Legality of overtaking traffic queues on motorbike

I've started to drive to work on my bike recently and I'm not too happy to sit in one place too long, the bike gets very hot. So I've started to filter through the traffic. I'm originally from Ireland where this is the norm and completely legal, its called making progress and is expected.

I've noticed that zee Germans don't seem to like it and I've been beeped and blocked purposely on several occasions.

Does anyone know if its legal here and why the locals have a problem with it?

it is illegal. simple as that. you have to queue behind the traffic like everyone else or risk getting a ticket or points if you don't.

Thanks for the quick reply Owain, I have seen other bikes doing it. Have you got a link to the law stating its illegal ?

Fuck 'em. That's what motorbikes are for. Get yourself some Motocross boots so you can kick their fucking doors in if they do that shitty thing and deliberately try and swing into your path. Or if they drive a BMW in which case just kick the doors anyway. Sitting in traffic is for cars and schmucks on 2 wheels.

As long as you don't filter past Police it's not a problem. Try not to have accident though or you might not be insured.

Thanks guys. I'm well versed in the ins and outs of filtering (pun intended ). Its filter or die in Ireland.

I just want to make sure I'm not stepping on anyones toes .

You are allowed to overtake a line of traffic though, I know because I had a motorbike drive into me as I was pulling out of an entrance, through a line of stationary traffic, and he was doing exactly that and it was my fault.

That I know of its perfectly legal... I see it and do it all the time... make sure you do it on the passing side and not on the right. I have done it past a police man in fact I have seen the police motorbikes do it aswell...

Thats what I was thinking. Solid line - no overtaking. Overtaking when moving is just overtaking.

Anyone any idea where I can get the rules of the road in English ?

*Edit - Thanks to the mod that changed the title to one thats more readable.

What Johnny English said. From what I know though, lane filtering laws are very vague...

What complicates things here a little bit is that lanes are extremely narrow, so sometimes it's just physically impossible to split lanes. Also, people will often swing out of the way to let you through in other countries, whereas most of the time they just sit there and pretend not to see you here (I've always found driving habits in countries very reflective of the overall mentality of the people who live there, btw)...
You just have to learn to impose yourself more, not be intimidated and avoid doing this when you see cops around.

You don't get much more imposing than a two and a half meter Vulcan 1600

This site is excellent with regards to driving in Germany. All in English and last updated at the end of 2007. Very comprehensive and I think most (if not all) road signs. Although the info about licensing is more aimed at the Americans.
And the quiz is interesting to try out especially with regard to the sometimes confusing 'give way to the right' rule. I even learnt a thing or two.

http://www.gettingaroundgermany.info/auto.htm

EDIT: Quoted the specific question I was answering. Although do motorcyclists drive by different road rules?

There's nothing on that site about motorcycles, excellent though it may be in other respects.

I'm sceptical about the illegality of filtering, since this 'law' (never quoted or linked to) is often cited by jealous car-bound types who hate the idea that someone on a smaller, cheaper vehicle can leave them in the dust. If you look carefully you might see an example on this thread.

My experience is otherwise, when I ride my daughters scooter through traffic cars move over to let me through, but still, nice little bit of anti-German bollocks there, nothing new for you though!

Oooohhh oh the sound of silence

If "Filtering/ Lane Splitting" means driving between car lanes in a traffic jam, it is considered "Überholen" (§5 StVO) and this is illegal in unclear situations (like a traffic jam) - everyone does it anyway. If car drivers ever had to boil in their own sweat inside a leather jacket on a sunny day or get a cramp in your arm because of the constant de-clutching or try to balance a 200kg bike (+luggage) while driving walking speed stop and go, they might be a little more understanding. In the old days (when I still had my BMW) we used to drive right behind (well okay we kept a certain distance) police cars or ambulances who made their way through the traffic jam - desparate measures for a desparate situation . Just be extremely careful and dont look the car drivers in their rage filled eyes. Btw a car that tries to block your way on purpose is breaking the law too. It just would be hard to prove.

My specialties are tunnel vision mentality, crap supermarkets and not being able to pay for €1000 appliances at Saturn with a credit card - I don't think that makes me anti-German though...
You live out in the middle of nowhere (Allershausen?) and I can assure you that the mindset is different. In Munich, I have noticed that there is a world of difference, and though I'm not a sociologist, it does reflect on the way people are. In Brussels, Paris and Rome, which are the other major cities that I have used my motorcycle in, the attitude towards bikes is completely different - so are the people...

Excellent post Freising, thanks.

When I first came to Germany I had a bike and got a lot of grief from drivers whilst I was filtering through the 'jams'...not that I cared though, just flicked em the bird and went through. Had a UK plate at the time which most drivers mistook for Dutch... so UK drivers were not so discredited

Thanks for this. Does traffic being at a standstill make a difference?


...or when it's the middle of the month of November and you're soaked to the bone by rain!

It is rarely enforced in Germany, but filtering is against the law and can theoretically end up with a fine and 3 points.

