How about we just stop expecting every cyclist to be a road warrior and build proper infrastructure. Here's the litmus test: Would mum feel safe letting 12 year old daughter navigate to school on this road? If no, it's not good enough, build better infrastructure. Can we do that?
This is so underappreciated. Especially given the amount of "cyclists should" attitude, don't get me wrong cyclists need to be responsible as well but a car is a 2 ton death machine compared to a cyclist and should take so much more care. Plus, if infrastructure was better more people would cycle over driving, which is good for drivers because those who need to drive would get where they need to quicker due to reduced traffic.
@@Big-Chungus21 horses are worse then cars. Horses used to poop everywhere, making the streets unusable and very difficult for anyone else to use whilst introducing diseases. And dead horses used to pollute poor neighborhood and worsen the problems.
@@thebeast9869 I usually signal just before turning, so I would have both hand on the handlebar when I am making the turn, but drivers would still know (hopefully) I am about to turn. But I don't know how are you supposed to navigate larger roundabouts, don't you get trapped in the middle if the traffic is heavy?
@@NightOwlGames I don't feel as secure with one hand as with both, especially considering that I might have to break suddenly and also with the bumps on the road on a rigid bike. I can cycle with no hands now, but just think it's safer to have both hands on the handlebar.
How to negotiate a roundabout on a bicycle, use any cycle paths available, even if it means travelling a bit further, theres some right nutters out there in cars who would rather knock you off your bike rather than wait a second.
Ran into my first roundabout while cycling to somewhere new but it was on an A-road with no pedestrian access. Had to get off onto the grass and observe how the cars where doing it before finally getting the courage to get back on the road and continue. Was scared shirtless cuz some cars on the outside lane would go straight while somevwould exit so i just let the cars go first and then set off behind them.
GCSE’s , A levels, diplomas, degree…..all were a doddle compared with the angst at the age of 9 passing my Cycling Proficiency Test. One of my life’s greatest achievements. Cycling has literally saved my life. We were taught to use straight arm turning signals.
I have a roundabout home with a 40 MPH speed limit leading from a down hill bending road moving into that right hand lane at times... Fuck me.. Sometimes the left is a better option even when turning right be safe!
Signalling like the lady (I'm guessing) at 2:05 is also important. A friendly wave for being let into traffic and to those who drive considerately around you is always appreciated, on the giving and receiving end, even when they are simply driving to the rules.
Personally I think signalling appreciation when you have priority on a roundabout could confuse drivers into thinking they have priority, some are really that stupid.
Hmmm, I prefer to signal thanks to reinforce good behaviour rather than crediting what other road users are _supposed_ to be doing as standard. dere is spot on. It's a bit Pavlovian but with driving standards the way they are these days, needs must.
@@C345OFR Agreed, but since so many driver's don't follow the rules, its somewhat necessary to show respect to those that do. Its disgusting that that's the case though, I mean we don't thank people from not stabbing us, or shooting us, so why we must thank them for not unlawfully killing us by driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner is beyond me.
I think it was a signal for the car to stop, because you are about to change lanes to the left to exit the roundabout, otherwise the car could start overtaking you from the left and you wouldn't make that turn.
This isn't going to work on crazy roundabouts like Hyde Park corner on a busy day. Better to get off and walk the bike around to your exit if trying to exit at three o'clock. Hyde Park Corner can be mad even for a car. It's almost as crazy as the Arc De Triomphe!
Made the mistake of being too close to the side today. Trying to be a polite cyclist and keeping out of the cars way. Realised today that this is a big mistake when the car behind me decided to cut in and turn left when I was going straight on. I shall be making sure this mistake won't happen again that's for sure. People moan about cyclists being in the way and yet they don't argue with a tractor do they?
This happened to me recently except I was the driver. The position of the cyclist being so far left of the lane made me assume they were taking the first exit, when they were also going straight ahead. It was pretty scary, so I'm watching this video to see who was in the wrong. I think controlling your lane is key here, so the cyclist needs to be in the middle of the outside lane when going straight on a roundabout.
