How to turn right on a roundabout!?

Trotter

Hi all,

Can someone confirm for me the correct way to turn right at a roundabout with 2 lanes leading to the roundabout?

Lately on my route, I approach the roundabout, say 100m back, keeping into the left as required.

I then signal that I need to move out, and move into the right lane to go all the way around the roundabout and turn right.

Lately, as soon as I even signal, I notice the cars speeding up and drivers leaning on the horn even before I move. I just cant get around safely and end up getting off the bike and walking.

I get the same treatment when I go to turn off the main road towards work (long and straight) and signal to turn right into my work entrance (Cars speed up and I get abuse for wanting to cross their path and turn right.. before I even do it!)

It really is putting me off getting on the bike.

I think a cycle mirror would help, so can anyone recommend one that isnt too intrusive?

Rant ends

liamo

That's exactly how I approach a roundabout and it works for me.

I find that motorists are generally considerate and will usually allow me to change lane for turning right. However, I encounter - from time to time - the usual w@nkers who take my presence on the road personally and seem to think that I am there to impede their progress. There's not much you can do about these.

As for mirrors, I saw a chap recently with a wrist-mounted mirror about 6 or 7 cm in diameter which I thought might be handy.

Regards,

Liam

blorg

I try to take a two (or more) lane roundabout exactly as I would if I were a car. Bang middle of the lane too, very important, if you are not bang in the middle it can look vague as to what lane you are really "in." I have not yet been beeped at doing this.

I DO sometimes get people entering the roundabout in front of me. I also get people cutting across me to leave it or undertaking to continue on it when I am trying to leave. These latter two happen if I am in the wrong lane but in fairness it can be difficult to get into the right one, and by definition the people doing it are also in the wrong lane!

Maybe you are keeping left for too long, I move into the right approach lane as soon as I get a chance. Bear in mind that signalling to move right does NOT give you right of way to change lane (although it should stop people following you in the same lane from overtaking.)

mikemac

Your approach sounds good Trotter, keep doing that.

BostonB

blorg wrote: »

....Bang middle of the lane too, very important, if you are not bang in the middle it can look vague as to what lane you are really "in." I have not yet been beeped at doing this....

Thats what I do where theres multiple lanes. Otherwise people try to squeeze past. Don't think I've had to go through a roundabout in years though.

allthedoyles

Trotter wrote: »

Hi all,

Can someone confirm for me the correct way to turn right at a roundabout with 2 lanes leading to the roundabout?

Lately on my route, I approach the roundabout, say 100m back, keeping into the left as required.

Remember , if you are taking the 3rd exit , you should be in the Right Hand Lane .

I suggest you check it out in the Rules of the Road booklet that was sent to every household in Ireland in 2008

Alanstrainor

Trotter wrote: »

I then signal that I need to move out, and move into the right lane to go all the way around the roundabout and turn right.

allthedoyles wrote: »

Remember , if you are taking the 3rd exit , you should be in the Right Hand Lane .

Eh???
That's exactly what he said.

Trotter

Hehe.. Thanks for that nugget of wisdom allthedoyles.


Anyhoooo...

The trouble I have is moving from the left hand side of the road, across to the centre of the right hand lane. I find looking over my right shoulder impossible on a bike, so I'm very wary of moving across into the lane.. especially given the abuse I got before.

And to the ugly blonde in the knackered Honda who gawked out of the back window without a seatbelt on and have me the finger last time I tried the above.... You could do with a cycle.

blorg

Trotter wrote: »

I find looking over my right shoulder impossible on a bike

Is there any particular reason for this, do you just need to practice more? I do find looking over my left hard, which makes it difficult in foreign countries. Mirrors go so far but they don't replace the ability to look over your shoulder IMHO. If changing lane you do need to be sure that it is empty or otherwise that any car in the lane you are moving into is aware and letting you in.

Trotter

blorg wrote: »

Is there any particular reason for this, do you just need to practice more? I do find looking over my left hard, which makes it difficult in foreign countries. Mirrors go so far but they don't replace the ability to look over your shoulder IMHO. If changing lane you do need to be sure that it is empty or otherwise that any car in the lane you are moving into is aware and letting you in.

Its a bit of a bad circle really.. Need more practice on bike... Get on bike.. Look over shoulder.. unsteady through lack of practice and sight of being chased down by Honda trying to kill me.. Go home.. hug car keys.. Spend season getting fat.. decide that I need more practice on bike.. etc.

