Korean Job Discussion Forums

[earthbound14]

All right I want to know who rides between cars? Its called "filtering" and in the UK it is considered legal, in Korea.....it's....well pure mayhem.

It's legal in the UK to encourage commuting on motorcycles to keep congestion down. I almost alway filter in Seoul traffic and it makes my trips a lot shorter. Having a bike is the best thing for getting around Seoul, faster than the subway (if its a 125cc bike it's cheaper too) super fun and a great way to explore and go where you want.

If you're more interested in filtering, read this
http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/filtering.html

It basically says how to do it safely.

[kimchi_pizza]

No, not unless I'm cruise'n for a bruise'n. I don't do that nor do
I recommend it unless you're in Taiwan and on nothing bigger than
a 150cc. It's totally natural to do that there and may get in trouble
if you don't 'cause you'll have dozens of motorcycles and scooters
backed up behind ya.

[IncognitoHFX]

[Bibbitybop]

Hell yes I ride through cars. The best time is at stop lights when they are stopped or going slow. Watch out for the opening taxi doors, though. If cars are moving, it depends on where I am at and how safe it is. Shooting past cars on the right over the bridge above Seoul Station is one of my favorite places to pass.

I occasionally cross the yellow line to pass to the front if I'm in the left lane. Streets with margins wider than the yellow line are wonderful.

I cross the front white line to get in front of all the cars.

I occasionally ride on the sidewalk if no path through the cars exists and if the sidewalk is big and uncrowded.

I make U-turn illegally in the middle of the street and at crosswalks with the pedestrians.

I speed, run red lights when no one is coming and get to my destination so much faster than riding on 4 wheels.

And even though non-motorcycle riders on this forum will hate me for these things, I do them all in front of the police and have a perfect driving record.

The only thing enforced in helmet laws, unless you are an old ajossi.

[Join Me]

I used to ride between cars on my bike in Seoul That is until I almost got squeezed between to buses. I am no longer in such a hurry to get anyplace anymore nor to die.

[captain kirk]

I think it's also, filtering, called ghosting.

I watch for doors opening (or be 'doored').

And an impatient driver who suddenly veers to change lanes in stalled traffic, cutting me off. So suddenly because he's impatient. And not looking in his rear view mirror. Just lurches.

A driver may deliberately try to cut me off because he's stuck crawling, I'm filtering/ghosting, and he's jealous.

Going on the outside (the shoulder alongside the road) I watch the road for glass, nails, sudden surface irregularities because the shoulder IS NOT the road and so isn't up to the same level, swept standard. At night running on the shoulder is very bad luck. Can't see any of the dangers. Better to ghost then.

[crazy_arcade]

I just pay close attention and judge when I can do it safely. I don't do it while traveling at high speeds--usually just at stop lights.

[Scouse Mouse]

Without filtering, riding would be as slow as the bus! I do it at every opportunity (as long as it is safe). I especially love filtering Elementary School students who are blocking the pavement

[earthbound14]

I've made tons of mistakes while filtering through traffic.

Passing on the right in the right hand lane....cars turning right....very bad.
Passing on the left in the left hand lane (on the yellow line)....cars doing sudden u-turns.....also very bad.

In both cases I didn't think enough about either the u-turn lane, or the right hand turn lane and didn't account for the fact that drivers don't look before making these moves (nor should they).

Cars also tend to be a little blind to bikes that are riding between them and you need to be careful of getting squeezed. Buses and trucks are the worst. Filtering through moving traffic can be bad....when you see a gap in tight traffic (that is when a car leaves room in front of it) expect another car to try and fill this gap....and hit you. I am always extra careful of cars that are in a hurry and likely to try and change lanes....my worst enemies are big black cars...the shinier and spiffier the rims, the more likely they do what ever they want without looking. Bongo trucks are pretty bad too....you get some guy who is finished his 10 hour work day making 100$ and he's heading home without a load and he suddenly feels like he's driving a Porsche....scratch that, a Tuscani.

Taxis....it doesn't matter if you are riding on the right hand side or just behind them, they suck. They pull over when ever the hell they want wherever the hell they want....I give them room and almost always stick to the left hand side of a taxi.

Shoulders are dangerous. Be careful on the shoulder. I ride on the shoulder a lot, but I've also had two nails in my tires and a few near misses with big black cars who also want to cash in on the action.....be careful while riding on the shoulder. I never use the shoulder to pass on a corner or at high speeds.

[Typhoon]

It is illegal in Canada and considered to be poor motorcylce ettiquite. It is pretty rude especially if you are going to drive slower than the cars you just "filtered" through. I personally have no problem with it as long as the motorcycle doing it drives faster than me and the cars. If a bike filters and then clogs up traffic then the driver can expect an earful and close shave when I go by.

[crazy_arcade]

[TDR]

I filter quite frequently but I make sure to keep my head up and on a swivel when I do. Last summer I was moving up road on the right beside traffic that was stopped for a light. I was going along the right hand side when an older lady just opened her door at random. Not a taxi, not pulled over, no four-ways on, etc. I think she just decided to get out because traffic was slow in front of her destination. She clipped my handle bar, my bike went down and I did a superman onto the sidewalk. I scraped the heck out of my legs and cut my left knee for 12 stitches. I bent the back door of their car past it's normal opening range.

However, they were very worried about me, immediately called me an ambulance and helped me move my bike out of traffic. Their insurance man said it was 80% their fault and they paid for all of my medical bills and bike repair. On top of that, I got 400 000won. I don't recommend this as a way to make extra cash but it helped me feel slightly better. Overall, I was just quite glad that I only hit her door and didn't drive my bike right into an old lady.

I still filter but, as Join Me said, I'm not trying to rush into a "death by bus" situation so take 'er easy, folks.


-TDR-

[captain kirk]

[Typhoon]

Truthfully, if you are not going to drive faster than everyone else then why filter? You are being an ass by doing it. If you are going to be held up cars then filter away. It makes sense and I don't think anyone (me included) would be upset by the that. But what do you expect to happen when you filter and then hold up all the cars you just passed ahead of? Of course people are going to be mad at you, yell at you and give you a close shave. If you drive like an ass you can't expect people around you to respect your rights as a motorcycle driver or the driver of a car. Expect to be treated like you treat those around you. My mom and dad are both bikers so I have heard enough stories about biking accidents that have made me sick to my stomach. I just don't get why people would drive in a way that makes them more likely to get killed on their bike (aren't the chances high enough already)? I hope you are all being careful and using your heads. Don't drive like an ass if you don't want to meet the fate of ass (good advice for the drivers of cars and motorcycles).

[captain kirk]

You sound really uptight. Is everything all right at home? You can take a few days off if you like.