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4 Jun 2009
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Yep, that's right - filtering is illegal both on motorways as well as at traffic lights. On motorways people still do it occasionally (me included), but you have to be aware that if you run into a suddenly opening door, or into a bastard in car trying to cut you off intentionally because he saw you coming (yep, that does happen), the blame is entirely on you. Furthermore, if the police see you, expect a ticket. Also keep a close eye on your mirror, and get out of the way asap if you see blue flashing lights ;-)
On very hot summer days, if there has been an accident in front, and you drive very slowly and carefully, the police may choose not to see you, as they are more busy with the accident and because they know that boiling in the heat among running engines in full leathers doesn't increase safety either, but don't bank on it.
But then rest areas are widely spread, so just crawl/carefully filter to the next, and see if you can sit it out there under a tree?
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4 Jun 2009
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I've sat in those queues on the autobahns near Hamburg too. Filtering is illegal and because of the German attitude to following the rules it's also dangerous. When I tried to filter the Eric's would try to stop me by closing the gap or deliberately trying to hit me as you passed. Several people started hanging out of their car windows shouting and a couple tried to have a swing at me. The only answer would appear to be finding a route off the autobahns.
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4 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourider
I've sat in those queues on the autobahns near Hamburg too. Filtering is illegal and because of the German attitude to following the rules it's also dangerous. When I tried to filter the Eric's would try to stop me by closing the gap or deliberately trying to hit me as you passed. Several people started hanging out of their car windows shouting and a couple tried to have a swing at me. The only answer would appear to be finding a route off the autobahns.
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It's funny I was thinking the same thing. I've been in a few situations where people would do the same, i.e. drive quite dangerously to stop you filtering. It's not like I try to run somebody off the road if I see them breaking other laws such as speeding! I was in a car once with a mate who did it (saw a bike coming so tried to close the gap to stop him getting through), asked him why and it seemed like basic jealousy, i.e. 'why should he get to go while i have to wait'. It wasn't about the 'law'.
Cultural differences are a funny thing! You cross a couple borders and people will be moving to the side to let you through and think nothing of waving you to the front of a queue at a border check just because you are on a bike!
Good to know though, i've filtered in germany passing through and guessed it was probably illegal based on what the local bikers were doing. Normally that's the best guide you can get!
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5 Jun 2009
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True - it's rather funny.
I have always been filtering on german roads, despite the law and the hostile drivers attitude. I guess you just need to be more aware of everything around you, and yeah, bad luck if you get the police (never happened to me tho, yet).
also funny how the german motorcyclists behave abroad. I have always seen them qeueing behind cars, in slow traffic, even if there is plenty of space for overtaking. incredible.
My point is: I didn't buy a motorcycle to be stuck in the qeue behind cars!
I will always filter and overtake, everywhere. Slowly and safely, but i will.
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5 Jun 2009
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Sad to admit, but yes, filtering is not permitted on german motorways. Bike clubs have tried to legalize filtering if traffic has come to a near stop, but up to now the law didn't budge.
Hopefully a new legislative initiative may allow bikers to proceed through the emergency gap if traffic does come to a stop. See here: MAGAZIN: MOTORRÄDER SOLLEN RETTUNGSGASSEN NUTZEN :: AD HOC NEWS Unfortunately only in German...
I wouldn't worry too much about filtering. Up to now I never had any problems proceeding slowly, even if some stupid bastard tried to block me off. You will always find a gap to pass the buggar 
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9 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirakor
On very hot summer days, if there has been an accident in front, and you drive very slowly and carefully, the police may choose not to see you...
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Yes, that has been my experience as well when riding in Germany. Basically, if traffic is absolutely "dead stopped" (plugged up because of an accident somewhere ahead), no-one seems to object to a motorcycle filtering up through multiple lanes of vehicles. But, if the traffic is moving (no matter how slowly), then filtering is not accepted.
Tolerance also varies regionally. Filtering is accepted in Switzerland (whether it is legal or not I do not know), thus, if you are close to the Swiss border, the automobile drivers are far less likely to get upset.
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9 Jun 2009
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Isn't it strange how we all have different experiences about these things? I've been to Germany many times on my bike (well, 5 times to be exact!!) and whilst I've never had too much trouble with traffic jams, last year I did. I was going from Freiburg in the south west up to Koln. I wasn't in any hurry so I took 3 days to do it as I just stopped wherever I felt like stopping.
However just south of Mainz/Wiesbaden I encountered a bugger of a traffic jam. Suffice to say I travelled about 30 miles in nearly 5 hours. Initially I was quite content to sit there with all the other traffic but after a while I was really bored (as well as being fed up hearing my cooling fan being on most of the time!) and started to filter. I did so in a totally non-agressive manner and at no point did anyone try to block me or shout anything in my direction. In fact many cars, trucks etc. made an effort to move over and let me through. This lasted for approximately 10 miles or so. I saw one police car and I'm pretty sure they saw me too but there was no negative reaction of any kind.
Maybe I was just lucky, I don't know, but I suspect that I was helped by the fact that I did it slowly and showed no desire to push my way through at all costs.
Just a thought.
Chris
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Last edited by Chris1200; 9 Jun 2009 at 12:11.
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22 Sep 2011
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Interesting experiences, cheers for sharing. 
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7 Oct 2011
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I live in Denmark, an hour from the German border and I ride on the autobahn regularly.
Filtering is accepted as normal on the autobahns and is a regular practice by everyone if the traffic is at a standstill. I have never heard of anyone who has been fined for doing it.
Most drivers do not object or try to block you. The further South you go I find drivers are far more aware of bikers filtering and they actually move out of your way to give you more room.
Steve
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18 Oct 2011
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with regards to not wanting to overtake, I think it can come down to the way you present yourself. if you sit up the vehicles chuff in the overtaking zone then they will assume you want to overtake. if you sit well back and directly behind then they will realise you aren't itching to overtake. A lot of van drivers ride bikes remember!
filtering in slow or stationary traffic seems ok to me, but the habit I see in the UK of bikers 'filtering' (undertaking) at 70+mph, even in bad weather does annoy me enormously. It's mind bogglingly dangerous and how, when slipping through a gap barely wider than their bike, at high speed can those riders then expect cage drivers to give them the same room as a car at other times. the same applies at junctions. it really does hack me off when a biker overtakes me at a junction, then pulls in front of me to take up a car sized space. you wouldn't overtake someone in your car at a junction and then pull in front so why do it on a bike!!
just my two pennith of course, but then I am one of those that has to try and glue you back together again after it's all gone a bit wrong!!
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19 Oct 2011
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As mentioned earlier, lane splitting in Germany is illegal. This is judged as "passing from the right".
Last summer on my way to HU meeting in Germany, I was doing this and got fined by 100€.
In any case, everyone are doing it here...
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