Do you indicate on roundabouts?

number9

I don't cos I don't change lanes. There's no law about indicating for cyclists, I think positioning is more important than taking your hands off the bars when cycling fast to get the flip off the rbt asap.

always_tyred

A roundabout is just a junction with something round in it.

How do you manage at other junctions?

roger_merriman

i manage to indicate, be that slowly on the hybrid or fast on old red. never seems to be problem really but then i like roundabouts.

Crapaud

number9 wrote:

I don't cos I don't change lanes. There's no law about indicating for cyclists, I think positioning is more important than taking your hands off the bars when cycling fast to get the flip off the rbt asap.

Maybe you're going too fast for the conditions. I've always treated junctions / roundabouts like I would if I was in a car - same positioning etc. - and indicated without any probs.

It makes sense to me that you should let others know in advance what you're going to do. They're not mind readers.

tardington

Plus that whole 'being hit by a car' thing is never too good. I signal like when I'm driving,

jimmypippa

Crapaud wrote:

number9 wrote:

I don't cos I don't change lanes. There's no law about indicating for cyclists, I think positioning is more important than taking your hands off the bars when cycling fast to get the flip off the rbt asap.

Maybe you're going too fast for the conditions. I've always treated junctions / roundabouts like I would if I was in a car - same positioning etc. - and indicated without any probs.

It makes sense to me that you should let others know in advance what you're going to do. They're not mind readers.

+1

I make sure the cars behind me can see that I am going into the right hand lane *well* before the roundabout. And slow down to a speed where I can quickly stop at the roundabout.

EDIT:

And virtually every day, motor vehicles indicate to let me cross lanes in front of them in approaching the one roundabout on my commute.

beato

I used to indicate all the time, but have found it makes little difference, and so prefer to keep my hands firmly on my brakes to avoid yet another encounter with a blind / ignorant motorist

rb1956

number9 wrote:

I don't cos I don't change lanes. There's no law about indicating for cyclists.

I signal on the approach to the roundabout, and while "within" the junction. Even if I'm not changing lanes, I find that signalling reduces the chance of drivers pulling out in front (or over the top) of me.

I believe that if you're riding in traffic, and are not confident that you can take one hand off the bars to signal, you are not in proper control of the bike. I see this a lot with neophyte roadies who dare not release, even for a moment, their grip on the narrow bars of their skittish steeds.

As regards the law, I don't know about the UK, but here in NSW, cyclists are subject to the same rules as other vehicle operators, including signalling when changing direction.

Rich158

I signal before I get to the roundabout to indicate my intentions, then it depends upon the size of the roundabout, road conditions etc There are severaL roundabouts on my commute that are extremely greasy and i wouldn't dare take my hands off the bars, I do however make sure that my road position is correct to give cars the best chance of understanding what I want to do.

lost_in_thought

I signal before roundabouts, and even more enthusiastically when I'm on roundabouts, for changing lanes (usually outwards for obvious reasons) or exiting.

I figure that cars are trying to avoid you, and it makes their lives a whole lot easier if they know where you're going.

nwallace

Regardless of the vehicle your meant to signal your intentions to other road users.
Failing to signal where it is necessary would be driving without consideration of other road users.

Signalling right on the way into a Circle if you are turning Right is very very useful to other road users. Signalling left as you approach your exit is very useful if your gonig to have to change lane.

If you are not changing lanes in a circle when turning right you are doing something wrong.

Signalling on a roundabout for a vehicle capable of continuous signalling should be along the lines of.

For a 4 exit circle. (THat includes the road you are on)
1st Exit, Left Signal on the way in and while on the circle.
2nd Exit, Do not signal on the way in, signal left after you pass the 1st exit.
3rd Exit, Signal Right on the way in and hold a road position to the centre of the circle signalling right, Signal left when changing lanes and taking the exit.
4th Exit, As Exit 3.

That's what I was taught when driving, bear in mind that the highway code says that cyclists and horse riders should be scared of circles etc etc, which is a load of tosh.

The advice I got from by IAM observer was essentially the same except any exit more than 12 O'Clock should consider signalling right on the way in.

Since this is what drivers are taught to do it makes sense that other road users signals should be essentially the same. The only difference being that as cyclists continuous signals are difficult.

If there is no one to signal to there is no need to signal.

Poor signalling at roundabouts pisses me right off, the amount of times I have had to slam the anchors on because a car is signalling to exit, looks like it is going to exit and because I have judged that it is going to exit and therefore have decided that there is nothing to Give way to, only to discover that the vehicle is continuing round...

Less annoying is people who signal Right but go straight on, this only applies to dual carriageways that cut down to single carriageway, why? Because if I am approaching a circle on a dual carriage way and the vehicle in from is signalling right and in the right hand lane, I will use the left lane to go straight on, (because of this I now tend to make extra right mirror checks which compromise my forward, and nearside vision)

I think I posted this example on here before by here goes.
At the bottom of the hill from my work is a circle.
This circle has 5 Exits.

