What to do with this roundabout

[campbellab]

The green route definitely not great, as it exposes you to left hooks as well as poor sight to traffic approaching the roundabout. The blue line should put you in position where other cars who are going round to Croyden road are also. This is where I'd expect cars to be looking for other cars, whereas they generally not focussed on vehicles in the left lane as you'd expect those vehicles to exit although I'd perhaps move across to the left a bit more at the junction. Hard to tell exact road position from drawing.

Arm signal left too early? More lights required?

 

[Peteaud]

I know this roundabout well.
The thing is taking the blue line, motorists are not expecting you to turn into Cedars Avenue as it's a one way street approaching the roundabout with a cycle contraflow which they can't see. Using your Blue line approach motorists would be expecting you continue back round to Croydon Road.

How I would approach it is stick to the left hand lane in primary. (rather then using the cycle lane/secondary) Moving onto the roundabout when it's clear of traffic from the right. On the way round make clear eyeball with any approaching motorist from the left. Indicating clearly a left turn onto the pavement and if needed point to anyone who is encroaching from the left hand lane.

go with experience, as above.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I don't know the area at all so don't know if it is possible but from Google maps I would look at going up the A239, turning right onto King George VI Ave and then approaching the roundabout from the A236 so you are only doing a left turn on it.

 

[HLaB]

Preferably approach and navigate the rbt like a car would, like Ian says position yourself centrally and above all don't use the farcility (orbital cycle lane); I think this is just another example of why they are a terrible idea.

 

[MrJamie]

The cycle lane looks terrible, gives completely the wrong idea to drivers that you're turning off so theyll be fine to take the exit you're just about to cross etc and even taking the lane properly you're then turning off at an exit that to drivers doesn't exist to go against the flow of traffic on the cycle lane you havent been using on the roundabout. I'd be looking for alternatives personally, probably taking the first turn down to the next junction if thats not hugely out of the way, or do the pedestrian thing and use the path.

 

[benborp]

For people that don't know the area - it possesses a spectacularly high proportion of utter knobbers. I avoid Mitcham whenever possible on the bike.

 

[aces_up1504]

Personally inexperienced as i am as cyclist but an experienced car driver. The main root of the problem is that cedars avenue is one way. A person driving a car will probably be unaware that it has a cycle path to allow bikes to travel what is essentially the wrong way up a one way street and a car not expect a bike to cross from the road to a pavement at that junction as the cycle path does not start for at least a couple of metres on Cedar avenue.

Also at 6am it is very dark, so hand singles might not be easiest thing to see for a driver.


I think a dismout and walk would be safest option, what will add to your journey a minute at most? Far better than risking your life every time you tackle the roundabout.

 

[BentMikey]

I know this roundabout too, it's challenging. Blekione, it sounds like you've been doing quite a decent job so far. I like your later path around the roundabout much better than the one sticking to the cycle lane. All I can suggest is perhaps to go a bit more slowly and be more careful negotiating across the stream of traffic entering from Commonside Way.

What about a powerful headtorch? With that you can get a little more attention from drivers entering from that road, and encourage them to stop? I'd have that headtorch on even during the day.

 

[blekione]

Thx all for replies and suggestions.

When you say that this roundabout is terrible I have to agree, what shows my accidents. I can describe myself as quite experienced driver. Maybe less as cyclist, but I use roads as car driver for more than 10 years and most important I think when I'm driving. Not only about myself, but about other users too. I see everyday how badly some people driving cars, that I wonder how they pass they driving licence test. And this is the biggest problem I think. If they don't respect other road users they rights, then effects are like that. And even best road design doesn't help there.

After reading all that posts, I think I decide just to stop and use pavement on this roundabout. Is not worth to risk my life because of "utter knobbers" as "beautifull" describe it benborp.

Again thx for all advices and support. Now have to go and change wheel rim on new one and tomorrow back to work

 

[byegad]

Looking at the diagram it is a useless roundabout from a cyclist safety point of view. I'd consider walking it if another route is not possible. No matter what you do right, you are effectively turning into a road which Joe Motorist will regard as impossible for you to turn into. After all, he can't use that exit, so why will he consider the possibility that you will?

We have a similar poorly laid out and lane marked accident black-spot roundabout at one end of the village, I try very hard to plan my routes so I don't go around the dangerous section* at all.I even use the cycle path to avoid it and I hate using them on a recumbent as the eye lines for safe crossing of the roads is a swine when you are laid back!

* I, or my wife, see a car accident a week on average here and we don't use it every day!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

As I asked before what did the drivers also involved in the accidents state? Did they just claim not to see you or was was it that they didn't expect you to do what you did next. I'm not trying to apportion any blame, but that may give a clue as to what drivers were thinking

Alan...

 

[blekione]

As I asked before what did the drivers also involved in the accidents state? Did they just claim not to see you or was was it that they didn't expect you to do what you did next. I'm not trying to apportion any blame, but that may give a clue as to what drivers were thinking

Alan...

When I drive on bike path every time they argue with me that it was my fault and I hit them. I had to explain them that I was on bike path and then they say sorry. But with one guy he argue so strong with me that I even called to police. But what police said? If nothing serious happened to me they can do much with that and I can contact with solicitor if I want.

I feel hopeless in this matter. I sent email to council if they can investigate this roundabout and will see what they'll tell. As I told in last reply. Best solution is to use pavement for me. Maybe not best but the most safe.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Strictly, you are in the right to use the cycle lane so long as you wobble round with your right arm stuck out.

Not much use having "he was in the right" as your epitaph though......

I can see why they put the bike lane there, because your exit, from a car driver point of view, isn't an exit.

Problem compounded by the lane being to wide to command on a bike, room to force past on either side if central - I'd look at mentally imagining white lines dividing the roundabout into 2 lanes (ignore the cycle lane) and then command that "nearside lane" by taking a position centrally to that. Also signal right whilst approaching the first exit. Make sure nothing can force by your nearside.

Of course this is just speculation as I have never driven, ridden, or seen that junction in real terms - and practice is often far different to theory

 

[ianrauk]

The problem being that motorists do approach and enter/exit the roundabout at silly speeds.
If you are still unsure as to how to negotiate it then yes use the pavement.

Myself I have never had a problem using it in what ever direction but then again I am a very assertive cyclist.