Thank you, this makes it look easy, but how do I navigate roundabouts with more than 2 lanes in heavy traffic? I anticipate it can get difficult and dangerous to try to make my way to the left, if the traffic happens to be faster than me, especially considering that some drivers will be anxious not to get stuck behind me and I have only one hand on the handlebar when I'm signalling.
I got a puncture in the middle of am roundabout with the tube of the tyre for some reasos wrapping around the wheel and jamming it, I took a break from biking for a while after that
Rule 62 is equally misleading. Combined I know, from speaking to both drivers and some cyclists there is a common perception that HC requires or recommends keeping left. It doesn't but simply says it is permissible and how you should do it if that is your preference. In fact HC DOES say (www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82 and Rule 76) that the normal rules for roundabouts (RR 184-190) " apply to all vehicles" including cycles. This includes "get in the correct lane". In practice I probably do this 95% of the time. Very occasionally I feel the layout of a particular roundabout and traffic conditions make keeping left safer and then I follow R62/77. For example turning right at a big open roundabout where the inside traffic is (yes it happens) much faster than the outside
Speed control is important, you can make your journey round a roundabout safer by going a at a speed where cars entering will more easily spot you - ie not too fast. Also important, there is no requirement to indicate when exiting a mini-roundabout, it is often unsafe to do so as you are turning sharply.
Yes, I agree I only use the left hand lane if it’s a very quiet roundabout or in turning left. All other times I use the lane which is attended for my exit
@@SamanthaAoki I do that too, since I got knocked off on one. Maybe one day I’ll risk it, but it doesn’t seem worth all the effort and risk when it’s so quick to dismount & walk. Drivers go a bit loopy on roundabouts.
In Taiwan, bikers do not allow to ride the "inner" lane because we "feel" it safe to the driver with slow velocity, so as to lots of roundabouts. Bikers need to ride the outest lane all the time and stuck in danger when inner cars leave roundabouts. So I should say that there is no right and safe way for bikers in Taiwan. Moreover, we will put the traffic light in some roundabouts. These all mess caused by our most professial department of Transportation......
Staying in the left lane makes sense, I think. I wonder if you would be allowed to do that in the UK? I always worry about overseeing some faster car to my left when I'm exiting.
@BillXian321 Out of curiosity, where was this? I rode a Ubike in Taipei and a ...different branded public bike in Taipei, and Honestly people just kinda ride whereever. Especially in Taipei I saw a lot of bikes on the sidewalk, which in the UK we're not really allowed to do. Meanwhile mopeds seem to not ever turn left at crossings, they first move to the right line and wait for a green light to go streight. I am pretty curious to how traffic laws there work to be honest.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. No'1. Wobble all over the road while approaching the mini island. No'2. Never signal. No'3. Swerve from lane to lane while going round the island. No'4. When you approach your exit "never" shoulder check. Follow these simple rules and there won't be a car on the road that will come anywhere near you. The moment you appear competent, drivers "will" take the piss.
LOL this is unironically true. i look like a total noob on the road, banged up old bike from the 80s, don't wear a helmet and completely oblivious. drivers give me a WIIIIIIIIIIDE berth i've never had any problems whatsoever from cars. infact they've always been nice. plenty of room, always let me go first when turning etc, always stop for me. but like you say i've seen people kitted out in helmets, lycra, posh expensive road bikes all professional and competent and drivers are practically ramming them up the ass or really impatient. weird how that works.
Not true. Get a bike camera that’s what prevents drivers doing stupid stupid things. Also if you do that stuff your likely to cause an accident. I cycle sensibly and responsible as long as you follow the laws keep your bike matisned. Aware alert predictable and visble you were hardly get any crap. The only crap I’ve got is with a driver that kept honking and close pass me and this was a time i forgot to charge my camera.
