Proper Traffic Circle Behavior
#1
I <3 my bike.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 104
Bikes: '00 Gary Fisher Big Sur // '02 Giant Boulder // Couple of '81 no-name 10 speeds
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
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?
#2
52-week commuter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,929
Bikes: Redline Conquest, Cannonday, Specialized, RANS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
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.
#3
Full Member
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.
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.
#4
Banned.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 13,075
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#5
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
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.
I do not like traffic circles for either my car or bike. But they are sure putting them in here like crazy.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Down on East End Avenue.
Posts: 1,816
Bikes: Salsa Las Cruces, Burley R&R and a boat load of others.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.