How do you tackle big roundabouts?

[Shadow]

as most have said, 'owning' the road and with extreme vigilance.

 

[BentMikey]

Fortunately there aren't many round here. I don't think I've ever used a large, high-speed roundabout -- most of the ones round here have lots of traffic lights.

At night (and only at night, when it's quiet) I sometimes go round Hyde Park Corner, from Constitution Hill to Grosvenor Crescent, which requires going into the fourth of seven lanes. I make sure to time it so I either slightly jump the lights, or am last after all the cars have gone.

LOL, HPC isn't exactly a big or scary roundabout!!!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

You could do worse than get yourself a copy of Cyclecraft, you get diagrams of how to position yourself at a roundabout dependent on left, right or straight ahead.

 

[Origamist]

As everyone on CycleChat knows, if you ride too fast around RaB and a vehicle pulls out on you, you should have slowed down. If you ride slowly around a RaB and vehicle pulls out on you, you should be going faster. If you adopt the same line that motorised vehicles take over the RaB and a car cuts you up, you should have ridden by the book. If you ride by the book and get cut up you should have negotiated the RaB in the same manner as most motorised traffic. If you get eye contact with a driver proceed with caution, if you get eye contact with a driver brake/swerve as you can't rely on eye contact etc etc etc!

 

[tmcd35]

I think as others have said, lane position is king. It maybe a tad scary peddling for your life in the right-hand lane to turn right, but it's not nearly half as scary as poodling along trying to turn right in the left hand lane. You more likely to become a statistic trying to pass the straight ahead exit in the left hand lane than passing it in the right hand lane.

Keep your lane position, make early and meaningful signals and be sure your body langauge is letting drivers know where you intend to go ahead of time and you'll reach your exit safe every time.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

As everyone on CycleChat knows, if you ride too fast around RaB and a vehicle pulls out on you, you should have slowed down. If you ride slowly around a RaB and vehicle pulls out on you, you should be going faster. If you adopt the same line that motorised vehicles take over the RaB and a car cuts you up, you should have ridden by the book. If you ride by the book and get cut up you should have negotiated the RaB in the same manner as most motorised traffic. If you get eye contact with a driver proceed with caution, if you get eye contact with a driver brake/swerve as you can't rely on eye contact etc etc etc!

Would it be safest just taking an MTB straight over 'as the crow flies' then?

 

[DrSquirrel]

I go for it, ride as fast as I can, and position myself as if I were a car

Going as fast as possible is a key part!

+10000

I can go as fast as cars (if not, faster on RABs) in short distances so I treat it as a car, very strong primary etc. Obviously being very careful to people overtaking on either side.

 

[captainhastings]

Very interesting post I have a rab I will need to tackle one day and go right at the end of a dual carrageway. But to basically get in the fast lane to go right infront of cars,lorries braking from 50,60 mph which most leave intil the last few hundred yards is going to take some doing. I think I will just push it around the edge until I get more experienced

 

[gaz]

LOL, HPC isn't exactly a big or scary roundabout!!!

Even with heavy traffic it's fairly easy.

 

[HLaB]

I found this guide on RaBs whilst browsing the net. The BBC talking sense

Around The Edge

If you would rather stay on your bicycle, you have two options; cycling around the edge, or following the flow of traffic. Unless the roundabout is small and has few cars, cycling around the edge is likely to cause some problems for drivers who will assume that you are leaving the roundabout each time you get to an exit. On a medium to large roundabout it is much safer to go with the flow of traffic.

With The Traffic

Assuming that we are approaching a four-exit roundabout, the road usually splits in two on approach. If you wish to turn left, keep in the left lane, and if you wish to turn right, stay in the righthand lane. If you wish to go straight ahead you can technically use either lane, but the left is preferable. As you approach make sure you look out for any signs or road markings that might change this — local road use may mean that the left exit has a lane to itself, for example.