I don't ever move across the lanes without managing a look over my shoulder though. I'd get off and walk before I'd swing across without having a look. Im just not good at looking over my shoulder.. through lack of practice and feeling unsteady when I do it.

Gavin

Take your right arm off the bike and look over your right shoulder, you tend to stay in a straighter line. (although you probably do this anyway when indicating)

petethedrummer

The more confident you are with your hand gestures and movements on the bike the less likely you are to get abuse. So even if you're not confident, just act it.

buffalo

Trotter, I would negotiate a roundabout exactly as you described, and just try to be defensive. As others said, cycle in the middle of the lane, so motorists are discouraged from trying to pass you dangerously.

That said, the ROTR seem to indicate you should stay the hell out of the motorists' way, and just skim along the outside: http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-pedestrians-cyclists-motorcyclists/cyclists/cyclists_on-roundabouts.html

My advice is to be as visible as possible, and be ready to brake. I was blindsided by a car at a roundabout about two months ago, despite wearing a hi-vis and it being broad daylight.

Lumen

Trotter wrote: »

And to the ugly blonde in the knackered Honda who gawked out of the back window without a seatbelt on and have me the finger last time I tried the above.... You could do with a cycle.

Regrettably cycling is not a cure for ugliness. I'm still coming to terms with that one.

Anyway, you MUST be able to do a shoulder check, or else you're going to get killed. Buy a mirror if necessary as a short term measure, if it gives you confidence to get on the bike.

Turbulent Bill

OP, your general approach seems to be fine, but you need to practice looking over your shoulder. Generally I just glance over if I can't hear any traffic as a quick check and then move out. If there's traffic I glance to see the next gap, then signal and try to eyeball the driver. They're generally much more receptive if you can catch their eye, or at the very least you know they won't let you out! Once you're sure that there's a space, move into the centre of the lane - a 'thanks' wave to the driver generally goes down well too. You might need to repeat this procedure to cross two lanes. Depending on traffic, speed etc., this might take more than 100m to complete, so it's worth planning in advance.

Assertiveness really helps - make your intentions clear and you won't get as much bother. A quick burst of speed is also good to keep up with the traffic flow.

When you're on the roundabout, try eyeballing the drivers trying to enter ahead of you - a 'death stare' can stop them cutting you up!

niceonetom

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

OP, your general approach seems to be fine, but you need to practice looking over your shoulder. Generally I just glance over if I can't hear any traffic as a quick check and then move out. If there's traffic I glance to see the next gap, then signal and try to eyeball the driver.
...
When you're on the roundabout, try eyeballing the drivers trying to enter ahead of you - a 'death stare' can stop them cutting you up!

+1

OP practice looking over your shoulder - it's really necessary - not just to see what's behind you but also to let drivers behind you know that you know they're there.

sticking a hand out and drifting rightwards will give drivers the impression that you don't know they're there (even if you do)- and that's why they're beeping at you, i think. a half second of eye contact can communicate a wealth of information (i see you. you see me. i know you know i've seen you. you know i know you've seen me.) and makes motorists see you as a person on a bike rather than an annoying moving object impeding their progress.

i think eye-contact is so vital for dealing with traffic negotiations that i avoid wearing sunglasses in busy traffic.

concussion

It's all about the eye contact, as has been said. My technique is
Check the road ahead
Check behind - if there's a car very close, slow down and let them pass - get eye contact with the driver whom I want to get in front of
Check in front again to ensure the traffic hasn't stopped
Indicate for 2 or 3 seconds
Check behind again - the driver usually knows by now whats happening and has slowed
Check in front for traffic and pull across, thumbs up to the driver if possible.

If theres a truck behind I'd make sure they're 3 or 4 times the 'safe distance' I'd accociate with cars.

Civilian_Target

blorg wrote: »

Mirrors go so far but they don't replace the ability to look over your shoulder IMHO.

Agreed. Use them as a first check rather than the only check. If you see nothing in your mirror, then look over the shoulder.

And to the ugly blonde in the knackered Honda who gawked out of the back window without a seatbelt on and have me the finger last time I tried the above.... You could do with a cycle.

Hahaha!

mmclo

Getting off to turn right isn't the end of the world, or simply stopping and looking back, looking over your shoulder suggests some sort of double jointed neck, in reality you turn most of yourself around, I've even sat nearly side sadle to stare at traffic behind me, makes it really obvious what your intention is

A roundabout is probably toughest because the majority of drivers don't know what to do...seriously as any driver will tell you, indicating right when going straight on etc. I suppose the one advantage is people do slow down. I have walked across a few if I judged it too dangerous.