Negotiating roundabouts

padyjoe · 28-05-2026 09:03PM #1

I live in a small city and sometimes I need to cross our ringroad to get 'outside', so I enter the 2 lane roundabout in outside lane, go straight across and leave at the second exit (in 1 roundabout, the arrow brings me into the inside lane to go ahead, this is even more dangerous, those who are not local might think I'm heading for the 3rd exit, not for the second).

I've had a few tricky situation when I completely invisible to the cars to my left (first exit). I don't know what's causing this: I'm big enough, my front light flashing, my bike colour is white, my clothes are not black, carry speed around 30km/h on approach. It's easier to keep my momentum to enter and leave quickly, rather to stop, unclip, then start, put the torque down while trying to clip in.

Any ideas how to avoid this or be seen more?

hesker · 28-05-2026 11:48PM

This is what I do

If taking second exit approach roundabout in middle of lane or middle of left hand lane if it’s two lanes on approach. You don’t want to give cars the room to come up on your outside in your lane.

Stay in middle of left hand lane on the roundabout watching out for any cars coming from your right that might cut across you to take (what would be for you) the first exit.

tomasrojo · 03-06-2026 11:03PM

The book Cyclecraft by John Franklin has some advice about roundabouts, and my recollection is that it's very useful. But if I had a route where I was using a two-land roundabout daily with oblivious motorists, I'd change my route to avoid it, or bypass the worst bits by using a pedestrian crossing or something. I have a notion of cumulative risk going up steadily on a frequent route over time so I try to make the frequent routes as low-risk and low-contention as possible.

CramCycle · 03-06-2026 11:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058439233/negotiating-roundabouts

I'm confused, why are you in the outside lane, this i not where anyone would expect you to be if taking the second exit (presumably straight on). The left lane is for left turn and straight ahead, so you are leaving room for cars to come up on your inside.

Just to be clear, the inside lane is the lane closest to the hard shoulder, but your talk of 3rd exit using the inside lane makes me think you call them the opposite.

Just to be clear, if going straight through/2nd exit, you should be in the left hand lane entering the roundabout, so there should be no room for a car to be on your inside.

magicbastarder · 04-06-2026 09:14AM

i suspect it's a confusion of terminology here; when you think of two lanes around a roundabout (or of the two concentric circles around it), the 'inner' one is the one which hugs the roundabout itself. so outside and inside flip.

Cabaal · 04-06-2026 03:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124522542#Comment_124522542

Everyone should read Cyclecraft,

I remember seriously fearing busy roundabouts back in early 2000's until I read it, really some good info in the book.
Totally changed my view.

Wildly Boaring · 04-06-2026 03:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124522967#Comment_124522967

Yeah

Lane 1 and Lane 2 is used in traffic management because some people call Lane 2 the innside fir some crazy reason 🤣

padyjoe · 06-06-2026 09:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124522568#Comment_124522568

I'm confused too, my non-irish brain works differently, so the inside lane is the left lane because of keeping left and you should be normally there?
So I'm in the left lane when going straight and still I can surprise people entering to my left. Do they underestimate my speed or something else at play? It's simply quicker and easier to cross the road in the saddle, rather getting my arse off and walking across. As a cyclist I have the same rights while being on the road as the other vehicles do. Going solo most of the time and I always try behave fair towards the others.

CramCycle · 07-06-2026 10:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124529835#Comment_124529835

I would always stick to the left lane, stay in the centre of it and then merge out to exit the roundabout after you pass the first exit, so there can be no confusion on where you are going. I don't think you are surprising people, I imagine there are a few possible explanations. 1. They aren't looking, on autopilot, you are not a car , they don't register you. 2. They don't care because they believe you shouldn't be there, 3. They think you are slower than you are 4. They would do this regardless of what vehicle you are in, they pull out and let the vehicle they are cutting off resolve the issue (I used to see this a lot on the M50 roundabouts, even light controlled ones in the morning) 5. There is something you are doing that hasn't been explained right.

I use a solid light (no idea if that makes a difference but if they are only glancing, I want the light seen in that split second).

If I suspect it is going to happen, I try and make eye contact and hold it.

I also have a very loud voice, but this is only useful if exceptionally loud.

Negotiating roundabouts

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