Good observation summerdays - we have to think for other road users as well as ourselves.
Roundabouts Hazard !
- Thread starter airbrake
- Start date
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Good observation summerdays - we have to think for other road users as well as ourselves.
compo you aren't a coward, you have a well-developed sense of self-preservation !
I too get very uneasy if I can't get up to speed - especially on the bigger roundabouts. Most of the time I can circulate at the same speed as cars and therefore I assume a central position in that particular lane. If I can't get up to speed, I find that vehicles become impatient to pass and I move closer to the kerb. The only problem then is the vehicle will often squeeze past which is scary.
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
It isn't just around cyclists and other vulnerable road users either. When I was a bus driver, I always said we had to think for car drivers to protect them from their own stupidity.
I remember one occasion when a man in a Land Rover nearly came flying out of a side road on the left just as I was coming up to it in a bus. I could see that if we both kept going as we were, the front corner of the bus would go into his driver's door, and his chances of survival would be pretty slim. I was just starting to yank the wheel round and getting ready to brake and try to skid the back end in, so I could hit him side on - there was no way I could have avoided him - when he looked round and slammed his brakes on. I straightened the bus up and passed the front of his car so close that I couldn't even see a gap in the mirror. I'd like to hope it shook him up, and made him look properly in future, but I very much doubt it.
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
Where I used to work was just off the A30 at Penzance, and the first thing I had to do when I came out of work was cross it at a major roundabout, where I usually had to stop because it was so busy. It was OK on my way to work because I had good visibility and could wait until it was clear, but on the way home the visibility was bad, so I couldn't see far up the road to the right, and although it was a 50mph speed limit on the A30, it had only just dropped from 70mph, so cars were still doing about 70mph when they reached the roundabout.
The best outcome for me was that there was a bus going my way at the same time, so I could cross the roundabout on its near side, by the front passenger door (only advisable if the bus drivers are your mates, and looking out for you), but there were a lot of occasions when I had to take the first exit down the A30, stop and cross at the pedestrian lights further down, and then ride back up to the roundabout to take my exit.
One thing that I find helps on roundabouts here, if I've had to stop, is to stay in a high gear and get out of the saddle when I move off again. Drivers seem to get the message that I "mean business" when I do that, and don't try to barge past.
Crosstrailer
Well-Known Member
Just back from a ride and had one on the out leg about 2 miles away from my house. Small mini roundabout, semi rural, 3 roads approaching it. I was in a line of traffic (not filtering), when I got to the front and pulled out to take exit 2 (effective right turn) a silly old sausage in a new Astra to my left who had sat and waited while all the cars in front of me had pulled out suddenly lurched forward onto the roundabout. Thankfully I had my wits about me and steered to the right while giving him a loud blast of anglo-saxon, he then lurched forward again and missed me by about 6 inches. The road then climbs a very steep short hill which I took off up at a speed never before achieved but the lights changed and he was off before I could catch him.......
At all junctions and roundabouts I try to make eye contact with drivers who are giving way to me (or should be), the worst part is he was looking straight at me !. I am not hard to miss - 6'4 clydesdale rider on a bright red bike and wearing bright red clothing !!!!!
I really did think I am about to enter the helmet debate with some field test experience LOL
At all junctions and roundabouts I try to make eye contact with drivers who are giving way to me (or should be), the worst part is he was looking straight at me !. I am not hard to miss - 6'4 clydesdale rider on a bright red bike and wearing bright red clothing !!!!!
I really did think I am about to enter the helmet debate with some field test experience LOL
Thanks Big boy.
I've given this a lot of thought, and it's partly the mileage that I have done since '96. I've now done around 200,000 miles. Risk increases in proportion to time spent on the roads. I don't have a car - I travel everywhere by bike, and I predominantly ride in urban areas where (particularly over the last few years) there has been additional roundabouts and junctions built to service new build estates.
Prior to this incident, I have been knocked off the bike once at low speed (driver went through a red light talking on his mobile). This happened at around 90,000 miles. But... the number of near misses I would guess must be around a 100 or so. I have skidded, swerved, jumped onto pavements, and all the usual escape tactics. Sometimes, drivers just don't realise that a cycle can actually shift pretty quick, and they have totally misjudged the situation. The ice crash was my own fault of course...
However, what else can I do ?? I love cycling. There is an element of risk to many rewarding things in life, all we can do is try to learn from our experiences and those of others.
The driver running the red light obviously could have caused serious injuries - I was very very lucky with just ripped clothing and a wheel needing truing. So...is 2 bad outcomes in 200,000 miles a good accident / mileage ratio ? Compared to miles traveled by car I suppose it isn't, but I don't want to drive a car
Btw, I ride in South Yorkshire / Derbyshire
I also like the 'shield' tactic - very useful in cities. Yes, I have noticed that if you are out of the saddle and pushing hard, drivers can be more considerate - like they understand that you are doing your best to get moving. I do show appreciation for drivers who are considerate in waiting for a good opportunity to overtake by raising my hand briefly. Sometimes it even gets a return wave from the driver !
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
Same here.
I think I do have an advantage because most Spanish drivers, although they like to drive fast, aren't actually in a hurry - the Spanish are never in a hurry! - so they don't mind waiting behind a cyclist for a while. The main problem here seems to be British ex-pats, who see you, and immediately all they can think is, "Must get past the cyclist, must get past the cyclist," even if they're not in a hurry either.
The outcome of this is that, when I give Spanish drivers a wave to thank them for waiting, I think they wonder why I'm waving (and probably wonder if they know me), but I still do it. If it makes one driver think, "Cyclists must really appreciate it when I give them plenty of room - I'll do that in future," it's worth all the strange looks I get!
Crosstrailer, glad you avoided him - know the feeling as the adrenaline hits you and for a few minutes you are Superman.. ! Seriously - we have to be on high alert at these places.
I have no issue with roundabouts except for the fact that I keep going in the wrong lane and then I have to go round again. Just stay on the middle of the lane, it's not like cars are going any faster than maybe 20mph on them anyway. Though then again, maybe road bikes can't safely take a roundabout at those speeds,in which case fair play
- Location
- Glasgow
GWS Airbrake: your story made me glad I don't have any roundabouts on my routes.
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
It takes a very small roundabout to force a car driver down to 20mph, and road bikes can take corners considerably faster than most cars.
