your go to action at a Roundabout

[Stretch]

Up here in the land of the little green men we have a lot of roundabouts...in fact there are almost more roundabouts than pubs...almost. But I digress. In SA encountering a cyclist on a roundabout is not a common occurrence and generally they are wide and big - so everyone is clearly visible.

 

Whilst driving through a town on Sunday I encountered a group of cyclists (about 10) along a section that included about 6 roundabouts in a row with a small section of road between them. What happened is the group fractured up so you had some ahead of you, some behind you etc. at one roundabout there were two cyclists in front of me and they spread out to occupy the entire road so that no cars could pass them when they entered. Good practice i thought. I was busy explaining to my daughter why they did this etc etc while I followed them..next minute in my blind spot i noticed one sneaker bugger passing me on my left hand side. I almost shat myself and If i had not being paying attention I might have drifted wide and hit him.

 

so my question...was he in the wrong? should I have been more observant? what is your go to practice..do you keep well left and observe the car ready to react, or do you own the road and force the car to wait whist you enter and exit the roundabout, and then allow them to pass you afterwards

[bikebloke]

hold the road until they hit and you wake up in hospital - thats here...but

 

in the uk or ireland they can do what they like because if you hit them in a car - you are skrewed  (and probably on cctv so they will find you )

 

when i drive in the uk i try stay away from the cyclists - not because i cycle and i care but because uk cyclist just do stuff you dont expect and you have to be ready for it

[Capricorn]

Up here in the land of the little green men we have a lot of roundabouts...in fact there are almost more roundabouts than pubs...almost. But I digress. In SA encountering a cyclist on a roundabout is not a common occurrence and generally they are wide and big - so everyone is clearly visible.

 

Whilst driving through a town on Sunday I encountered a group of cyclists (about 10) along a section that included about 6 roundabouts in a row with a small section of road between them. What happened is the group fractured up so you had some ahead of you, some behind you etc. at one roundabout there were two cyclists in front of me and they spread out to occupy the entire road so that no cars could pass them when they entered. Good practice i thought. I was busy explaining to my daughter why they did this etc etc while I followed them..next minute in my blind spot i noticed one sneaker bugger passing me on my left hand side. I almost shat myself and If i had not being paying attention I might have drifted wide and hit him.

 

so my question...was he in the wrong? should I have been more observant? what is your go to practice..do you keep well left and observe the car ready to react, or do you own the road and force the car to wait whist you enter and exit the roundabout, and then allow them to pass you afterwards

 

for small round abouts, i hit the middle of the road. own it. But i use hand signs so everyone knows where i'm going.  For the bigger ones with two or more lanes, I'll own the lane I plan to be in. Again, hand signs help a lot.

Many road cyclists don't even bother with hand signs anymore. I guess motorist have become as telepathic as roadies have become born-again good road users.

[jdwet1980]

I was hit pretty bad in a roundabout. I was on the left shoulder and the driver never saw me, not even his assumption from where I came from was correct.

 

I now occupy the whole lane. I would also speed up or slow down before the roundabout to enter it with least paticipants and be well placed so no ambiguity.

 

Unfortunately there are motorist that think cyclist should stop at every exit and give right of way to motorists.

[porqui]

Simple rule really in that you may not pass on the left so strictly speaking he would have been in the wrong. I know as cyclists we do pass cars on the left but it's not such a good idea as it is more of a blind side for the motorist.

 

I own the lane no matter what size the circle but will clearly indicate my intent - been squeezed too many time at circles.

[bertusras]

for small round abouts, i hit the middle of the road. own it. But i use hand signs so everyone knows where i'm going.  For the bigger ones with two or more lanes, I'll own the lane I plan to be in. Again, hand signs help a lot.

Many road cyclists don't even bother with hand signs anymore. I guess motorist have become as telepathic as roadies have become born-again good road users.

 

This. Signal what you intend to do, and then own the road. And then get out of the circle, go left, and say thanks.

[Stretch]

Interesting discussion... Hand signals is a must i'd say.I noticed a couple of cyclists at our big roundabout on the motorway the other day own the own their lane and then use hand signals to indicate which exit they were taking

[SwissVan]

for small round abouts, i hit the middle of the road. own it. But i use hand signs so everyone knows where i'm going. For the bigger ones with two or more lanes, I'll own the lane I plan to be in. Again, hand signs help a lot.

Many road cyclists don't even bother with hand signs anymore. I guess motorist have become as telepathic as roadies have become born-again good road users.

Agree 100%

In Switz you have to indicate when you leave a traffic circle.

 

@Stretch, as for being passed on the left.... I would say the cyclist was wrong and stupid (he should not overtake whilst in a circle) unless the circle had more than 1 lane.

[gummibear]

Interesting discussion... Hand signals is a must i'd say.I noticed a couple of cyclists at our big roundabout on the motorway the other day own the own their lane and then use hand signals to indicate which exit they were taking

I do the same on the round about and traffic circles here.I stay on the outside lane and indicate when i want to leave.

 

I do however try to avoid riding in them as much as possible though.You are in the blindspot of most trucks and they do their own thing.

[Eldron]

I do the same on the round about and traffic circles here.I stay on the outside lane and indicate when i want to leave.

 

I do however try to avoid riding in them as much as possible though.You are in the blindspot of most trucks and they do their own thing.

 

Same here - traffic circles are high risk to bicycles and motorbikes - especially if you're going 3/4 of the way around!

 

It is all about the communication and eye contact Make sure the car has seen you before making your move.

[Bateleur1]

Own the lane, use hand signals and no passing of traffic in any roundabout or even intersections.

[Stretch]

 

 

Agree 100%

 

@Stretch, as for being passed on the left.... I would say the cyclist was wrong and stupid (he should not overtake whilst in a circle) unless the circle had more than 1 lane.

"Unless the circle had more than one lane"... It did.... But I was on the left lane as I was going straight through it.. So he essentially came along side me in my own lane

[Escapee..]

Same here - traffic circles are high risk to bicycles and motorbikes - especially if you're going 3/4 of the way around!

 

It is all about the communication and eye contact Make sure the car has seen you before making your move.

 

THIS  

[Bateleur1]

Same here - traffic circles are high risk to bicycles and motorbikes - especially if you're going 3/4 of the way around!

 

It is all about the communication and eye contact Make sure the car has seen you before making your move.

 

This is the one thing I still make the mistake here in Germany.  I always make eye contact but I still tend to look at the wrong side of the car to make eye contact with the "driver". 

[Eldron]

This is the one thing I still make the mistake here in Germany.  I always make eye contact but I still tend to look at the wrong side of the car to make eye contact with the "driver". 

 

Same here! Then it scares the bejeebers out of me when the "driver" maintains eye contact for a few seconds instead of watching the road   

[droo]

Agree 100%

In Switz you have to indicate when you leave a traffic circle.

 

@Stretch, as for being passed on the left.... I would say the cyclist was wrong and stupid (he should not overtake whilst in a circle) unless the circle had more than 1 lane.

 

You're meant to indicate right when going round and left when exiting.

 

But 90% of SA drivers either don't know or don't care.