As we approach there is
Exit 1 at exactly 90 degrees
Exit 2 at 180 degrees (roads alligned straight on)
Exit 3 at 200 degrees
Exit 4 at 275 degrees
Exit 5 at 360 degrees

Cyclist ahead of bus sitting left of lane, no signal.
Bus taking Exit 4 driver sitting in right of lane, sees cyclist not signalling and looking like they are heading for Exit 2.
Cyclist is actually heading for Exit 3 and looks a bit pissed off at the bus for passing him on the circle.

Since that day I have adjusted my approach into that circle when cycling (when driving it i am always going right so am signalling).

I don't signal right on the way in unless there is something behind me when I change road position, I move into the middle of the (single) lane, and try and make it as obvious as possible from my road position that I am NOT taking the 2nd exit.

Mr_Cellophane

The larger the roundabout, the more I signal while on it. It is those silly mini ones I hate when cycling. You can't cut across them like cars can and the sharp changes in direction from going round to turning off means I prefer to keep my hands on the bars once I have got there.

ChrisLS

...what everyone else said...

...always, always, always, ALWAYS signal...

alex16zx

yep...I always signal right or left as i approach and then signal left before the exit i'm taking. As some have said, sometimes when it's wet i want to keep both hands on the bars but I still try and make a signal visible to the cars in closest proximity.

Slow Downcp

Yep, always indicate - even if no-one else about so it becomes habit.

If you're turning right at a roundabout, how do you manage without changing lanes? Or do you just ride around the outside of the island and hope no-one hits you?

alex16zx

not every roundabout has more than one lane!

On roundabouts with more than one lane i do see some cyclists just go all the way around the outside. I think they are generally okay because if they're not indicating to exit the roundabout then cars are pretty sceptical and will just wait for them to pass so I don't think it's any more dangerous in practice, although it is technically wrong.

biondino

I indicate on roundabouts unless I feel my safety would be threatened by doing so due to a lack of bike control. Obviously I weigh up the pros and cons of less control + more clarity vs vice versa but I wouldn't say I indicate all the time.

schweiz

Unless there's no other traffic around to signal to, every time.

number9 wrote:

I don't cos I don't change lanes.

If you are going round the roundabout i.e. completing more than 180 degrees of the circle you should signal your intention by signalling right.
You should signal your intention to leave a roundabout after passing the exit before your intended exit by signalling left.

number9 wrote:

There's no law about indicating for cyclists.

There are no laws about signalling for any road user. The highway code says:

General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders

This section should be read by all drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders. The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others. Always give way if it can help to avoid an incident.

Signals

103. Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians (see Signals to other road users), of your intended actions. You should always
• give clear signals in plenty of time, having checked it is not misleading to signal at that time
• use them to advise other road users before changing course or direction, stopping or moving off
• cancel them after use
• make sure your signals will not confuse others. If, for instance, you want to stop after a side road, do not signal until you are passing the road. If you signal earlier it may give the impression that you intend to turn into the road. Your brake lights will warn traffic
behind you that you are slowing down
• use an arm signal to emphasise or reinforce your signal if necessary.

Remember that signalling does not give you priority.

number9 wrote:

I think positioning is more important than taking your hands off the bars when cycling fast to get the flip off the rbt asap.

You're going too fast for the conditions i.e. approaching/crossing a junction

Here in Switzerland, it's taught that you should only signal off a roundabout and not around it. In fact the term 'Linksblinker im Kreisverkehr', someone who uses the left indicator on a Roundabout (don't forget we go the other way around!), is used as an insult to suggest someone is a coward. However, I always signal round and off a roundabout on a cycle, on a motorcycle or in a car.

gtvlusso

lost_in_thought wrote:

I signal before roundabouts, and even more enthusiastically when I'm on roundabouts, for changing lanes (usually outwards for obvious reasons) or exiting.

I figure that cars are trying to avoid you, and it makes their lives a whole lot easier if they know where you're going.

Same, same - but I keep an eye under my armpit to make sure no fecker tries to cut me off before my exit as I am positioning myself....!

EricaR

I get well confused at roundabouts too

I thought you were supposed to stay on the left hand edge of the roundabout at all times but then when i do that cars assume i'm about to take the next left, and cut me up.

So sometimes I stay on the left lane and signal right even if I'm going straight ahead but if I'm not feeling such a wimp :x I pile through the middle like following the rules as if i am a car.

i don't know what's safer lol

always_tyred

EricaR wrote:

I get well confused at roundabouts too

I thought you were supposed to stay on the left hand edge of the roundabout at all times but then when i do that cars assume i'm about to take the next left, and cut me up.

