Roundabouts

[rivers]

Next time I head stateside to visit my dad, I think I'll take a bike and have a crack at this newly re-designed roundabout

which looks to be an improvement on what it used to look like

 

[lazybloke]

To be fair, that's pretty much true of cars as well, yet most sensible drivers don't go around ramming people in the dark because of it.

It's not the sensible drivers I worry about!



My roundabout technique is pretty much the same as others on here : use eyes & ears to be very aware of other road users, make big clear signals, be confident, take the lane.

But two other thoughts occur:
1) I don't bother trying to make eye-contact with any driver. If that sounds dodgy it's because I want to be continuously reviewing ALL my surroundings rather than fixating on a specific driver.

and

2) I go hell for leather, because large speed differentials seem a big dodgy. Feels better to match car speeds.

Of course, feeling safe and being safe are not always the same thing.

 

[rockyroller]

I don't bother trying to make eye-contact with any driver

+1 on that. eye contact can mean different things to diff. ppl. meaning, the driver may think you see them & will yield to them! agh!

 

[HLaB]

+1 on that. eye contact can mean different things to diff. ppl. meaning, the driver may think you see then & will yield to them! agh!

I look for it, amongst other things, as it might suggest how they might react but I don't assume anything from it. As you say some people treat it one way, and pause/stop, where others treat it completely the other way, 'it's ok, they've seen me and can avoid me so I can plough on'. I forget the terminology for the two mindsets but it is impossible for a rider to tell.
You also have the people who looked and did not see, they are staring right through you

 

[Archie_tect]

I look for it, amongst other things, as it might suggest how they might react but I don't assume anything from it. As you say some people treat it one way, and pause/stop, where others treat it completely the other way, 'it's ok, they've seen me and can avoid me so I can plough on'. I forget the terminology for the two mindsets but it is impossible for a rider to tell.
You also have the people who looked and did not see, they are staring right through you

That happened to me yesterday when a white van man decided to do a U-turn in the road as I started to pass.

 

[HLaB]

That happened to me yesterday when a white van man decided to do a U-turn in the road as I started to pass.

I hope it was an ok outcome

 

[Archie_tect]

I hope it was an ok outcome

Yes, I managed to stop in time but it was close!

 

[rockyroller]

You also have the people who looked and did not see, they are staring right through you

that's my Wife in a crowd. she can be looking right at me, w/ me waving at her. doesn't see me, but then she doesn't have the best eyesight

 

[lazybloke]

that's my Wife in a crowd. she can be looking right at me, w/ me waving at her. doesn't see me, but then she doesn't have the best eyesight

Or it's deliberate

 

[rockyroller]

Or it's deliberate

always seems that way :/