Re: Roundabouts

On 7/12/2024 4:13 PM, Wolfgang Strobl wrote:

Am Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:34:16 -0400 schrieb Catrike Ryder
<Soloman@old.bikers.org>:
 

On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 19:16:19 +0200, Wolfgang Strobl
<news5@mystrobl.de> wrote:
>

Am Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:38:03 -0400 schrieb Catrike Ryder
<Soloman@old.bikers.org>:
>
>

Although it's more often unavoidable, I've learned from bitter
experience, that trusting motor vehicle drivers to refrain from
hitting me should be avoided whenever possible and reasonable.

>
Of course. That's why I prefer roundabouts like these.
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<https://www.mystrobl.de/ws/pic/fahrrad/cycling101/roundabout.gif>
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No car driver tries to text on their cell phone while driving through
such a roundabout. On the other hand, it's quite easy to cycle through
it quickly.
>
I you prefer a longer version
<https://www.mystrobl.de/ws/pic/fahrrad/cycling101/roundaboutquickandsafe_e960.mp4>
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>
>

Too
often they are chattering or texting on their phone, checking their
GPS, watching or tending to their pets or children, changing the radio
station, or just too heavily involved with the music. Of course, they
also might be driving under the influence of ???

>
Don't know about the US of A, but around here in Germany or France
people driving drunk use the very same surreptitious routes that
frightened cyclists seem to prefer. On a regular road you have a good
chance that an accident gets noticed, somebody stops and helps or calls
for support.  Out there nobody will see or hear you suffer.
>
Years ago, a dear colleague was only found dead the next morning after a
fall on his way to work. He was just as critical of cycle paths and
separation as I was, but appreciated the chosen shortcut because it was
nice and quiet.

 

The only roundabouts that I've ridden around here are tiny little
neighborhood things that don't take up much more space than a regular
intersection.

 We, on the other hand, have traveled a lot by bike since we were young,
so our bikes have already seen many small and large roundabouts. For
example, this large one in France on the D5 near Bize-Minervois in 2011,
my wife riding her bike in front of me.
 <https://www.mystrobl.de/Plone/radfahren/fahrten/urlaub/frankreich-2011/d5.JPG>

I'm pretty familiar with roundabouts too. It must be well over ten years ago that one was installed on what was my bike route to work. It replaced a very frustrating traffic light and tremendously improved traffic flow while cutting crashes. Since then, two others have been installed on roads that I frequently ride and occasionally drive.
Oh, and we rode and drove through lots of roundabouts when we were bike touring in France. But in Troyes, IIRC, I came upon the only one I remember with an on-road bike lane in the outer perimeter. You'd think the potential for crossing conflicts would be obvious.
The key for bicycling competently, as with most traffic situations, is to operate the bike about the same as you'd operate a motorcycle or car. For roundabouts, that means riding lane center to dissuade motorists from doing dumb stuff.
--
- Frank Krygowski