs and plenty of bikes doing filtering around stopped traffic, but I didn't see anyone getting pulled over or ticketed.

Bikes were definitely the vehicle to use for this kind of traffic, except for the fact that it started pouring about 15 minutes after the show ended so everyone got soaked. If anyone from The Weather Network is watching, that was NOT <1mm of rain!

Watched the fireworks from my rooftop patio, and could definitely feel it as well - I went in and then I thought there were more fireworks after it was done but it was just the thunder and then a buttload of rain and then thought about all the traffic - poor bastards who had to endure that. Make me cringe even thinking about the traffic for only 10mins of fireworks.