|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Guys,
What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? Am I being reasonable? KM (aka Steve) |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Katanga-Man wrote:
Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? Am I being reasonable? I would tend to take control of the left lane and control the lane on the outside of the roundabout until I reached the exit. That avoids getting mixed up with lane changing and tends to prevent cars trying to join the roundabout as you cycle past the entry. I do this frequently on a major A-road/motorway roundabout without any problems. YMMV Tony |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 17:23:10 +0100, Katanga-Man wrote:
Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? Am I being reasonable? KM (aka Steve) Yes, I think you are reasonable. But buy John Franklin's book, 'Cyclecraft' for advice on this and loads of other situations.. His comment on multi-lane roundabouts: "As you approach a roundabout on a busy road, make your presence known early by occupying the primary riding position. In general, you should start this as soon as you pass the advance 'Roundabout Ahead' sign, but on highspeed roads, where signing distances are greater, wait until you are about 100 metres from the junction, though earlier if you are turning right ........ Turning right at a multilane roundabout is more difficult .... It needs great care, confidence and, preferably, the ability to attain a sprint speed of about 20mph .... Approach the roundabout in the middle of the right-hand lane .... Normally, you should not leave sufficient room on your right for anyone to pass ... Always make the most of others for protection at any busy roundabout ... Once on the circulatory road, ride to the left of the centre of the righthand lane until you are opposite the entry before your exit. Then spiral out of the roundabout in a gradual curve ... finally adopting the primary riding position on the exit road. It is usually best not to signal right on the roundabout, but do signal left clearly before you begin to cycle out of it." Cyclecraft TSO ISBN 0 11 702051 6 -- Michael MacClancy Random putdown - "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr www.macclancy.demon.co.uk www.macclancy.co.uk |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Katanga-Man wrote:
Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? I think you mean that the road approaching has two lanes marked in the direction you're going - whether or not it's a dual carriageway (ie, with a central barrier/reservation) is irrelevant. How long is a piece of string? 100m may or may not be reasonable depending how fast you're cycling and how fast the motor cars are going and how big the gaps are. Personally, I'd say that the deciding factor for me is the gaps in the RH approach lane motor traffic. Worst case scenario: fast, heavy traffic. Then, if, glancing over my shoulder, I saw a big gap I could usefully move into anything up to 200 m out or so, I'd signal and move into it, claiming the lane, being nice and considerate by bringing up my speed to a brisker pace, and making damn sure my arm was hung out in a turning right signal to give the following driver the idea. Once they've slowed up behind you and matched your speed, they're protecting you by default, you can drop the signal and deal with the roundabout. If you get a dimwit toot and undertake, keep the speed up and the signal out until you get a less dimwitted driver behind you doing the protection. Best case scenario, slow/stationary traffic or very sparse traffic; I'd happily wait until a few yards before the give-way lines before moving over. Otherwise, YMMV. But do read Cyclecraft by Franklin instead of paying attention to the deranged ramblings of uk.rec.cycing posters. :-) |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as Katanga-Man
breathed: Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? Am I being reasonable? Ok, I'm not really a proper cyclist, I don't generally go anything like as fast as is often mentioned here and usually do stay right over in the left hand edge of the road so other people can get past. However, handling roundabouts, or lane-splitting junctions, IMO, depends on the speed and volume of the other traffic. If the roundabout is fairly quiet and/or the traffic is generally moving slowly, then take the right hand lane, ride in the middle of it, stay in the centre of the inside lane round the roundabout itself, approaching the exit you want signal left clearly and swing off in a steady line that takes you into the left lane of the exit road, all the time keeping a sharp lookout for anyone trying to pass on the left. On the other hand if the roundabout is a blur of vehicles all doing 40+ and the roads are busy, get off the bike and use whatever pedestrian facilities exist to walk it past the roundabout and then get back on. Legally and morally you have every right to use the roads in the same way as a motor vehicle driver, but that's not a lot of consolation when you realise the driver of the 38 ton truck coming across from the left hasn't seen you and it's already too late to get out of her way... -- - Pyromancer. - http://www.inkubus-sukkubus.co.uk -- Pagan Gothic Rock! - http://www.littlematchgirl.co.uk -- Electronic Metal! - http://www.revival.stormshadow.com -- The Gothic Revival. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Katanga-Man wrote:
Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? This seems eminently reasonable to me. I am not getting in this lane half a mile from the roundabout since this would slow the traffic down. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. What is everyone's stance on this matter? Am I being reasonable? KM (aka Steve) Absolutely correct Iain |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
Following on from Katanga-Man's message. . .
Guys, What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then (1) Be in control of the situation. This means correct positioning to _control others_. It also means being in the right gear, and accelerating smartly to claim your patch of road. (2) You can be in any lane you like. It is up to you to look after yourself. It is up to others to share the road safely and peacefully with you. (3) A handy technique (as per Cyclecraft) is to use a vehicle on your right as you enter as a shield. (4) Think where traffic that is joining with you is going. You're probably best off picking the entry lane that gives you direct access to the 'middle' of the circular segment of road (eg middle lane of a 3-lane roundabout) without cars overtaking you on your left except to accelerate out at an exit. The more you get sucked towards the centre of the roundabout the more lanes you have to cross back out again which is very tricky. In practice I tend to approach roughly in 'the middle' of the entry regardless of lanes/width unless I'm definitely better off on the left. -- PETER FOX Not the same since the icecream business was liquidated www.eminent.demon.co.uk/wcc.htm Witham Cycling Campaign www.eminent.demon.co.uk/rides East Anglian Pub cycle rides |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
in message , Katanga-Man
') wrote: What is the consensus on this one? I want to turn right at an island (i.e. third exit) and the road approaching is a dual carriage way. Am I quite within my rights to use my arm to signal that I want to turn right and then take the right (inside lane) at 100 metres from the roundabout? Yes, this is not only the correct but the only safe thing to do. However, to be able to get into the right hand lane to turn right can be a difficult so cyclists need to commence their manoeuvre some distance from the roundabout. However, all this seems to attract is revving engines in protest from the cars behind you. Well, tough titties, frankly. You slow them down by a tiny fraction, and in doing so substantially reduce your risk of getting killed. It would be most unreasonable to expect you to do anything else. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ X-no-archive: No, I'm not *that* naive. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Roundabouts - turning right
"Pyromancer" wrote in message
... Legally and morally you have every right to use the roads in the same way as a motor vehicle driver, but that's not a lot of consolation when you realise the driver of the 38 ton truck coming across from the left hasn't seen you and it's already too late to get out of her way... The 38 tonne truck may look menacing but that rep in the vauxhall is the one you need to watch! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Turning Tips? | rob | Unicycling | 2 | July 8th 04 01:37 PM |
Turning...one foot riding | Memphis Mud | Unicycling | 4 | April 26th 04 10:08 PM |
I hate roundabouts. | Simon Mason | UK | 21 | October 17th 03 01:48 PM |
Braking while turning | [email protected] | Techniques | 45 | August 1st 03 06:56 PM |
Roundabouts - how to take them? | FM | UK | 14 | July 23rd 03 12:15 PM |