Cyclists and roundabouts

I only have one roundabout on my cycle to and from work and after so many bad experiences of inconsiderate drivers I've decided to dismount and go through an underpass at the side.
I've only been cycling for about 3 months but it's made me realise what a bunch of ******* some drivers are.
Today I've had a woman overtake me and she was head on with another car so had to brake hard and she starts beeping at me, a driver turning left out of a road but didn't even look left towards me who is turning down the road he's coming out of so I had to swing out of his way and (the common one) a driver who just had to get past me to do an immediate left turn.
 
Dimple said:
I only have one roundabout on my cycle to and from work and after so many bad experiences of inconsiderate drivers I've decided to dismount and go through an underpass at the side.
I've only been cycling for about 3 months but it's made me realise what a bunch of ******* some drivers are.
Today I've had a woman overtake me and she was head on with another car so had to brake hard and she starts beeping at me, a driver turning left out of a road but didn't even look left towards me who is turning down the road he's coming out of so I had to swing out of his way and (the common one) a driver who just had to get past me to do an immediate left turn.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking I might be doing... Only a five minute cycle into Uni, but five exits... So yeah, not the greatest roundabout. The road itself is manageable. There's a cycle oath for half the journey that I normally try and get on, but people seem to have made a habit out of smashing bottles over the pavement -.-

Aedus said:
You can make the time back up by just riding through red lights.
Click to expand...

Trolling is supposed to be subtle...

kd
 
Dimple said:
a driver turning left out of a road but didn't even look left towards me who is turning down the road he's coming out of so I had to swing out of his way...
Click to expand...

I am not sure I get this one.

If he is turning left out of a road and you are turning into the road he is coming out of then you will be turning right (if he had to look left to see you as you say). The only way he should be able to hit you is if you have cut the corner or he has taken the left turn very wide :confused:
 
[Damien];22885051 said:
The biggest problem with roundabouts (multilane ones mainly, small ones are usually fine) is that signalling means taking one hand off the handlebar at a time when you really don't want to.
Click to expand...

Errr, how would you use a roundabout without signalling?

No one would know what on earth you are doing. You expect everyone to not make any lane changes, entry/exits until you yourself have exited?

If you don't signal, don't use one is my opinion. Same goes for cars, although you shouldn't be driving if you can't navigate roundabouts.

McGray said:
I always act like a car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling
Click to expand...

That article says under criticisms that you need to be able to maintain a speed of 18mph. Very few cyclists unless they have downhill momentum get close to 20mph in my experience.

I wonder how many cyclists when holding up traffic, stop by the side of the road and let traffic pass before continuing. None have in my experience (except on country lanes).

This isn't exclusive to cyclists either. Cars strolling along at 20mph also annoy me.
 
Last edited:
muon said:
Errr, how would you use a roundabout without signalling?

No one would know what on earth you are doing. You expect everyone to not make any lane changes, entry/exits until you yourself have exited?
Click to expand...

I never said I didn't signal. I said having to signal wasn't ideal because of having to sacrifice full control. Personally I avoid multi lane roundabouts like the plague. I do take the full lane when I'm forced to use one though.

Disadvantaging some random car driver for less than ten seconds is far better than ending up as a smear in the road.

I do agree with people unable to maintain a minimum safe speed staying well away from roundabouts though.
 
iamtheoneneo said:
the highway code leaves this open and sets no rule.
if the cyclists is to be on the outside of the roundabout they must signal right to declare their intention of not exiting. (else face the wrath of a car in your ass)
Click to expand...

I did some city bike training last week and was told to let the cars know you aren't exiting at the next stop by sticking your arm out. This is in Belgium where the majority of drivers ONLY use the outside lane of a roundabout. :p
 
I generally decide as I approach the roundabout based on traffic/exit/desire to stay alive :p

I cross multiple roundabouts on my way to/from work but luckily they are regularly empty/low-traffic in which case I'll take the normal/car lane around it.

However there is one on the way home that's evil, 5 exits/entrances and I need to go right onto the 3rd exit, it's also up a hill so my speed isn't particularly high (~12-14mph), as I approach it there's almost always a constant stream of traffic overtaking me right up to and including the roundabout itself, with almost all of that traffic going off the same exit as me. In this situation I generally position myself to 'the right of the left-hand lane' if that makes sense, so enough space for a car on the inside of me (and the exit is ridiculously wide so no problem there) whilst riding in a way that makes it clear where I'm going (I do signal but not constantly, preferring to have both my hands on the handlebars to make it easier to maintain some reasonable speed)

I dislike roundabouts whilst cycling, well roundabouts with cars anywhere in the vicinity at least :p
 
I'm probably going to upset a group of people here but my observations are in Stoke On Trent over the last 3 months.
Everybody I have seen on a road bike wears bright gear, wears a helmet, uses lights when needed and keeps to the Highway Code.
Virtually everybody I have seen on a MTB/Hybrid doesn't bother with any of the above.
Flame on.
 
