How the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout for cyclists works 

I'm appalled by the comments below. You guys are missing the key point why these round-abouts are so important to have. It increases the visibility of the pedestrians and the cyclists when you are leaving the round-about. And just keep in mind that all vulnerable roadusers have right of way. Then all should be fine, as a Dutchie I promise!

I'm a Brit living in the Netherlands. There are several reasons why cycling is so safe and pleasant here. Three of them are: 1. Great cycling infrastructure. 2. Presumed liability law. 3 (and perhaps most important) EVERYONE cycles. So there is no antagonism between cyclists and motorists. A motorist is a cyclist who just happens to be driving a car for a change, so understands the need to be considerate towards other cyclists. Tomorrow the motorist will be back on his/her bike, and will expect (and get!) the same care and consideration from people driving cars. What the UK needs is a lot more cyclists. There will then be the political will to make proper provision for cycling, a lot more great cycling infrastructure, better understanding by motorists of the needs of cyclists, and the world will be a better place.

I can't believe the shocking attitude towards cyclists in this comment section. I don't currently cycle (because it's too dangerous in this country) but I have done in the past, and as a driver, I applaud cyclists for being brave enough to take a more environmentally friendly way to get around, while also reducing the amount of road space they take up. The problem is not the cyclists. It's the lack of infrastructure. The Dutch used to be the same as us back in the 70s and then they changed their ways and now look at them. World leaders. So anything is possible. The challenge with this, is you have to change the whole culture. In the UK we're just not used to this kind of thing, so it will seem weird and alien until the infrastructure grows and we get more experienced with how to navigate these kind of junctions and new rules. But you've got to start somewhere. If we only ever build one roundabout it will fail. The city needs to put these in everywhere, along with proper cycle lanes to join them up, THEN you'll start seeing more people riding bikes, and the drivers will get used to it, and I bet it actually works better for drivers in the long run because then you aren't fighting to overtake slow cyclists. Everyone has their own space. It works in the Netherlands, so it can work here.

I've cycled all over Holland and used these countless times, they're brilliant! It makes total sense that something powered by physical effort should get priority over a machine. Unfortunately though English people view cyclists as second class when it comes to road use, so unless you change this attitude this is just gonna end with cyclists under cars

There's something missing from this picture, can't quite put my finger on it...

Of course it works. It’s Dutch 😌

As a motorist and cycle commuter, if so many hot- headed motorists slowed down and didn't treat most roundabouts like Druids at Brands we would be all be happy campers. But hey..this attitude needs to change and as this shows change is never EVER welcomed. I raise my clogs to this idea. Motorists will have to adapt, well SLOW DOWN as is shown in the video....oh and i agree..all those really wide roads with no cars on...yeah, lets add segregated cycle lanes on them whilst we are at it. To all those with anti-cycling sentiments who only have the ability to rant without reason, go hire a bike and hit your busiest old school roundabout/dual carriage way a few times. I do hope you survive. We need change in our road systems, to allow people affordable ways to travel, cycling and e-scooters are the way forward. Its not about "Them and Us" ...yet another attitude that needs to change. 🚙🚗🚴🚲👍🙂

The time has come to put the car Back in its place the servant not the master

an absolute steal at £2.3 million quid. it's what the community so desperately needs. delivered on time and under budget too, just like every job should. outstanding.

There's just one issue, Dutch roundabouts go the other way around.

Very bold attempt from the UK to copy our Dutch style roundabouts for a culture that´s still surrounded by cars. I hope the drivers are induced enough to change their ways around driving and giving priority to cyclists.

Where are the bikes?

Looks pretty decent, but they have to work on their road markings. It's very cluttered and inconsistent, which are both a bad thing...

OK question: cyclist is going around on the red, car wants to pull off the roundabout, who's right of way is it? Is the red bit one way for cyclists?

It's sooo gorgeous.😍 Tears in my eyes...

There has been a roundabout similar to this in Poole for years.

Death trap. Has had more accidents than the old one. Drivers in the UK are not trained to look left while approaching roundabouts, or having to stop while exiting them. So any cyclists going the wrong way (which is often) are at high risk of being hit. Likewise people stopping while exiting are at risk of being rear ended.

I drove round it on Sunday and it was very quiet and not a problem. My issues with it though are in the dark and the rain there is too much going on to see, you essentially cant join the roundabout until there is a gap in the pedestrian, cycle and vehicle traffic all at once. Long vehicles can't even get past the cycle and pedestrian crossings to then wait for a gap in traffic, all 3 have to occur at once. Even then you can't even exit the roundabout if cycles or pedestrians are crossing. Going to cause massive delays because of the convergence of cycles, pedestrians and motor traffic. I can't believe this is the best and safest solution but time will tell.

