Roundabout knowledge

[BentMikey]

I'm a little confused, and would like to test my understanding here. What lane(s) can you use to take the first exit at this roundabout, and to go straight on?

Lewisham A21/A20 junction

 

[marinyork]

I'm a little confused, and would like to test my understanding here. What lane(s) can you use to take the first exit at this roundabout, and to go straight on?

Lewisham A21/A20 junction

They do look to have messed that up a bit from the optical pictures. From the shape of the roundabout it seems as if they want you to go left in the first lane, but straight on in the middle lane and they haven't apparently told you this with signs or arrows so someone could really be forgiven for thinking otherwise. The streetview pictures make it look a bit like you should treat it normally though!

 

[tongskie01]

use left lane for the 1st and second exit, middle lane for straight on to the second exit outer lane. inner lane right turn only.

 

[funnymummy]

use left lane for the 1st and second exit, middle lane for straight on to the second exit outer lane. inner lane right turn only.

There are no lane markings round the RAB directing you which lane to be in so I'd agree with tongskie based on the picture provided.
But if you look at an ariel view of the rab (follow the curve of the white lines) it looks like the left lane could be a just left turn lane

 

[Matthames]

Lane 1 would be to go left and lane 2 to go straight on. However, theoretically lane 2 could be used to go left also due to the exit being 2 lanes, but I would strongly advise against doing so as there is a very high chance that somebody in lane 1 could be going straight on. Cycling across it I would probably sit in the offside of lane 1, this is because if I was to go into lane 2 it is more than likely that if I was unlucky enough to have an impatient driver behind me they would be tempted to undertake me to go straight on and leave me stranded.

 

[Origamist]

On that RaB, vehicles using the first exit tend to use the left and to a lesser extent the centre lane, vehicles going straight on tend to use all three lanes (!), but most use the centre lane on the approach (my preferred choice, but I'll also use left lane depending on the conditions). The straight on option is Lewisham Rd which is also a two lane exit, narrowing into a single lane, IIRC.

As others have said, it can be a bit of a free for all as there are no markings/signs indicating which lane to use.

 

[GrasB]

Without local knowledge:
nearside lane to go left & possibly straight on
middle lane to go straight on & possibly right (if you're unsure entering the roundabout) - I'd not use it to turn left unless there was a slow moving vehicle on the left & indicating as such
off-side lane to go right

but like every roundabout local habits may dictate different lane use.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

To me,

Lane 1 is turn left only.

Lane 2 is turn left and straight on.

Lane 3 is straight on and turn right.

 

[SquareDaff]

I'd use Lane 1 everytime - park myself middle ish to avoid left turners.
But looking at the pictures I'd assume you could also use the 2nd lane as it's a 2 lane exit on Turn 1 (i.e. the non bus station exit)

 

[gaz]

left lane would be left only for me.
The middle and right lane both for straight on as it is a 2 lane exit.

BUT as a cyclist you could go all the way round the roundabout in the left lane. Just indicate clearly and buckle up!

 

[HLaB]

Without local knowledge, Id use either the left lane or middle lane depending on traffic conditions/ flows. If there's a heavy left turn flow/ high chance of a left hook I'd rule out the left lane.

 

[Flyingfox]

I negotiate that roundabout everytime I cycle to work and weekends - it's a nightmare - not due to the lanes but just the volume of traffic, people pulling out in front of you when they should be giving way, and 8 times out of 10 it's just jammed with traffic going nowhere.

So to answer your question about which lane, for me it depends totally on the traffic situation. On freeflowing traffic days I usually take the middle lane, as in the morning the inside lane is full of buses going straight on and the last thing you need is to be hedged in by those. I then take the outside lane of the road on the other side as I have to take a right turn a little way on down towards Deptford. Somedays that all goes out the window as the roundabout is gridlocked, then I weave in and out (very carefully) to get to the otherside.

 

[Origamist]

[QUOTE 1429606"]
Which lane isn't really the issue. What's important is that you're signalling properly, so everyone is clear where you're going.
[/quote]

On that RaB, I'm more interested in trying to second guess where everyone else is going due to poor lane discipline and unhelpful signage/markings...

As I said earlier, it's a free for all: side swipes, cars pulling out, changing lanes, not indicating etc. It's simply not cyclist friendly (big multi-lane RaBs/gyratories are rarely good places for cyclists) and there's only so much that raising your arm in the air is going to do, to facilitate safe passage.

It's better when it's clogged up in my experience.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Ah, Lewisham's rotary carpark! I haven't gone round that for at least 8 hours. It varies according to traffic volumes and whether it's morning or evening rush hour, but I think I tend most often to claim the whole of the left-hand lane (it's not marked as left turn only) and trace an imaginary outside lane around the RAB and, where traffic going straight on into Lewisham Road backs up as it goes into one lane, filter past on the left because there's always someone turning right into Eliot Hill.

 

[Watt-O]

Stay in the middle/outer of the middle lane for left turn and for straight on. Alternatively, use any gap in the rush hour, as the traffic is usually backed up to the pedestrian lights in Loampit Vale.

BTW Saw a van turning left from the middle lane drive crush an Audi's (left lane) front wing last week - I helpfully pointed out to the van driver emerging from his cab, that he wasn't using his indicators.