Tackling roundabouts
Discussion
Hi guys,
I am a total cycle novice (on roads at least) but have been driving for 14 years.
Do you guys take extra measures on roundabouts? Obviously lane positioning is key so that cars don't think your going left and you end up cutting across them, but how to do you prevent holding them up (or should they just wait)?
If you were exiting on the first exit of a small roundabout (where its more of a turning rather than actually going round) would you just follow the road round providing there was space to do so? Or would you still give way?
Also is it normal for white vans to just carry as if your not there even though it's your right of way?
I am a total cycle novice (on roads at least) but have been driving for 14 years.
Do you guys take extra measures on roundabouts? Obviously lane positioning is key so that cars don't think your going left and you end up cutting across them, but how to do you prevent holding them up (or should they just wait)?
If you were exiting on the first exit of a small roundabout (where its more of a turning rather than actually going round) would you just follow the road round providing there was space to do so? Or would you still give way?
Also is it normal for white vans to just carry as if your not there even though it's your right of way?
Hold your lane confidently - the full lane is yours, use it.
Sit up - off the hoods, up as tall as you can. Keep looking over your right hand shoulder and be aware of cars coming round on your inside. Make eye contact with drivers waiting to pull out, look for cars edging across the line.
The most dangerous is cars arriving at the roundabout, looking right, and completely missing you, thus driving straight onto the RAB - look out for this.
On very large and/or fast moving RABs, or those with 2+ lanes, I'd suggest joining the pavement and making it into a series of road crossings is much safer.
Sit up - off the hoods, up as tall as you can. Keep looking over your right hand shoulder and be aware of cars coming round on your inside. Make eye contact with drivers waiting to pull out, look for cars edging across the line.
The most dangerous is cars arriving at the roundabout, looking right, and completely missing you, thus driving straight onto the RAB - look out for this.
On very large and/or fast moving RABs, or those with 2+ lanes, I'd suggest joining the pavement and making it into a series of road crossings is much safer.
snotrag said:
The most dangerous is cars arriving at the roundabout, looking right, and completely missing you, thus driving straight onto the RAB - look out for this.
In MK we have fast NSL roads with roundabouts every 1 km or so. This happens all the time, its f
king frightening. As the other poster mentioned above. I don't go until I have had eye contact from all those who could hit me.joema said:
Treat it as if you were in a car with regards to lane positioning. don't give way except where you a supposed to and don't worry about holding people up as you need to look after yourself. Be confident in your manoeuvers and position.
This, sit up high so you're as big and visible as possible, confident hand signals and look everyone in the eye. Lots of rear observation/naughty stares helps too.highway code suggests keeping left even if you are turning right but in practice that leaves you open to people who are straight lining the roundabout and not looking, as others have said, its your lane use it and if you are turning right, think like you're in the car. Eye contact with cars behind and to the right of you is always good practice, in general, just show you are aware and confident.
pablo said:
highway code suggests keeping left even if you are turning right but in practice that leaves you open to people who are straight lining the roundabout and not looking, as others have said, its your lane use it and if you are turning right, think like you're in the car. Eye contact with cars behind and to the right of you is always good practice, in general, just show you are aware and confident.
There's one near me with a painted bike lanes that try to enforce keeping left but in the real world it just makes you far more vulnerable. You see so many near misses on there it is unreal but still the council keep it 
https://goo.gl/maps/eGYCKm2xbRR2
As others have said, be assertive, act like a car, look lots, signal clearly and assertively, and be ready for tts who will go round you rather than wait, or try and bully you (then post on PH saying cyclists have no place on the road 
) . Just know you have every right to be there and you will be fine. Most people will be fine, a few might try and bully you on large roundabouts, but it only gets risky when you act unpredictably through fear.
ts who will go round you rather than wait, or try and bully you (then post on PH saying cyclists have no place on the road ) . Just know you have every right to be there and you will be fine. Most people will be fine, a few might try and bully you on large roundabouts, but it only gets risky when you act unpredictably through fear.Daston said:
Also is it normal for white vans to just carry as if your not there even though it's your right of way?
