Help on the road please

[Wankelschrauben]

I'm a bit curious as to the proper rules of riding a bike on the road safely.

Maidstone is not a very cycle friendly place to be. Cars and pedestrians alike become enraged at the very sight of me cluttering up their view.

Pedestrians around here walk in the cycle path, most are ok but a few shout verbal abuse if I pass.

Traffic light junctions, these are the worst, how do you properly take a traffic light junction that has splitting lanes, say 2 into 4?

Roundabouts, I'm guessing you can't take these as you would in a car, fortunately I've only had to turn left but how would you take one going straight on or turning right?

Thanks.

 

[ohnovino]

Get a copy of CycleCraft- it's the definitive guide for how to ride safely on the roads.

Pedestrians around here walk in the cycle path, most are ok but a few shout verbal abuse if I pass.

That's a problem round here too. Technically a pedestrain can jump right in front of you (road or cycle path) and still have right of way, so you just have to be patient. Ringing a bell or changing gears noisily should alert them to your presence. But remember that people who shout abuse are idiots, and there's nothing you or medical science can do to change that

Roundabouts, I'm guessing you can't take these as you would in a car, fortunately I've only had to turn left but how would you take one going straight on or turning right?

The safest plan is usually to do exactly what you'd do in a car. Ride in the centre of the lane, give clear signals and keep looking around you.

 

[tyred]

The highway code has a section on cycling which you should read.

The most important points in the real world are to take the lane where necessary, don't ride too close to the kerb (that invites cars to skim past at dangerous moments), signal where appropriate and always take a look over your shoulder before moving out to the middle of a lane (primary position) or moving around parked cars or other obstructions. Never ride close to parked cars as someone could throw open a door and have you off. Not many roundabouts where I cycle but I generally just take a primary position in the lane and use as I would in a car. I would practise this at quiet times if you're doing it regularly. If it's exceptionally busy or fast moving and you don't feel confident, consider crossing as a pedestrian while wheeling the bike until you gain a bit more confidence.

 

[LosingFocus]

Is there an approved hand signal for "Im going to go straight ahead at this roundabout mate, not left, not right - straight ahead; so dont bother trying to get up either side of me OK"? I used to do a kind of fly-fishing cast movement to show I was going direct rather than turning when I was a nipper but I doubt its the proper thing.

 

[frank9755]

Is there an approved hand signal for "Im going to go straight ahead at this roundabout mate, not left, not right - straight ahead; so dont bother trying to get up either side of me OK"? I used to do a kind of fly-fishing cast movement to show I was going direct rather than turning when I was a nipper but I doubt its the proper thing.

No there isn't a hand signal; you show it by being in the right place. It depends on the junction but it would generally be in the middle of the left hand lane.

 

[MossCommuter]

I used to do a kind of fly-fishing cast movement to show I was going direct rather than turning when I was a nipper but I doubt its the proper thing.

I saw an old boy doing that a little while back at a mini roundabout.

It didn't half look funny but I tell you what - every other vehicle approaching that roundabout stopped and he sailed across safe as houses.

The "proper" thing, then, is anything that leaves other road users in no doubt as to your intentions I suppose.

 

[Davidc]

Read the highway code, read cyclecraft, then assume that everyone on the road is stupid, on the phone, and looking the other way until proven otherwise, while putting them into practice.

I tried a real (car) horn and 12v of battery on my round-town bike a couple of weeks ago, and it got pedestrians out of the way well. I'm tempted to buy an Airzound after trying that.I've been thinking of it for ages.

 

[LosingFocus]

I saw an old boy doing that a little while back at a mini roundabout.

It didn't half look funny but I tell you what - every other vehicle approaching that roundabout stopped and he sailed across safe as houses.

The "proper" thing, then, is anything that leaves other road users in no doubt as to your intentions I suppose.

I picked it up from my Dad a I think (who would, at 65, now be considered an old boy for sure).

I try to take proper positioning, but Im still at the "oh, better get over a bit" mental stage.

 

[mog35]

The safest plan is usually to do exactly what you'd do in a car. Ride in the centre of the lane, give clear signals and keep looking around you.

+1

I used to be apprehensive about roundabouts and would go out of my way to avoid them. If I couldn't, I'd tentatively navigate around them on the left hand side, which isn't exactly the safest thing to do if turning right or going straight ahead. I'm amazed I didn't have any accidents to be honest. I despair when I see cycle lanes which do exactly this.

Nowadays I just take the lane, which really makes a difference. I've never had any grief for doing this

 

[Bluebell72]

Read the highway code, read cyclecraft, then assume that everyone on the road is stupid, on the phone, and looking the other way until proven otherwise, while putting them into practice.

I tried a real (car) horn and 12v of battery on my round-town bike a couple of weeks ago, and it got pedestrians out of the way well. I'm tempted to buy an Airzound after trying that.I've been thinking of it for ages.

Ha ha ha! Wow, love it.

I've got an old car horn, with a rubber bulb and brass horn, maybe I should fix that on my handlebars. ]

 

[ohnovino]

I think one of the keys to safely negotiating a roundabout is speed. If you're slower than the rest of the traffic it can get very scary, with the feeling that the cars behind are going to swamp you. If you're at least as quick as the other vehicles, you can fit into the "rhythm" of the traffic and it's all pretty safe.

I used to hate roundabouts when I first started, but now I'm a bit quicker I prefer them to traffic lights (as they don't lead to tight bunches of cars accelerating away from the junction).

Don't forget, if you come across a roundabout you don't like the look of, there's no shame in getting off, crossing the roads as a pedestrian and re-mounting when you reach your exit. Well, maybe a little shame...

 

[Phixion]

I took the inside lane yesterday and some stupid wench come on the outside lane and took my exit.

I always feel a lil unsafe on roundabouts.

 

[headcoat]

We've got a roundabout near us, the left turn takes you onto the motorway and the straight on one goes under the Mway, the traffice lines direct you to the right hand lane to go straight on, so potentially if you don't take control of this lane you can have cars either side of you 40 mph

 

[byegad]

Yes the old Cycling Proficiency and for that matter driving test made you use had and arm signals. Nowadays I've had people wave back to me while I've been signalling to turn right.

PROGRESS!



Not!

 

[danphoto]

Read the highway code, read cyclecraft, then assume that everyone on the road is stupid, on the phone, and looking the other way until proven otherwise, while putting them into practice.

What he said