Plans for new cycle lane on 'magic roundabout' aim to prevent accidents

“As someone who used a painted green cyclelane on a roundabout here in Hampshire and was put in an ambulance when a driver didnt bother looking, I feel the paint is just snake oil.

Cyclists are far safer taking the lane and acting like drivers. If a driver pulls out forcing you to stop/deviate path you do need to be vocal and shout a (polite warning) such as "watchout! bike!" Always cover the brakes through roundabouts too

...though sometimes even if you take every step to be safe it can still happen. What is needed is better education (tv ads?) and better punitive measures for some of the worst road users. Until that happens we will continue to see this continue, a quick glance on approach is often not enough.

As for my driver he admitted he hadn't even looked, though was never prosecuted.”

“The "Magic Roundabout" in York is very different to the roundabout in Loughborough. They took a lot of effort to make it safer for cyclists, as described below.
Case Study: The Magic Roundabout, York
¿¿ York City Council has attempted to overcome the concerns by placing the ¿innovative¿ cycle lanes nearer to the centre of the roundabout. This places cyclists more directly in the sight line of drivers (see photos 8.4 and 8.5)
¿¿ In addition, on the approach to each exit, the lanes split into two so that it is clearer whether cyclists are turning off or continuing around the roundabout¿
¿¿ The roundabout also features a geometry which encourages low vehicle speeds - the so called 'continental design'
¿¿ This effect is further enhanced by the cycle lanes which make the roundabout look smaller. Average entry speeds have been brought down to 17mph, compared with 31mph before¿


Extracts from York City Council website)

Leicestershire County Council just propose to paint a green strip round the outside, and ignore the other details.

Why not put traffic lights and crossings as they have done at the Epinal Way / Ashby Road roundabout just up the road. This greatly reduced collisions and casualties.”

“Looks like another County Council 'cycle friendly' scheme put in place without consultation with cyclists! Personally this sounds like one of those green lanes that I avoid like the plague as it makes like far more dangerous. The real issue here is motorists perception of cyclists and cyclists perception of motorists (and indeed how to get round a roundabout safely). Sticking to the outside all the way around is an amazing way to put yourself in the firing line of every lane you pass by.

On the plus side the councils attitude to cyclists in the County is reflected at County Hall. Substandard facilities at Glenfield for cyclists while managers get a nice covered private car park to use.”

“The other thing is that at both these junctions they have railings etc around the crossings leading up to them - these definitely obstruct a drivers view if they are going too fast and should be removed.”

“As somebody who was knocked off at another roundabout in loughborough ( The one between park road and epinal way ) i feel the need to comment on this.

Cyclists shouldnt have to dismount, or do anything apart from obey the rules of the road.

Cyclist wants to turn right at a roundabout? He should signal right go into the right hand lane and go around that roundabout on the same path as a car.

If cars are going too fast then do something about it. People think that because epinal way/ling road has streches of dual carriageway that they should be going fast. These junctions should either have traffic lights to slow them down, or have the roundabouts removed altogether and put straight crossroads in with traffic lights. Ling road should be single carriageway. The dual carriageway cuts the neighbourhood in 2. It's a case of them having a line of land since the 1930s set aside for a dual carriageway, and instead of looking at what is suitable now, just go ahead and build the dual carriageway.The same is probably true of the stretch between ashby road and alan moss road.

I can see that they're trying to help improve the cycling facilities with lanes etc, but beyond a certain point they have to make people drive ( and cycle ) correctly. On the roundabout where I was knocked off, they have put off road paths around the edge rather than sorting the real problem which is the busyness, layout and lack of traffic control on the junction in question. Road bikes dont like going up and down kerbs and nearly every bike path going still uses a lowered kerb stone rather than joining the tarmac of the road directly ( which they do in amsterdam for instance).

I guess the other thing with the scheme they are proposing is that these things have to be tried out somewhere...

Rich”

“anon they cycle lane goes around on the outside lane.

Personally I wouldn't use the cycle lane as it puts a cyclist in the most dangerous position.... in the way of a car about to turn left.

I'd either dismount or cycle properly on the road like any other cyclist should be able to do.”

“NOTICE

Cyclists Dismount Here,
and procede on foot until after the roundabout...

Cost of notices - 4 roads= 4 signs. = £500.

Cost of common sense?
Priceless”

“if the cycle lane cuts straight thru' the roundabout could it not be given right of way? i.e. put "give way" lines to the right of the cycle lane?”