Act as a car. Extra points for making brrrrmmmm sounds and a ticking when you signal.
 
Dimple said:
I'm probably going to upset a group of people here but my observations are in Stoke On Trent over the last 3 months.
Everybody I have seen on a road bike wears bright gear, wears a helmet, uses lights when needed and keeps to the Highway Code.
Virtually everybody I have seen on a MTB/Hybrid doesn't bother with any of the above.
Flame on.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that was flame worthy.

There has certainly been a rise in the number of cyclists who use their bikes for commuting and short trips, but see it more as a fashion item. As such, there are many who wouldn't be seen dead in the likes of a helmet, lycra, fluro etc. You only have to look at the culture that has boomed of people riding fixie bikes.

I think most people who you see on proper road bikes who are off for a ride are people who know the dangers of sharing the road and importance of being seen while doing their sport. The more casual user who rides a bike they don't care much about and simply just uses it as a way to get to work, doesn't really care about much other than getting to work and that their hair isn't a mess.
 
Nexus said:
I think most people who you see on proper road bikes who are off for a ride are people who know the dangers of sharing the road and importance of being seen while doing their sport. The more casual user who rides a bike they don't care much about and simply just uses it as a way to get to work, doesn't really care about much other than getting to work and that their hair isn't a mess.
Click to expand...

From my experience I feel that is a fair reflection.
 
topgun06 said:
From my experience I feel that is a fair reflection.
Click to expand...

I bet you'll know this junction in Stoke - https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=53.002586,-2.179169&spn=0.000742,0.001309&t=h&z=20

How this bloke on an MTB didn't get hit is beyond me.
I'm the red O waiting to cross over and turn either right or go right down the canal.
While I'm waiting the MTB comes straight up to the X position causing the traffic coming from above to peep him and readjust their angles.
As soon as there was a gap he was straight through narrowly being missed by another car that was turning right from above.
I shouted at him and then realised he'd got headphones in.
Of course he had no visible clothes or helmet either and he could have come down the cycle friendly pavement I was on.

mtbdickhead.jpg
 
every single day i go round old street roundabout like so

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ol...3_LX9kHGXhOP_xI2Q&cbp=12,305.35,,0,19.16&z=16

At least 5 times in the last 3 months i've been almost flattened, and once knocked off, by drivers taking that left exit while im in the lane to carry on the round about.

They get frustrated behind me so come up to my right and then realise im not turning left like they want to so they accelerate more to try get ahead and take the turn

i even had a situation in which i hit the side door of a car cutting me off only for another car behind him to start beeping furiously and do the same thing as i went forward to get out the road.

impatient *********.
 
iamtheoneneo said:
the highway code leaves this open and sets no rule.
if the cyclists is to be on the outside of the roundabout they must signal right to declare their intention of not exiting. (else face the wrath of a car in your ass)
Click to expand...

Highway code is quite clear how a cyclist should act
Roundabouts
77

You may feel safer walking your cycle round on the pavement or verge. If you decide to ride round keeping to the left-hand lane you should

be aware that drivers may not easily see you
take extra care when cycling across exits. You may need to signal right to show you are not leaving the roundabout
watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout
Click to expand...

That said the current cycling proficiency test is being revised and the latest view is to act as a car BUT under current legislation you should keep to the left. The new rules should come in to affect 2014/5 with all cyclists having to take the new "Proficiency Test" and will have to carry a licence to ride on public roads and cycleways.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/Cyclists/index.htm
 
BigBoy said:
Highway code is quite clear how a cyclist should act


That said the current cycling proficiency test is being revised and the latest view is to act as a car BUT under current legislation you should keep to the left. The new rules should come in to affect 2014/5 with all cyclists having to take the new "Proficiency Test" and will have to carry a licence to ride on public roads and cycleways.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/Cyclists/index.htm
Click to expand...

Excuse me?

That doesn't say you should keep to the left under the current highway code. It says that you may want to keep left but if you do then you should be aware that there are additional dangers.

Also, your 2014/15 licence is pure troll.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom