Roundabouts - how to take them?

Hello all

Being an inexperienced cyclist I looked to the trusty old highway code for
guidelines on dealing with roundabouts when cycling. How silly of me. It
basically said "you can stick to the left all the way around, hoping that
nobody flattens you as you cross their exit OR you can approach it as any
other vehicle would - the choice is yours". Thus I'm looking to gauge the
general concensus on which of these is the safest method, especially as I
tried the "stick to the left" method last time I was out and was of course
very nearly flattened (didn't feel very safe at all). Cheers for any input.

'smee

In message , FM
writes

Being an inexperienced cyclist I looked to the trusty old highway code for
guidelines on dealing with roundabouts when cycling.

Thus I'm looking to gauge the
general concensus on which of these is the safest method,

I would say try to take them as you would in a car as much as possible.

As you've found out, by sticking to the left people coming on to the
roundabout tends to assume you are going to exit at the next exit and
cur across you. If you can't or don't want to get much speed up then you
may have no option but to stay to the left though.

On big roundabouts though it can be a little hairy at times, you need to
try and get up to a decent speed so as to keep you speed similar to the
cars as much as possible. Be confident, assertive and clear about your
position and intentions. Generally, I find that as long as I get in the
right position at the right time I don't really have problems with the
vehicles on the RB it's the ones coming on to the RB that pose the most
risk.

John Franklin's book Cyclecraft has lots of good advice on this sort of
things and plenty of other good stuff.

--
Chris French, Leeds

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 01:06:09 +0100 someone who may be "FM"
wrote this:-

Being an inexperienced cyclist I looked to the trusty old highway code for
guidelines on dealing with roundabouts when cycling. How silly of me.

It's written by the road "safety" lobby, in other words the motoring
lobby. As Chris recommended, get hold of a copy of "Cyclecraft".
This outlines the best road positioning in various situations and
why it is best.

The way to deal with roundabouts is to behave just like any other
road user. Stick to the middle of an appropriate lane, do not try
and get out of the way of car drivers. This does mean being
assertive, but remember that you have every right to use the roads.

If you cause any slight delays to motorists by doing so remember
that:

1) you are not required to make your life less safe to make others'
lives slightly more convenient

2) any delays caused to others while you exercise your right to use
the roads were caused by the prat who designed the roundabout

3) roundabouts are dangerous for cyclists and any organisation that
cares about cyclists would be removing them


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"FM" wrote in message
...
Hello all

Being an inexperienced cyclist I looked to the trusty old highway code for
guidelines on dealing with roundabouts when cycling. How silly of me. It
basically said "you can stick to the left all the way around, hoping that
nobody flattens you as you cross their exit OR you can approach it as any
other vehicle would - the choice is yours". Thus I'm looking to gauge the
general concensus on which of these is the safest method, especially as I
tried the "stick to the left" method last time I was out and was of course
very nearly flattened (didn't feel very safe at all). Cheers for any
input.


Take small to medium sized ones as you would in a car -- take the lane, be
visible and behave as if you own the joint.

Really big ones -- where cars can be doing nightmare speeds -- can be
difficult, but they are more likely to have glass strewn, yob infested
underpasses for the really foolhardy. Its a matter of confidence and
prudence. If in doubt -- you only get one life -- cowardice is sometimes
the best course.

T

"FM" wrote in message
...

[how to take roundabouts]

What the others said: adopt the "primary riding position" as per Cyclecraft
(for roundabouts this means approximately in line with where you would be
sitting if you were in the driving seat of a car). Ride assertively but
make sure you keep your wits about you - remember that 50% of fatal
accidents involving cyclists on roundabouts are due to drivers failing to
yield to a cyclist who is already circulating, so keep a close eye on the
front cars at each entry to the roundabout and be prepared to shout loudly
and / or bail out. Do not be tempted to hug the outer edge of the
roundabout, and above all keep your line wherever possible (especially when
there are no lane markings on the roundabout itself).

One good technique is to make eye contact with the driver of a following
vehicle who is indicating to go the same way. Make sure (s)he looks
friendly - you don't want them crawling up your back wheel - and then take
the roundabout in front of them, making use of the fact that while bikes are
invisible cars generally aren't.