Wrong, EASIER and safer and in some cases just get off your bike and wheel it like a pedestrian when you passed your round about get back on your bike and continue your journey
Sorry it may be slower but a whole lot safer because some divers think cyclist are just a nuisance on the road and cant be bothered to give a safe space when over taking cyclist this behavior is far common at roundabouts. And as for indicating left or rights better to use indicator lights which can be fitted to bicycles this will be safer because you don't have take you hand off the handle bars which can make you lose control specially if you happen to go over pot holes which are far more numerous on the sides of the roads.
There is at a certain speed at which roundabouts fail to work properly. What works for a GCN presenter probably won't work for a wobbly old grandma with chihuahua in her basket. I found out when i tried taking a 3 lane roundabout on a kick scooter. By far the worst vehicle i ever rode through town was a 50cc with a clogged carb which would deviate between a top speed of 30 and a top speed of 10 and just add cars tried to get past, back to 30 at the drop of a hat. The coast down time was also terrible. At least if the chain came off my ebike i could glide to the side of the road. The 50cc was like i was slowing down without brake lights. I eventually gave up and pushed the thing on the pavement
Is it illegal to ride around a roundabout in a circle? 🤣 I can't stop laughing when I think of things like that. Can anyone help? How can I take back control once it ensues?
Note to self, circling an empty roundabout twice at 10 mph in a housing estate at 1am to let a police car behind you round is seen as suspicious behaviour. As quoted in the most British fashion "You went round and round the roundabout making us dizzy" I miss those late night pizza delivery shifts
Very poor choice of roundabout for a demonstration video!! On the first roundabout, both approach lanes are marked for turning right so the cyclist should be in the left lane not the right. On a normal roundabout using the outer righthand lane is an invitation for cars to pass on the inside and leave the cyclist stuck in the outside lane with cars speeding past on the inside . This was an oddball roundabout with only the outer exit lane marked for ahead so the cyclist was in the correct lane for this oddball roundabout, but the incorrect lane for a normal roundabout where both exit lanes are for ahead.
I though cyclists could stay on left lane no matter what exit they are taking just that most motorists are unaware of this? personally ill walk round busy roundabouts
Totally unsafe as you have no escape if a vehicle entering the roundabout doesn't see you. Unless going left Always take a more inner path as you spend less time on the roundabout and have distance to react to a blind driver.
@@56independent42 Reduce the speed of cars? How? They replace traffic lights in most scenarios so cars can keep moving and don't have to slow down or stop. Roundabouts only slow down traffic when they are above capacity.
@@life-on-mars you need to slow down to a crawl to look for a free space and to obey they signs. Traffic lights encourage stop start driving. Cars should be replaced by bikes and public transport, and the roads should only be used by those who have a reason, like delivery drivers and taxis.
@@56independent42 You're assuming all roundabouts are like the ones in major cities. Where I live, drivers generally do not slow down because there is usually plenty of space. Given that the alternative, traffic lights, would always slow down drivers at least 50% of the time (assuming most crossings are four-way), roundabouts reduce travel time for cars a lot. On the other hand, they usually increase travel time and risk for pedestrians and cyclists.
@@56independent42Replacing cars without 90+ percent of people living in cities Good luck sir not gonna happen without a severe impact on workforce availability. Well, most jobs are in cities and truthfully with current real estate prices (mainly in cities) most people would not find their standard of housing satisfying with their budgets (not everybody wants to hear their neighbour making a call at 1 am and snoring at 2...) so they choose to commute quite often about an hour or two per day by a car that would be an an an an equivalent of 3-6 hours by bike and 3+ hours by average public transport in most of the world. So yeah time and location workplaces are the reason. Without extensive use of full remote work, and improvement to housing/living quality in cities this is a distant dream.
A lot of cyclists I've encountered don't do this and treat the roundabout as if they were in a car. They often just cut you off and think that you're in the wrong when you get annoyed. Also helmets and high vis should be law!
