Filtering in France and camping

[steve'o]

I'm off to France on Thursday evening and am wondering whether the ban on filtering or lane splitting is still in place. I seem to remember that the government decided to do a u turn about it after one of the mass demo rides and was going to legalise it. Did they do a second u turn or has it just all been forgotten about? Hopefully someone here knows the current situation.

Also are the camp-sites likely to be open at this time of year or will i end up having to camp covertly?!

 

[Wapping]

I wasn't aware that the French had outlawed filtering?

Dangerous undertaking / riding like a knob, is frowned on by the Frogs, just as it is here.

Filter safely and courteously and you'll be fine.

The campsites are coming into life.

 

[wessie]

I have a number of friends living in France. Filtering is still very much part of their everyday commute, especially in Paris. Often the car drivers will move over to make extra room for bikes. I'll certainly continue to filter on my visits.

Cross the Rhine and it is a different world. In Germany, Austria & Switzerland filtering seems to be considered anti-social and drivers will actively attempt to prevent you doing it and the police will prosecute you.

 

[E. Buygum]

I'm off to France on Thursday evening and am wondering whether the ban on filtering or lane splitting is still in place.

If it has been outlawed, somebody ought to tell the French...riding (a bit slow, hedging my bets in the middle of a middle lane) when lost around the Paris Peripherique at rush hour I was getting filtered by cars.

Agree about Germany, it doesn't go down well there at all with the locals but needs must....

 

[Mr K]

I wasn't aware that they had outlawed filtering?

Dangerous undertaking / riding like a knob, is frowned on by the Frogs, just as it is here.

Filter safely and courteously and you'll be fine.

The campsites are coming into life.

I think the French invented filtering; Being cautious Johnny Foreigner types we were taking the odd big gap on the run to Chalous, but I slotted in between cars and an avalanche of Natives on everything from Scoots to R1s just howled past. This was at motorway speeds.

Plume de ma Tante!

 

[mrsroynie]

Yes, you can filter in France. As already mentioned, many car drivers will move aside for you. If they do, the correct etiquette is to stick your leg out to acknowledge the courtesy. (You'll see what I mean soon enough if you are riding in any of the big metropolitan areas.)

 

[thornley]

Camp sites should be open now, certainly in the south. Covert camping (camping sauvage) is frown upon and the Gendarmes are always on the look out for people avoiding the main routes and areas.

 

[The Grey One]

I have a number of friends living in France. Filtering is still very much part of their everyday commute, especially in Paris. Often the car drivers will move over to make extra room for bikes. I'll certainly continue to filter on my visits.

Cross the Rhine and it is a different world. In Germany, Austria & Switzerland filtering seems to be considered anti-social and drivers will actively attempt to prevent you doing it and the police will prosecute you.

Not in Austria--filtering is legal here. Filtering on the autobahns can be a problem because they use traffic lights to prevent traffic queuing into the numerous tunnels. If traffic comes to a standstill you can only filter as far as the next red light. Other than that just watch out for German registered cars as they are unaccustomed to bikes filtering. Most Austrians will move over for bikes-a legacy of most young people taking up two wheels at the age of 15. A lot of drivers here have had two year experience an a scooter or small bike and everyone has friends or relatives on two wheels.

John

 

[Rasher]

If you avoid cities you will be hard pressed to find any traffic queues to filter past in France

 

[cookie]

If you avoid cities you will be hard pressed to find any traffic queues to filter past in France

good point.

 

[wessie]

Not in Austria--filtering is legal here. Filtering on the autobahns can be a problem because they use traffic lights to prevent traffic queuing into the numerous tunnels. If traffic comes to a standstill you can only filter as far as the next red light. Other than that just watch out for German registered cars as they are unaccustomed to bikes filtering. Most Austrians will move over for bikes-a legacy of most young people taking up two wheels at the age of 15. A lot of drivers here have had two year experience an a scooter or small bike and everyone has friends or relatives on two wheels.

John

It must be filtering at traffic lights that is frowned upon. I was in a group of about 30 bikes (part of an MCi tour) making our way to Slovenia via Lienz. A local plod was happily pulling over bikes and issuing 15 euro fines for those who had used the middle left turn lane to filter to the front of the queue.

 

[EggChaser]

It must be filtering at traffic lights that is frowned upon. I was in a group of about 30 bikes (part of an MCi tour) making our way to Slovenia via Lienz. A local plod was happily pulling over bikes and issuing 15 euro fines for those who had used the middle left turn lane to filter to the front of the queue.

Was that because you filtered in a lane with a designated purpose?
i.e. if two lanes had been going straight on with the 3rd lane for the left turn, if you had filtered between the two straight on lanes would it have been OK?

 

[The Grey One]

It must be filtering at traffic lights that is frowned upon. I was in a group of about 30 bikes (part of an MCi tour) making our way to Slovenia via Lienz. A local plod was happily pulling over bikes and issuing 15 euro fines for those who had used the middle left turn lane to filter to the front of the queue.

Yes, using a marked turn lane will cause problems especially with a big group but normal filtering should be fine. In our area at least the police don't have much crime to brighten up their days so extracting money for minor offences gives them something to do! Another thing to watch for is pedestrians crossing, they have absolute right of way on crossings and have grown to expect traffic to stop. Cars here will often stop away from crossings to let people cross so it pays to keep your eyes open!

John

 

[Bury_Dave]

I don't think you'll find too many campsites open in northern France until June.

I went on a trip on the second May Bank Holiday and couldn't find anywhere open until i got to south of the Massif Centrale.

Even after then, I found a few Froggies who have permanent caravans on campsites using them one at Gap with a pool etc wasn't heating it and the facilities were non existant. I was the only camper with a few Dutch caravanners.

I've never had a problem with wild camping - just set up late and clear up early and be discrete you should be ok.

On the plus side, I saw very few bikers - even down south.

Dave

 

[boxerfrogs]

Rubbish weather here at the moment (right in the middle of France, near Aubusson) - grey, damp and a bit chilly. Hope it clears up for your trip on Thursday. As a self-confessed big softee, I'd much rather doss down in a cheap hotel than endure the debatable pleasures of kipping in a tent, especially during this current meteorological inclemency!

 

[franco]

A lot of campsites open down here already, come along and filter till yer hearts content

 

[swissrob]

If on motorways in france the car in the overtaking lane will often move over a little to allow a bike to pass between them and the central barrier.

 

[thornley]

A lot of campsites open down here already, come along and filter till yer hearts content

+1
No traffic equals no filter up here in the mountains

 

[thornley]

I'm off to France on Thursday evening and am wondering whether the ban on filtering or lane splitting is still in place. I seem to remember that the government decided to do a u turn about it after one of the mass demo rides and was going to legalise it. Did they do a second u turn or has it just all been forgotten about? Hopefully someone here knows the current situation.

Also are the camp-sites likely to be open at this time of year or will i end up having to camp covertly?!

Where are you off to? South, north, east or west. The bit in the middle is pretty big too!

 

[franco]

+1
No traffic equals no filter up here in the mountains

It was pretty quiet until a couple of weeks ago, now full of Northern tourists coming for the early sunshine. Amazing amount of Brits, Belgians, Dutch, Germans around. What happened to the economic crisis?