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Proper Traffic Circle Behavior

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Old 09-02-05, 08:46 AM
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Proper Traffic Circle Behavior

There are a couple of traffic circles on campus here and I want to know how to properly behave in one.

Do I still keep to the right? Do I ride in the center?

I am inclined to ride in the center because 1) you are supposed to go slow in traffic circles and 2) it seems like a real easy way to get cutoff since all people do in traffic circles is turn right!

But I often find myself going slower than the bus or car behind me and so I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

Advice?
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Old 09-02-05, 08:51 AM
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Ride in the center of the lane. Yield to traffic in the circle when entering, assert right of way toward entering traffic when you are in the circle.

I find on a bike I can easily keep up with traffic flow in a circle.

Around here we have multi-lane traffic circles (what a disaster). I ride in the center of the right-most lane.
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Old 09-02-05, 09:05 AM
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Any talk of traffic circles and i think of 'National Lampoon's European Vacation', "Look kids, Big Ben, Parliment, Look kids, Big Ben, Parliment" for hours!

that and the Simpson's that was on last night, they got stuck in a traffic circle for like a day, and then Homer goes "It's time to start acting like an American, Unilaterally!" and proceedes to cut off everyone on the circle. i love Homer. i want to bear his love babies. i need help.
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Old 09-02-05, 10:48 AM
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Use the full lane. Move to the right only when when you are approaching your exit. If you keep to the right before then, others are likely to assume you are exiting when you are not.
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Old 09-02-05, 06:44 PM
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Got in one the other day. I was in the middle of the lane. Of course, there was a lady in a SUV who totally didn't see me, but I anticipated that she would not see me, so I slowed as she violated my right -of-way.

I do not like traffic circles for either my car or bike. But they are sure putting them in here like crazy.
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Old 09-07-05, 01:15 PM
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Traffic circles? Oh, you mean American mazes. Seriously how can something so simple be so confusing? I've even know of a traffic circle that has traffic lights! As DCCommuter said, yield to those already in the circle, but also don’t forget to keep right. I have seen drivers get very confused when confronted by a traffic circle, once a person went around to the left, but we stopped before colliding. I got good at traveling through the TC while in South Africa where they are very common.
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