Non-standard roundabout signals (i.e. pointing directly at the exit you are
going to take) also work surprisingly well.

I used to negotiate this roundabout
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...v=514500,20550
0&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.sr f every day on the way to
work, including before the M25 opened when it was one of the busiest bits of
road in the country. I had one near-fatal crash, and that was when there
was almost nobody else there apart from me and Mrs Clueless (who failed to
yield to an already-circulating cyclist, in the usual way). Mostly, riding
confidently and looking as if you know what you are doing is sufficient.

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.com
[currently out of service, will be back within 14 days, 5 days, 10 days, 2
days or one month depending on who you believe at BT]

Looks like there's another nice one in swindon
http://www.netcyclo.co.uk/places/pol...shire/swindon/
magicrdb/magicrdb.htm
--
David Brown )
http://kitemap.co.uk

"David Brown )" wrote in message
...

I expected to see the 'Magic Roundabout' at Hemel when I clicked that link

I've always found that quite straightforward - the cagers are sufficiantly
confused that they seem to take it slowly :-)

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.com

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message
...


I've always found that quite straightforward - the cagers are sufficiantly
confused that they seem to take it slowly :-)


Anyone who knows it is a such a massive advantage that you can whistle round
it.

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message ...
"FM" wrote in message
...

[how to take roundabouts]

What the others said: adopt the "primary riding position" as per Cyclecraft
(for roundabouts this means approximately in line with where you would be
sitting if you were in the driving seat of a car).

Agree with this, except-
I have a large/medium roundabout (the sort with 3 lane entries and two
lane exits at all four directions) to negotiate on my way home every
night, where I turn right.
Here I find that rather than ride where the driver would be, it is
better to stay just far enough away from the central island on my
right to prevent a car from slipping through on my right, but staying
far enough left in my lane to discourage undertaking.

To the OP.
A little turn of speed will help a lot. Except in the case of very
large roundabouts it is pretty easy to sustain a speed more or less
equal to that of the traffic using the roundabout for the short
duration of the manouver.
If you can see the traffic on the rounabout as you arrive it is
usefull to try and time your arrival and entry for optimum speed.

As others have said, watch the entry lanes and be assertive. He who
hesitates gets pulled out on. But know what you are going to do when
Mr/s Bonehead pulls out. Being in the right doesn't make it hurt less.

Bloke on a bike
(The Biker at the gates of dawn)

Thanks very much for all the helpful replies. I'll get me a copy of
cyclecraft immediately.

'smee!

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message
...
"FM" wrote in message
...

[how to take roundabouts]

What the others said: adopt the "primary riding position" as per
Cyclecraft
(for roundabouts this means approximately in line with where you would be
sitting if you were in the driving seat of a car). Ride assertively but
make sure you keep your wits about you - remember that 50% of fatal
accidents involving cyclists on roundabouts are due to drivers failing to
yield to a cyclist who is already circulating, so keep a close eye on the
front cars at each entry to the roundabout and be prepared to shout loudly
and / or bail out. Do not be tempted to hug the outer edge of the
roundabout, and above all keep your line wherever possible (especially
when
there are no lane markings on the roundabout itself).

One good technique is to make eye contact with the driver of a following
vehicle who is indicating to go the same way. Make sure (s)he looks
friendly - you don't want them crawling up your back wheel - and then take
the roundabout in front of them, making use of the fact that while bikes
are
invisible cars generally aren't.

Non-standard roundabout signals (i.e. pointing directly at the exit you
are
going to take) also work surprisingly well.

I used to negotiate this roundabout

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...v=514500,20550
0&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.sr f every day on the way to
work, including before the M25 opened when it was one of the busiest bits
of
road in the country. I had one near-fatal crash, and that was when there
was almost nobody else there apart from me and Mrs Clueless (who failed to
yield to an already-circulating cyclist, in the usual way). Mostly,
riding
confidently and looking as if you know what you are doing is sufficient.

--
Guy
===

WARNING: may contain traces of irony. Contents may settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.com
[currently out of service, will be back within 14 days, 5 days, 10 days, 2
days or one month depending on who you believe at BT]