So sometimes I stay on the left lane and signal right even if I'm going straight ahead but if I'm not feeling such a wimp :x I pile through the middle like following the rules as if i am a car.

i don't know what's safer lol

I can't remember if its the Highway Code, or the cycling proficiency test I am thinking of, but there have been publications which recommend stopping on the left at the entrance to a roundabout, signaling and then turning right (hugging the left) around the roundabout.

Personally I think this is a good way to get yourself killed.

Erica - in my view you have two options: (1) take a road position on a roundabout the same as if you were in a car, taking the primary position in whatever lane you are in, to minimise the chance that cars will overtake (2) pull up on the left and cross on foot.

(1) is easier if you are going faster and if you are more confident. It may also require changing lanes. It is a good way to tackle a roundabout because drivers know what you are up to - they may not like it because you will take up to several seconds longer to complete the move than they would, but hey, that's cycling for you.
(2) is time consuming but safe

schweiz

Always Tyred wrote:

I can't remember if its the Highway Code, or the cycling proficiency test I am thinking of, but there have been publications which recommend stopping on the left at the entrance to a roundabout, signaling and then turning right (hugging the left) around the roundabout.

Personally I think this is a good way to get yourself killed.

As the captain of the winning school team in the 1988-89 'Oldham Road Safety - Primary Schools Quiz' (My mum and dad *still* have the trophy proudly on display at home :oops: ) I seem to remember the ride around the edge of the roundabout technique being the recommended way. I tried it once....a car almost drove over the top of me. Since that day, I ride a roundabout as if I was a car and get in the middle of the lane, hold my position and signal as required.

Having consulted my better half, that is how it is taught in the Swiss cycling proficiency test but saying that if you've ever seen a swiss driver on a roundabout, you'd wonder if they ever had to do a driving test! The first double lane roundabout in the Kanton (county) opened near work a few months ago and they actually leafleted every house explaining how you had to drive around it !!! When they finally opened it, they observed 4000 cars going round the roundabout....580 got it wrong! :shock: The official advice to cyclists there was to stay in the middle of the outside lane. I now go a different way!

pigeon42

+1 for behaving as I would if I were driving a car - I figure that hopefully that makes me more easily predictable to most drivers (and there will always be a few idiots who do their own thing, whatever I do as a cyclist)

There are a couple of roundabouts near me with cycle lanes that indicate you should cycle right around the outside edge of the roundabout, regardless of which exit you are heading for - from what I've seen, this makes cyclists even less visible to cars, and I've seen a number of incidents where cars have cut up cyclists doing this.

EricaR

Well Schweiz looks like you are clearly the most qualified person to tell me then : )

I knew I'd heard it somewhere that you need to stick to the outside, probably while wearing a big old polystyrene tuff tops helmet on my own cyclcing proficiency back in the day :oops: .

It's nice to see actually that people agree with me though that it's not very safe to go round the outside. I agree that you get seen more and cars are more wary of a cyclist on their right hand side, plus it's more obvious what they are going to do.

I don't like breaking the rules but if you all feel and do the same then I don't feel as guilty :evil: ! I suppose it's not like running a red light.....

By the way pigeon

easily predictable to most drivers (and there will always be a few idiots who do their own thing, whatever I do as a cyclist)

I totally agree some of them should learn to signal!!! Its not hard to remember the paddles go in the direction you are going to turn a lot easier than doing a balancing act sometimes on a bike sticking your arm out!!!

OK rant over

whyamihere

There is one where I never signal. Nobody does. Ever.

Why?

Well, let's take a look at it...

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52 ... 8&t=h&z=18

Yep, that's a roundabout with nothing leading off it. Hooray for wastes of money...

itboffin

whyamihere wrote:

There is one where I never signal. Nobody does. Ever.

Why?

Well, let's take a look at it...

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52 ... 8&t=h&z=18

Yep, that's a roundabout with nothing leading off it. Hooray for wastes of money...

That's one of my real pet hates, why with all the roundabouts??? sometimes there's two tiny roundabouts so small that walking around would be difficult let alone driving a car, we're all adults a cross roads will do.

phew! almost went into a full rant

jimmypippa

whyamihere wrote:

There is one where I never signal. Nobody does. Ever.

Why?

Well, let's take a look at it...

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=52 ... 8&t=h&z=18

Yep, that's a roundabout with nothing leading off it. Hooray for wastes of money...

I'm slightly confused because it looks like a new road/roundabout? so I'd have thought that someone would have noticed the railway line and GBFO "puddle" on one side and the M6-toll on the other.

EDIT:
I'm assuming that the M6 toll was planned before, and I can't really see enough room for an estate large enough would need a roundabout in that field opposite the reservoir.