Cyclists and roundabouts
- Thread starter King Damager
- Start date
[DOD]Asprilla;22894293 said:
I was going to point that out as well, as I think the wording above makes it quite clear that you have the option of sticking left, as opposed to riding to how a car would obey the Highway Code. Nowhere does it say "You Must".
[DOD]Asprilla;22894293 said:
Where did I say YOU MUST? I don't believe I did, I would also like to point out that depending on how you read that section of the highway code depends on how it can be taken!
As for the Push Bike Licence check out Bikeability as the Cycling Proficiency is now known, this was introduced as a stepping stone to provide a means to having all cyclists trained to a recognised standard, there has also been talk in the commons about Taxing cyclists as we use the road just as much as a car/lorry/van/bus does! (Commons debate 23rd of Feb 2012 Here and Here This is the main article I watched all three hours of regarding both Licensing and taxation of cyclists by 2020 Here)
It looked like you were disagreeing with what iamtheoneneo had already said about the Highway Code leaving it up the to the Cyclist as to how they want to negotiate the roundabout. You didn't say "Must" be you did say:
"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."
That contradicts what the Highway Code says above, as legislation says the Cyclist has the option to make whatever decision they see fit.
Nope Legislation says keep left, highway code says option to make the decision they want. The highway code is not Legislation but an interpretation of it and has been adjusted as of Dec 2007to reflect the needed changes to Legislation. The road traffic act that applies to cyclists has not been revised since 1968 if my memory serves me correctly that's all part of the reason there has been so much interest from MP's.
Soldato
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Keeping hard left is the last place you want to be on a bike going around a roundabout.
Drivers are conditioned to look for traffic approaching from the right and often only spot cars or large vehicles.
I did some work on producing some plans for a Highway Engineer showing accidents on a local roundabout. The most prevalent was cyclists getting knocked off taking one of the main exits where they were keeping to the left and cars hit their right as the exits was tightened due to a traffic island (which has since been remodelled). Second most common was cyclists hitting the sides of cars who'd pulled out in front of them, and a couple where cyclists was knocked straight off whilst passing an exit.
I take the centre of the lane and ride at a speed I can stop in the distance I can see to be clear until I've made eye contact passing an exit.
I have noticed that those who don't notice cyclists or overtake dangerously are quite often the same people who I end up stuck being doing 35mph on a rural NSL and then flash you when you overtake.
Drivers are conditioned to look for traffic approaching from the right and often only spot cars or large vehicles.
I did some work on producing some plans for a Highway Engineer showing accidents on a local roundabout. The most prevalent was cyclists getting knocked off taking one of the main exits where they were keeping to the left and cars hit their right as the exits was tightened due to a traffic island (which has since been remodelled). Second most common was cyclists hitting the sides of cars who'd pulled out in front of them, and a couple where cyclists was knocked straight off whilst passing an exit.
I take the centre of the lane and ride at a speed I can stop in the distance I can see to be clear until I've made eye contact passing an exit.
I have noticed that those who don't notice cyclists or overtake dangerously are quite often the same people who I end up stuck being doing 35mph on a rural NSL and then flash you when you overtake.
The vast majority of roundabouts I negotiate like a car, on the below roundabout I will sometimes use the underpass after a long ride in the peaks. I take the second exit and it can be quite hairy when busy as there is also a bit of incline so it's harder to accelerate away.
I agree completely. as a cyclists and driver of large slow vehicles I find it really annoying when cyclists take a blatant disregard for other road users and vice versa!
![[DOD]Asprilla](/styles/overclockers/avatars/8.png){kind=avatar}
Soldato
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Bikeability is not a stepping stone to licensing and all of the discussions about licensing and taxation if cyclists have concluded that it's not required, world have a negative impact on government accounts and is unenforceable.
Also, any chance you can reference the part of the RTA that says cyclists should keep to the left on roundabouts? I don't seem to be able to find it.
Associate
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Act as a car? I put a full face helmet on, with a crushed can on my tyre and act as a motorcycle!
Associate
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CO2 emissions = 0, VED fee = 0. Cost of collection and issuing > 0 so it would cost the govt money to do this for no gain.
Very little of the talk in the commons ever actually gets anywhere.
Associate
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There's a flyover roundabout that I have to go straight over on my commute to work. Cars fly round it at 50mph+ and often their indicators are broken. Luckily there is a path over and was changed to a joint cycle lane & path a while back. I consider myself a confident rider but I always hop on the path here as I don't feel safe.
I always take standard city roundabouts as if I were driving, so no indication and sit in the outside lane
I jest, take them like I would in a car.
Do what you need to do to stay visible & safe.
I always take standard city roundabouts as if I were driving, so no indication and sit in the outside lane
I jest, take them like I would in a car.Do what you need to do to stay visible & safe.
I think a big issue is speed. Or rather, lack of speed from cyclists. Before I get pounced on, I'm not pretending to be Lance Armstrong (I don't take drugs for a start 
) but for the love of god get a move on cyclists. If you take a busy roundabout at 5mph in rush hour, it causes a complete breakdown in the way the roundabout works with cars having to practically stop. Roundabouts are designed primarily to accommodate moving vehicles these days (unfortunately), and the whole system breaks down when a cyclist attempts to use it at such a low speed. It's a danger to everyone, let alone the cyclist.
Yes there should be a better way and more cycle paths etc, but if you have to use a roundabout you should make every effort to get a shift on. I'll purposely arrive at a roundabout in the correct gear ready to start off as quickly as possible from a standstill, and will accelerate and maintain as high a speed as possible whilst still keeping control and being able to signal. If this means planning ahead and saving energy for roundabouts and vulnerable junctions, so be it.
Car drivers are complete morons totally, but some cyclists are too. The worst are those that use spd pedals and pull away in top gear swerving everywhere at 3mph, on a multi lane roundabout, between a bus and a lorry. With headphones on. Texting as they ride.
) but for the love of god get a move on cyclists. If you take a busy roundabout at 5mph in rush hour, it causes a complete breakdown in the way the roundabout works with cars having to practically stop. Roundabouts are designed primarily to accommodate moving vehicles these days (unfortunately), and the whole system breaks down when a cyclist attempts to use it at such a low speed. It's a danger to everyone, let alone the cyclist. Yes there should be a better way and more cycle paths etc, but if you have to use a roundabout you should make every effort to get a shift on. I'll purposely arrive at a roundabout in the correct gear ready to start off as quickly as possible from a standstill, and will accelerate and maintain as high a speed as possible whilst still keeping control and being able to signal. If this means planning ahead and saving energy for roundabouts and vulnerable junctions, so be it.
Car drivers are complete morons totally, but some cyclists are too. The worst are those that use spd pedals and pull away in top gear swerving everywhere at 3mph, on a multi lane roundabout, between a bus and a lorry. With headphones on. Texting as they ride.
Associate
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Netherlands is totally awesome for cyclists. Over there, you walk around in Amsterdam and there are more cyclists than anything else. So much so that my mate caught a female cyclist in his arms/chest in one of those awkward left/right side step standoffs. We couldn't stop laughing for ages after. To be fair, it is difficult to dodge trams, mopeds, cars, pedestrians and cyclists whilst indulging in their local substances.
UK is and always will be biast towards motor vehicles. The whole infrastructure is built around roads and cars. Even our trains suck.
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This is fascinating - and it wouldnt take much to add this to a lot of roundabouts in the UK. You would have a problem where there are no current foot paths...and were there are motorway junctions...wait...or the roundabout is over a motorway...oh
Yeap...your correct there...