Durchschlängeln im Stau - verbotenes Rechtsüberholen? (in German, sorry)

Also be careful in using a left-turn lane to pass a line of cars waiting at a red light. That's also techically against the law when the left-turn lane has its own red light.
See the section titled Kolonnenfahren on this web site (in German)

Im not a traffic law expert, but I think the point is this: you are only allowed to overtake when the situation is clearly laid out; driving between two lanes of cars is never considered safe in this respect.


... that brought back some very bad memories.

As someone who has been pulled over by the fuzz, I can say this is not allowed.

However, everyone does it !

On the Autobahn I would say that 90% of motorists will make room for a bike coming up to overtake during a jam or slow moving traffic. Either courtesy or worry about scratching the paint work, who knows. In the city most people seem to be relaxed about motorcycle filtering, unless you cut in dangerously. At least that has been my experience.

It's illegal of course but it will get you to the Biergarten quicker.

So long you overtake on the left and there is no "no overtaking" sign it is legal.

This isn't a German thing. The same applies at least in the UK. A bike is a road vehicle and must follow the rules of the road the same as a car, i.e. no overtaking on the right-side (exceptions when traffic is travelling <60kmh), no overtaking in a 'Dangerous' situation, etc...

...and we all ignore the law in the UK as well.

BTW, I think you mean 'overtake on the left'.

Johnnies Top Tip: If you see the cops in front then bang it up on the rear wheel - that way they can't read the numberplate as you zip past.

Edit: I am thinking that for 3 tonne Vulcan Bomber Kawasakis this could be tricky.

you haven't seen my driving

The only time you can pass (in theory and by law) is on the left side of the left lane providing there is enough space(1.50m) which is almost never the case.

Illegal ??? I was over taking a line of cars a few years back when one of them decided he didn’t want to wait in the queue anymore and did a U turn unfortunately just has I was passing him and thus flew gracefully over his bonnet,he got the blame no questions asked the Police were quite annoyed with him too because during his U turn he drove onto the grass on the right to gain extra turning room.

Filtering (riding between lanes) is illegal. Overtaking stationary traffic is not.

The car driver was probably found at fault because of the illegal U-turn. But in the second link I provided, a case is given where a woman was pulling out of a driveway into stopped traffic. She waved at a car which stopped to let her through. Meanwhile a motorcyclist was passing the line of cars, and they crashed. The judge ruled both were 50% at fault.


verbotswidrig
adj. against the rules, in opposition to the rules, illegal, not allowed

You're talking about liability, not legality. Something may be legal, but if you don't exercise sufficient care your compensation could be reduced.

These discussions are always fun.

Yup, its not legal but in many cases neither is Marijuana and there is no enforcement in most of Germany there either.

It is legal to drink in public, but only foreigners (like me) and young people do it.

As for the 90% of polite Autobahn drivers. (you mean those people a meter off your bumper at 150 Kmh ?)

I see mostly drivers trying to intentionally edge out motorcycles splitting lanes in a form of chicken.
Fortunately German drivers can press the envelope a bit, since they tend to be more skilled.

Having crashed myself doing it before, I am reluctant to do it legal or not.
Except maybe, to find a toilet or escape bad weather in a Stau.

Well you can really be a risk taker without a bike and wash your car on a public street, this is illegal (the nice neighbors will call it in)

Cheers

As JE said, that is what motorcycles are for. It's immaterial whether it is legal or not, the legality of the situation is going to be an incredibly comforting thought as you wrap yourself around a car's mirror or perform an abrasion test on your ass. Riding a motorcycle while depending on the wet paperbag protection of right of way and lane regulations etc will have you walking up with an engine block on your chest.

Filter through the lanes, the time you will save and the fun that you will have will certainly balance out any fines you may accumulate. Otherwise you are sitting in the traffic, sucking down some quality exhaust fumes without even the benefit of a carbon footprint reacharound.

This is pretty much what happened when I had my collision with a motorcyclist who was overtaking a line of traffic, except that I was looking the other way, ironically because I was worried that there may be a motorcyclist coming from that direction. The guy that ran into me was, it turned out, a police motorcyclist! He was also judged to be 50% to blame, however I was the one who got the on the spot fine from the police because I took his "vorfahrt"!

It is far safer to filter through traffic to get to the front so you can blast away from all the cars at the lights and give yourself some space to move should you need to dodge some pothole/dopey pedestrian/mobile phone taking driver etc etc etc etc. Screw the law. I have had people go all agro on me for doing it in australia, but like has been said several times before, thats what bikes are for and if done sensibally there is no risk to anyone, least of all people sitting in their steel and glass cages... And if they get phisically threatening ie tailgating you then you just let them pass and kick their mirrors off at the next set of lights...most likely they dont use em anyway. Ahh, I miss bikes

Also limits the time you spend in the rain at the moment.

For all of you dare-devil bikers out there, the ones who truly appreciate the freedom of the road, the heroes who never give up, this one's for you:
Black Denim Trousers