Man Up or Play It Safe?

[thomas]

It doesn't look that bad in the picture, but if you don't like doing it then don't. Personally I'd probably go around taking a good 'no sh**' primary, ready to yell wait at anyone who even looked like they might pull out.

 

[thomas]

It doesn't look that bad in the picture, but if you don't like doing it then don't. Personally I'd probably go around taking a good 'no sh**' primary, ready to yell wait at anyone who even looked like they might pull out.

 

[thomas]

It doesn't look that bad in the picture, but if you don't like doing it then don't. Personally I'd probably go around taking a good 'no sh**' primary, ready to yell wait at anyone who even looked like they might pull out.

 

[yashicamat]

I have a bad roundabout on my homeward bound commute. It's a primary route, 70mph dual carriageway where it intersects with a massive firm with 3000 employees, so it gets very very busy at rush hour. At such times, I will walk over the puffin crossing - it just isn't worth the risk. At quieter times, I'll turn my lights onto full power before I negotiate it (thankfully I only ever have to go straight across) to try and make myself extra visible. I am extremely wary of vehicles approaching from the left on the main road though and I assume they won't stop until they actually have.

It's not worth the risk negotiating really nasty junctions like that; cyclists simply aren't that visible compared with cars when it's busy, plus the lack of speed as you're probably just setting off after having to wait to join the roundabout means it's a bit of a recipe for disaster.

 

[yashicamat]

I have a bad roundabout on my homeward bound commute. It's a primary route, 70mph dual carriageway where it intersects with a massive firm with 3000 employees, so it gets very very busy at rush hour. At such times, I will walk over the puffin crossing - it just isn't worth the risk. At quieter times, I'll turn my lights onto full power before I negotiate it (thankfully I only ever have to go straight across) to try and make myself extra visible. I am extremely wary of vehicles approaching from the left on the main road though and I assume they won't stop until they actually have.

It's not worth the risk negotiating really nasty junctions like that; cyclists simply aren't that visible compared with cars when it's busy, plus the lack of speed as you're probably just setting off after having to wait to join the roundabout means it's a bit of a recipe for disaster.

 

[potsy]

I have one I don't ride round in a particular direction the way home, as it's a shooting gallery, and I found out to my cost in December 08. I either avoid it, or ride from an alternative direction.

Portwood RAB Fossy? If it is I go through the subways there but don't enjoy it one bit.Ok going home as it's more straight-forward.

 

[potsy]

I have one I don't ride round in a particular direction the way home, as it's a shooting gallery, and I found out to my cost in December 08. I either avoid it, or ride from an alternative direction.

Portwood RAB Fossy? If it is I go through the subways there but don't enjoy it one bit.Ok going home as it's more straight-forward.

 

[marinyork]

Sadly not - if you zoom out a bit you'll see there's nothing else crossing the A38 for miles - it's like a river and this roundabout is the only bridge.

I can see why you don't like the alternatives because if you went up the Queensway access road and then over the ped bridge and back down the other side that's half a mile detour which you're only legally allowed to cycle half of. Usual shambolic planning taking no account of route asymmetry. You seem similar examples of this sort of nonsense on roundabouts in other cities.

 

[marinyork]

Sadly not - if you zoom out a bit you'll see there's nothing else crossing the A38 for miles - it's like a river and this roundabout is the only bridge.

I can see why you don't like the alternatives because if you went up the Queensway access road and then over the ped bridge and back down the other side that's half a mile detour which you're only legally allowed to cycle half of. Usual shambolic planning taking no account of route asymmetry. You seem similar examples of this sort of nonsense on roundabouts in other cities.

 

[fossyant]

With roundabouts like this you need to ride in the MIDDLE of your lane. Don't cycle around the outside across exits or to the side of your lane. Get in everyones way and make them wait.

Doesn't always work, it's sometimes the approaching roads and where they come from...... the one I ride on has 5 roads off it, but one of the roads is a dual carriageway, should be 30 MPH, but folk fly down it having come off the motorway at a previous junction..... Cycling round the roundabout in primary, it's the only approach road you are vulnerable from....took 18 months before someone got me....

 

[fossyant]

With roundabouts like this you need to ride in the MIDDLE of your lane. Don't cycle around the outside across exits or to the side of your lane. Get in everyones way and make them wait.

Doesn't always work, it's sometimes the approaching roads and where they come from...... the one I ride on has 5 roads off it, but one of the roads is a dual carriageway, should be 30 MPH, but folk fly down it having come off the motorway at a previous junction..... Cycling round the roundabout in primary, it's the only approach road you are vulnerable from....took 18 months before someone got me....

 

[fossyant]

Portwood RAB Fossy? If it is I go through the subways there but don't enjoy it one bit.Ok going home as it's more straight-forward.

Portwood is fine, it's the one at the back of Stockport near The George, under the viaduct.... travelling from Cheadle, you ride 3/4 round it to head down the back of the shopping centre, towards Sainsburys. The problem road is the one that goes from the M60/B&Q/Decathlon down to the RB..... I avoid going past that junction now, either come down that road to the RB, or go via Edgeley.

 

[fossyant]

Portwood RAB Fossy? If it is I go through the subways there but don't enjoy it one bit.Ok going home as it's more straight-forward.

Portwood is fine, it's the one at the back of Stockport near The George, under the viaduct.... travelling from Cheadle, you ride 3/4 round it to head down the back of the shopping centre, towards Sainsburys. The problem road is the one that goes from the M60/B&Q/Decathlon down to the RB..... I avoid going past that junction now, either come down that road to the RB, or go via Edgeley.

 

[potsy]

Portwood is fine, it's the one at the back of Stockport near The George, under the viaduct.... travelling from Cheadle, you ride 3/4 round it to head down the back of the shopping centre, towards Sainsburys. The problem road is the one that goes from the M60/B&Q/Decathlon down to the RB..... I avoid going past that junction now, either come down that road to the RB, or go via Edgeley.

Yeah I used it when I started at 6am but not now I'm part of the rush hour commute,I go round the back of the bus station then past the taxi rank and through the town centre brings me out at Sainsburys,bit of a faff with the peds but usually ok.
Do you ever cycle round portwood RAB or do you use subway? Going homewards for you I mean.

 

[potsy]

Portwood is fine, it's the one at the back of Stockport near The George, under the viaduct.... travelling from Cheadle, you ride 3/4 round it to head down the back of the shopping centre, towards Sainsburys. The problem road is the one that goes from the M60/B&Q/Decathlon down to the RB..... I avoid going past that junction now, either come down that road to the RB, or go via Edgeley.

Yeah I used it when I started at 6am but not now I'm part of the rush hour commute,I go round the back of the bus station then past the taxi rank and through the town centre brings me out at Sainsburys,bit of a faff with the peds but usually ok.
Do you ever cycle round portwood RAB or do you use subway? Going homewards for you I mean.