Once you reach the roundabout, the fun begins. If you are turning left, your life is easy. Using the rules you learned from the Mini-Roundabout, get onto the roundabout when there is a space in the traffic, keep to the left and gracefully continue on your journey. Remember to signal clearly.

If you are continuing straight on, once you get on to the roundabout keep to the left (not taking the first exit, of course). Remain on the edge of the roundabout and take the exit. Although you are not required to signal when you are going straight on, it can be acceptable to signal left but only when you have passed the first exit. Signal too early and you risk people assuming you will take the first exit.

Turning right will be your greatest challenge. Signalling right, aim for the middle of the roundabout. Pass the first exit. When you get to the second exit, you will need to move out to the outside (left side) of the roundabout. Switch to signalling left, and make sure you keep your eyes open, taking special interest in the cars behind you. They may not know what to expect, and may well attempt to zoom past you on the left. Keep alert. If all goes well, you should be able to easily leave the roundabout at your exit as you are in the left lane. If you are still stuck in the middle, switch back to indicating right and come around for another pass.

If you are lucky, there will be lanes marked in a spiral around the roundabout, making it both easier to follow the lane out and for drivers to know what to expect. Some drivers will still cut across these though, meaning both that they are an extra hazard to avoid, and also that they may block you from view, giving other drivers less time to see you.

If there are traffic lights on the roundabout, don't panic. Just try to make sure that you are in the correct lane (and obey the lights, obviously!)

 

[DrSquirrel]

Mostly good - I don't like the last one that says try not to overtake(on the left), as on a roundabout you shouldn't really be overtaking anyone, otherwise the point of a roundabout will fail as the people on the inside originally turning right won't be able to get to their exit because someone going straight on heading for the same exit as you will block it.

I also think it's considered as overtaking on a junction, which isn't allowed.

I wish more lanes had spirals rather than relying on you to swap a few times mid roundabout.

 

[Maz]

I have to tackle this roundabout on my commute.

The rd running north-south is a 70 dual carriageway. You have to position yourself good and early, ride confidently and make your intentions clear to those around you. Start to 'unwind out' as you reach your exit.

I also hold my palm out flat, like a 'stop' sign to oncoming traffic as I indicate left. Turn it into a thumbs-up for slowing down cars.

 

[goo_mason]

The best approach is just to close your eyes and go for it...

Seriously though, I find it's best to imagine you're in a car and cycle round it the same way you'd drive it. You need to be positive and confident - claim your lane / line and hold it, and make sure you signal clearly.

When I first started tackling the roundabout at Crewe Toll (apparently one of the most dangerous blackspots for cyclists) three years ago, I must admit to feeling pretty terrified. But after having done it a couple of times, I realised it wasn't as scary as I'd imagined and I've only once had any bother on it (when a bus pulled out in front of me, only to immediately stop and completely block off the exit I was going for. I'm glad my brakes were up to the job!).

 

[HLaB]

When I first started tackling the roundabout at Crewe Toll (apparently one of the most dangerous blackspots for cyclists) three years ago, I must admit to feeling pretty terrified. But after having done it a couple of times, I realised it wasn't as scary as I'd imagined and I've only once had any bother on it (when a bus pulled out in front of me, only to immediately stop and completely block off the exit I was going for. I'm glad my brakes were up to the job!).

+1 When I first started cycling in that area I done anything (within reason ) to avoid Crewe Toll but now 9/10 times I'd go through it and I don't think I've ever had a problem at it; if I get my lane right on approach its relatively simple to navigate. Anyway its quite often safer to cycle through it than the ned filled housing estate, plus I avoid all the speed bumps

 

[GrasB]

How to deal with large roundabouts? Take primary & don't let go unless you're endangered, make lots of observations, signal your intent as early as possible without causing confusion, act like a motor vehicle & adhere to the standing conventions for that roundabout (eg. if the typical motorist uses the offside lane on the approach as the nominal lane for going straight on do so!) & most importantly; act with confidence (this will improve your road presence & also make motorists less likely to 'bully you'.