Some cyclists think that they have right of way and drivers are confused by cyclists going around the outside. I have very nearly been taken out there myself. And the one on the A4 by Henwick. I don't think drivers expect cyclists to be on the outside and don't therefore look for them.
I think technically with the solid markings on the cycle lane all the way around, cyclists may actually have right of way under the highway code:
119: Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply. Law RTRA sects 5 & 8
On a bicycle being on the edge of the roundabout if nasty, as I've noticed drivers tend to look directly at the centre of the road and directly at the junctions, rather than looking at the edges. For my own safety I cycle where drivers can see me.
I personally think the money would be better spend on other things than re-painting (not sure what though)
Oh, and before someone else moans about cyclists not paying road tax (I've been reading this forum for long enough to know it will happen) ... a large majority of us cyclists also own, tax, insure and may even drive cars! Some of us even have liability insurance for when on a bike as well! (it also comes as standard with some cycling organisation memberships, like CTC or British Cycling)
I agree there are idiots out there who cycle irresponsibly, I've seen them and they annoy me as well because they give us all a bad name, but please don't tar us all with the same brush. I bet we have all have seen or even know idiotic drivers who should be removed from the roads as well!
Right that was my tuppence worth for the year... anyone got a ladder for this soapbox?
The danger area as far as I can see doesn't always come from the motorist. I have seen on the odd occasion a cyclist riding straight onto the roundabout from the town and a car coming from the Andover Road and already on the roundabout to turn left into St john's Road coming very close to contact. The car has to cross the green track so in that case who would be in the wrong if there was an accident. ?
I think there is a white-dashed give-way style line for both to enter the roundabout, so whoever was already on the roundabout has right of way .. and not being there at the time I can obviously not tell who is in the wrong, so I will not be taking 'sides'.
However I will say it gets tricky when both enter from different junctions at the same time. In theory the motorist gives way to the cyclist if they have already reached the junction exit as the white line and green lane is continuous for the cyclist past the junction exit, and as such the the driver has to give way to exit. It's in these situations that I've seen cars enter and speed up to cut in front of the cyclist to get off
It's even happened to me a couple of times, and hence why I now tend not to use the lane and try and stay where cars can see me (and not cut me up on the roundabout). I actually think it would be better erased than repainted, as it would reduce the confusion over rights of way for both parties.
On a bike there is nothing worse than people speeding up to get in front, then slowing suddenly to turn of 10ft in front of where they overtook, and It's happens so often it's kind of a fact of cycling now. The most memorable occasion fro me was when cycling up Streetly hill, just before the apex someone shot around me, and quickly pulled over to the left so they could turn into the car park at the right, forcing me into the verge/bank causing me to stop, so they could save 15 seconds or so ... A lot drivers tend to forget that it takes effort to build up momentum on a bike, especially on a hill .. and it's so much easier for them to push that throttle down!
One failing do I feel we have in the UK is that many new rules are introduced in the highway code (such as the rules on not entering cycle lanes), but many motorists who passed their tests decades ago (including, I ashamed to say, myself) are never fully aware of the new additions and changes. I'm not suggesting that we should all re-sit a driving test regularly, but perhaps changes to rules should probably be publicised more often?
Cannonfodder - Your post says Rule 119 but you mean Rule 140 of The Highway Code. This only applies if the cycle lane is mandatory. A mandatory cycle lane is defined by a solid white line to separate motor vehicles from entering.
BUT - Council's cannot just introduce these lanes and road markings on a whim, they have to go through lengthy public consultation processes just like speed limits and any other traffic law has to (weight limits, no turning, parking).
For a motorist to be prosecuted for entering a cycle lane (with a solid line) there would have to be a legal document Traffic Regulation Order to back up a prosecution. This legal document must specify exactly where the cycle lane starts and finishes. It must also state in what circumstances a vehicle can enter it (to cross it to get to a private driveway for instance or buses allowed to enter the lane to get to a bus stop perhaps)
Having looked at the West Berks website there doesn't seem to be any 'mandatory' cycle lanes in our area at all, although there do seem to have been some marked up with solid lines. If the council have marked them up with solid lines they have done it illegally and not in accordance with the guidance and regulations provided by DfT.
Not sure (haven't seen) what's happened at St John's but if there's solid lines at the junction for vehicles entering the roundabout then that's incorrect (see para 16.5) It should be a broken line with additional 'cycle' symbol to warn drivers to be aware of cyclists.
It might not seem important to some but if there was a serious accident here involving a cyclist then that's when the legality of road markings comes to the fore - and solid lines for cycle lanes are illegal at a junction and illegal without a legal traffic order.
140 - Cycle lanes. These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply. [Law RTRA sects 5 & 8]
Looking at the photo the car must cross what appear to be 'Hazard lines', and as such ...
[i]127 -A broken white line. This marks the centre of the road. When this line lengthens and the gaps shorten, it means that there is a hazard ahead. Do not cross it unless you can see the road is clear and wish to overtake or turn off. [i]
To I suppose you could technically argue the driver who cuts in-front of a cyclist is 'overtaking' to pull off the junction. This behaviour from my experience is the cause of most near misses I've experienced/seen when .. which begs the question what's the point of the cycle lane with broken marking anyway, aside from separating the cars from the cycles as they go in the same direction ?
Please don't get the impression I'm anti-car, I've too have seen the idiots on bikes jump reds, come out of junctions without looking, cycling at night without lights etc. etc., and it really annoys me. But I see and experience a lot more car drivers make the assumption that because they are bigger and heavier than cyclists (and pedestrians for that matter) they are automatically have the right of way, don't realise how long or wide their cars are (the Chelsea tractor brigade especially!) and force you off the road as they overtake, or just plain don't see you.
Well I certainly would never attempt to be on the inside of a roundabout.
The expectaion of drivers is that the cyclist would be on the left of the appropriate lane for the direction they want to take. If turning right, then on the left of the right hand lane. "Inside" was a confusing word, but hopefully the above explained what I meant. In the case of the St Johns roundabout there are actually two cycle lanes around the outside. I cycle as much, if not more than I drive, and I find that roundabout a challenge.
The above said, much of Newbury's cycle lanes are ill thought out. Another example is coming from Greenham across the Burger King roundabout to the Andover Rd, cyclists are directed through the underpass (that roundabout is suicidal for cyclists), yet the exit is on the wrong side of the road for the continuing cycle route. So you have to go under the roundabout only to cross Andover road to get back on the route.
Been round there this morning and it looks very complicated, different lines and road finishes, why have they just selected St john's roundabout for this? If it is such a good scheme why are all the other roundabouts not marked the same?
Or is it just a new form of Council artwork to help traffic calming?
Really can't get my head around the reasoning for it myself? Just treat it the same as any other roundabout I suppose?
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