Yes, it is. It is also normal to look them squarely in the eye whenever you get the chance, before they make the move, and to stop alongside them at the next lights and appraise them politely but firmly of how poor their driving is. You'll be surprised at how many of them turn out to be far less brave when there's someone actually prepared to take them to task.ewenm said:
okgo said:
Just as if you were in a car.
My particular favourite is the one at the bottom of Park Lane, its like death race, but its kind of a buzz to fly through there each eve in rush hour.
I used to "enjoy" the Elephant and Castle twin roundabouts daily. Yee-hah!My particular favourite is the one at the bottom of Park Lane, its like death race, but its kind of a buzz to fly through there each eve in rush hour.
snotrag said:
Hold your lane confidently - the full lane is yours, use it.
Sit up - off the hoods, up as tall as you can. Keep looking over your right hand shoulder and be aware of cars coming round on your inside. Make eye contact with drivers waiting to pull out, look for cars edging across the line.
The most dangerous is cars arriving at the roundabout, looking right, and completely missing you, thus driving straight onto the RAB - look out for this.
On very large and/or fast moving RABs, or those with 2+ lanes, I'd suggest joining the pavement and making it into a series of road crossings is much safer.
The cars that ought to be giving way to you are the real danger. I got caught by one a while back and spent most of my afternoon face down on the tarmac being visited by nice chaps dressed in red who arrived by helicopter. The (Mercedes Sprinter LWB) van that hit me came from the first exit and I was heading straight over to the second. I arrived at 14mph, then did a 14mph 'superman' 90° to my right and broke my shoulder blade. (For anyone on Strava, this is it... https://www.strava.com/activities/112138619 ...zoom in on the end of the ride to see just how far the bike was thrown). Sit up - off the hoods, up as tall as you can. Keep looking over your right hand shoulder and be aware of cars coming round on your inside. Make eye contact with drivers waiting to pull out, look for cars edging across the line.
The most dangerous is cars arriving at the roundabout, looking right, and completely missing you, thus driving straight onto the RAB - look out for this.
On very large and/or fast moving RABs, or those with 2+ lanes, I'd suggest joining the pavement and making it into a series of road crossings is much safer.
As for 'stuff' from behind you trying to go round you? Not a great deal you can do about the idiots, but at least if they're trying to go around you, then they've seen you.
Do everything as you would in a car. Take control (not always the centre) of whichever lane you intend to enter by, move 'out' toward your exit as and when you would if you were driving, signal if it's safe to do so, but your road position should be sufficient to communicate intent if you need both hands on the bars/brakes. But whatever you do, if something comes steaming in toward the roundabout from your left and it even looks like it might not stop, be prepared to yield to it.
If you can carry speed into the roundabout, like when it has good lines of sight and it's clear ahead, then you ought not worry about holding cars, etc, up. Cars, more often than not, will be holding you up, especially if you're 'turning right' behind one. Oodles of them today that would have been better off with sundials instead of speedometers. They just can't carry speed like two wheels can.
If you feel it's safer, use the pavement as suggested, but whatever you do, do NOT follow painted cycle lanes around the outside of the carriageway on a roundabout (ie: across exits). It's suicide on the outside...
When I come to roundabouts I treat myself like a car.
If turning left or straight on, use the lhs of the left lane.
If going right I sit in the middle of the right lane to make sure cars don't try to sneak up the outside of me.
Eye contact, standing up to make yourself bigger and clear hand signals seem to work well.
If turning left or straight on, use the lhs of the left lane.
If going right I sit in the middle of the right lane to make sure cars don't try to sneak up the outside of me.
Eye contact, standing up to make yourself bigger and clear hand signals seem to work well.
Thanks guys, this has really helped I have a series of roundabouts on the way home and last night went without issue.
Still a little weary of people who are giving way but creep especially if I am doing a standing start, I have found eye contact and a polite nod when passing them helps
Day 2 of the commute and my thighs are feeling it lol.
Still a little weary of people who are giving way but creep especially if I am doing a standing start, I have found eye contact and a polite nod when passing them helps
Day 2 of the commute and my thighs are feeling it lol.
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