So if a cyclist is going straight across and a car turning left who has the right of way when the cyclist reaches the cars exit?

Excellent. This is what we need all over. If a driver can't work out how to use this, take their licence off them. They are not intelligent enough to be on the road.

Lack of give way signs on all but one of the exits will obviously lead to accidents

Great idea but where are the cyclist?

Looks great 👍🏼

Seems Double Dutch to Me 😉 🚗 🚲 🤔

I like the design where the bike roundabout is built up in the air above the car roundabout.

You tried uk you tried

Don't know how it cost 2.4m 🤥🤐

I wouldn't want to turn right there on my bike. I'd have zero confidence that cars pulling off would be looking out for me. They may well be too focused on junction and crossing and not see a bike coming round on their blind side. If I'm on my bike I tend to turn right normally following the flow of the traffic (as fast as I need to go) and clearly look and signal - it's much safer to me and never had an issue even on big busy roundabouts.

First 'Dutch' super roundabout in England closed after just a few days due to an accident.

£500,000 in materials and building. £1.7m in countless meetings and replanning. 🙃

This looks super dangerous

Things that are missing: Grass is too dark and patchy so it should be replanted like greener dutch style clean grass Theres still bushes and fat trees overlapping the side of some roads, typical untidy UK streets lmao Bike lanes should be separate from road and sidewalk

This is great; less cyclists on the road and more space for pedestrians. Just need this to be the standard.

Why aren't there "give way signs" (the triangle) on all exits??? And where do you wait if a cyclist is approaching - illegally on the zebra crossing?

This is not going to end well

I don't think that many cyclists will stay in the cycle lane.. Cyclists always take the shortest route which means going on the road with the cars etc..

Hope soon there will be all roundabouts like these and more cycling path all over country , safe planet /go green , safe humanity / go healthy . LOL

What's wrong with them using the old roundabouts are they too thick?

So where are the cyclists? How much did that cost?

what a mess,.. thats gonna be chaos if its busy.

First of all in going to say the entry to the roundabout for motor behocles seems to make sense, give way to any cyclist before entering roundabout...got it. The exit however is stupid. So I just get to my exit and then I have to stop to give way to a cyclist with no waiting area...that just asking for a motor vehicle to get rear ended. At the exit the cyclist should be expected to give way to the cars, only fair. There's far to many of these types of junctions where the exit area is far too short (be it for pedestrian crossing or now cyclists), there should be a minimum 50 metres or so Just continues that motor vehicle users are seen as second class road users and we are the ones who have to pay multiple taxes (road tax, insurance tax, etc) on top of usual taxes for us only to have to pay homage to cyclists at every turn. When are cyclists going to have to pay more for all their privileges? Let me know if I've misunderstood the layout?

Looks awful.

Scary ... a lot of accidents coming

this has to be a joke

Number of cars passing through roundabouts > Number of cyclists. This design is a waste of money which the government should be spending on other more important things.

That's a graveyard for cyclists

Waste of money. The few cyclists that use it will just use the roads like they currently do and ignore every cycle path. I drive for my job and 90 percent of cyclists do what they want, endanger themselves and others with no repercussions, time for them to have insurance.

Great now charge cyclists road tax like they should be paying

Whatever next , cycle lanes on motorways? Another waste of money invest in schools, hospitals recreational developments for communities ect.

Yay more tax payers money wasted.... Woop woop

Now introduce a cycle tax to cover the costs of bike lanes etc

What an absolute mess this is. Cyclists do give a single fk they just want to speed around and give zero fucks then moan about cars!

Waste of money

What a stupid waste of time and money ffs.

Stupid,stupid,stupid. The planers who designed this want sacking. I would like to know what time of day this was shot, there doesn’t seem to be much traffic. At peak times I would have thought the traffic would back up when giving way. A pedestrian crossing would work better. I’d like to see an artic lorry straddle the crossing,also if one car gives way how long would it be before roundabout was gridlocked. Rules are already in place for pedestrians and cyclists, when, not if they break Highway Code bet they won’t be fined like the easily targeted motorists .

If cyclists want to use the road the should pay The should have numbers on there bike same as card have assurance and face penalty as cars do like jumping lights

Waste of money