Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Do I have a choice?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Do I have a choice?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-16-10 | 12:45 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Washington

Bikes: '77 Traveller III '05 Rockhopper.

Do I have a choice?

The new roundabouts built in my area are configured for bicycles to exit and use the cross walks for side streets. They then usually "drop' back into a bicycle lane.
This example shows the bike lane exiting onto the sidewalk.
Here is a street view. That fuzzy white blob on the street light on the right side is a sign that reads "Bicycle lane ends."
It's not official, but it looks to me like the round-a-bout is designed to keep traffic under ~20mph.
If I am traveling above 12mph, I ignore the exit signs and take the lane in the round-a-bout until I take my exit and then move back into the bicycle lane when it becomes available. If I am slower than that, I take the sidewalk as indicated by the signs.

The signs read 'bike lane ends' and 'bicycles use sidewalk'.

Am I courting the flames of danger and riding like an outlaw?

The most important question... Can I get a ticket for this?
Scrockern8r is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 12:50 PM
  #2  
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Ask in the Advocacy and Safety forum. Not a clue here. Most roadies will probably just muddle through in the traffic lane.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 12:50 PM
  #3  
merlinextraligh's Avatar
pan y agua
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,812
Likes: 1,234
From: Jacksonville

Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike

I'd check your Washington statutes and local ordinances.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
merlinextraligh is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 12:55 PM
  #4  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Check the local statutes. FWIW, if it were me, I'd just take the traffic lane.
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:00 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Washington

Bikes: '77 Traveller III '05 Rockhopper.

Thanks. I'll post over there.
Please drop thread.

Last edited by Scrockern8r; 09-16-10 at 01:03 PM.
Scrockern8r is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:08 PM
  #6  
collegeskier's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
From: Evanston, IL

Bikes: Felt F5, Fuji Robaix Pro and a KHS Mountain Bike

I actually sat in a round-about (traffic cirlce) design course. Without knowing rules of your particularly state I can tell you that the design is the typical design called for by high design manual. They asked the class what people would do who came across it, I said merge with traffic and then go through as a vehicle and another person said go to the side walk, both are acceptable methods of navigating the intersection. The are also designed to keep vehicles around 20 mph as noted in general so both are relatively safe, plus no stopping and all legal. Do watch for cars entering onto your right-away though. Been cut off plenty of times in the good old rotaries both in cars and on a bike. Oh the joys of New England.
collegeskier is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:23 PM
  #7  
urbanknight's Avatar
Over the hill
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24,624
Likes: 1,383
From: Los Angeles, CA

Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend

+1 to checking local laws, but if it were me, I'd check the sign for a code reference as well. Some cite the ordinance, some are just suggestions.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
urbanknight is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:32 PM
  #8  
mrbUSA's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 2
From: Pompano Beach

Bikes: Scott CR1 Home Spun

Check the laws. I have two roundabouts on one of my favorite rides. The sign posted says bike lane ends. That's all. So as I approach the roundabout, I check behind me for cars. When it appears safe enough, I take to the middle of the lane and proceed through the roundabout. Once clear I pull back into the bike lane when it picks back up.

I take to the middle of the lane because I have had people actually try and get around me in the roundabout. Aholes for certain, not remotely thinking of the danger they are creating. I'll bet there is no law stating you cannot maintain your ground on the road. Be careful either way.
mrbUSA is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:40 PM
  #9  
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 40
Likes: 0

Bikes: Fuji SL-1 Comp, Specialized Allez Sport

Bike lanes are more hassle than they are worth. You always have to watch for them to suddenly end and then merge back into traffic. I prefer riding in normal traffic lanes. But then, I also live in a moderately rural/suburban area and I stay off the busiest roads, I'd probably feel differently if I were riding in a city.

I would certainly never use the sidewalk, though, that's just ridiculous. A bike is a vehicle, and you should use the roundabout as if you were driving through it.
pilechko is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:46 PM
  #10  
Issaquatch's Avatar
Training
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah, WA

Bikes: 2015 Focus Mares CX, 2008 Cannondale Supersix

To the OP, it is fine for a cyclist in Washington to take the lane in a traffic circle. I do it all the time. You don't have to use the bike lane at all if you can ride at or near the pace of traffic, which is easy to do in a traffic circle. You are generally obligated to stay as far right as you safely can if you can't keep pace with
traffic, but even then a traffic circle is a prime example of a place where it wouldn't be safe to stay to the right.
Issaquatch is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 01:48 PM
  #11  
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
I'd take the traffic lane.

You can't get a ticket for this unless there's a law against it, and that law is enforced. They can't be bothered to enforce red lights here. Hell, Seattle's police won't even enforce some of the drug laws. I don't think you have much to worry about from a handful of seconds in a round-about. Especially since bikes can get through them more quickly than cars, who invariably slow to about 3 mph because they're so much wider than us.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 02:10 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 603
From: DFW
I would call the city planning dept and/or police and ask. It's not a big town, they are probably approachable.
hammond9705 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 03:33 PM
  #13  
nhluhr's Avatar
John Wayne Toilet Paper
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke

Bikes: BH carbon, Ritchey steel, Kona aluminum

The roundabouts in Port Townsend are just like that too. Very annoying. I just blow through them in the automobile lanes. I go faster than the cars through there anyway.
nhluhr is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 05:28 PM
  #14  
DScott's Avatar
It's ALL base...
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
Take the lane. No way am I going to exit from the flow of traffic, then suddenly merge again onto the street a few seconds later. That's an invite to get flattened.

If you need any reason why this is good idea, take a look around in that second googlemaps pic. You'll see a truck pulling a trailer and driving in the bike lane. That kind of quality driving is why you need to ride defensively. Watch your ass out there!
DScott is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 08:13 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Unless there is a sign that specifically forbids it you should be good. Sidewalks aren't safe for cyclists.
mgdunn2 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-10 | 11:54 PM
  #16  
Issaquatch's Avatar
Training
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah, WA

Bikes: 2015 Focus Mares CX, 2008 Cannondale Supersix

Originally Posted by Issaquatch
To the OP, it is fine for a cyclist in Washington to take the lane in a traffic circle. I do it all the time. You don't have to use the bike lane at all if you can ride at or near the pace of traffic, which is easy to do in a traffic circle. You are generally obligated to stay as far right as you safely can if you can't keep pace with traffic, but even then a traffic circle is a prime example of a place where it wouldn't be safe to stay to the right.
To be clear -- I was summarizing the relevant provision in the revised code of Washington in my post above. Unless there is a local ordinance in your town prohibiting you from using the road (which is very unlikely), then you have the right to ride in the traffic lane (generally staying as far to the right as reasonably safe) and to take the lane completely either when needed for safety reasons or when you can keep pace with traffic.

Here is a link to the relevant section of the RCW: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.770

And this is also relevant: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.61.755
Issaquatch is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wipekitty
Advocacy & Safety
30
11-10-18 07:52 PM
maallyn
Pacific Northwest
29
09-08-17 06:26 PM
JohnX
Advocacy & Safety
20
07-15-17 03:03 PM
tarwheel
Commuting
15
10-12-10 10:52 PM
Scrockern8r
Advocacy & Safety
17
09-18-10 11:13 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.