Roundabouts? AARGH!

[Dodgy69]

I used to work for a company who had a defence arm. The testers used to take the Warrior tanks out on the local roads. Now that would be fun.

[Cousin Jack]

I used to work for a company who had a defence arm. The testers used to take the Warrior tanks out on the local roads. Now that would be fun.

I met one, on a roundabout, in Slough! Not on test, some sort of security flap or exercise at Heathrow.

[Horse]

You alls need to get ya arses to MK Pretty much every roundabout here is a two laner and there are, you might say, a few.

I never have any of these problems.

I learned to ride & drive in Basingstoke. At that time it had about 40 roundabouts - none of which were the like the one in the Highway Code (one was 1 1/4 miles around - which to be treated as a one-way system).

[Cousin Jack]

You alls need to get ya arses to MK Pretty much every roundabout here is a two laner and there are, you might say, a few.

I never have any of these problems.

I learned to ride & drive in Basingstoke. At that time it had about 40 roundabouts - none of which were the like the one in the Highway Code (one was 1 1/4 miles around - which to be treated as a one-way system).

One big one over the A5 in MK used to be a nightmare on fine weekends. It was close to a bike dealer and was the knee down route of choice. It was a big RAB, and a good rider could circulate at about 70mph or so. The sight lines were good for maybe 40 mph. They solved it with traffic lights on the RAB.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah there was one of them in Portsmouth too while I was a kid/teenager/first driver. At the top of the M275. Taken out and replaced with lights.

Come to think of it, I've not been around a properly massive roundabout for ages and I can't remember being on one without lights for >20 years now.

[Horse]

one was 1 1/4 miles around - which to be treated as a one-way system

One big one over the A5 in MK used to be a nightmare on fine weekends. It was close to a bike dealer and was the knee down route of choice. It was a big RAB, and a good rider could circulate at about 70mph or so. The sight lines were good for maybe 40 mph. They solved it with traffic lights on the RAB.

The Basingstoke one had so much space inside that it was known as the 'trail bike roundabout'.

@Tricky misspent his youth there, I believe.





https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/ind ... dabout.jpg



Top right of the photo is the town's main drinking water borehole and pumping station.

Just out of shot was the old Thorneycroft factory site, with the 'plating' works at its northern end.

Rumour was that the workforce used to tip the dregs (cadmium and other luvverly stuff) out the back.

Fear was that major road works construction would disturb those chemicals, with them entering the water table.

So, for many years, this remained the incomplete section of the ring road.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Well it does go about, but I wouldn't call it round.

[Horse]

Well it does go about, but I wouldn't call it round.

Like I said, none looked like the one in the HC then, four roads at 3 6 o and 12 O'clock.

[Dodgy69]

Overcrowded roundabouts don't work, is my conclusion.

[Horse]

Overcrowded roundabouts don't work, is my conclusion.

IMHO the roundabouts that are most dangerous are those that permit higher speeds.

And if a roundabout has traffic lights, that's no longer really a roundabout.

And ... I like the ones where lanes lead to exits

[The Spin Doctor]

Yep, I see far too many drivers entering roundabouts far too fast. Then they think folk have pulled out in front of them. I think the common phrase for these sorts is...fcuking arseoles.

But IAM / RoSPA still promote straight-lining roundabouts to 'make progress'.

[The Spin Doctor]

Where I used to live there was a small suburban roaunsabout half a mile or so from my home. As I approached, the view into the road on the right was completely obscured by a tall hedge. However, vehicles arriving on that road had a very clear view of both the roundabout and the approach to their right so tended to steam onto it without slackening speed. After a few near misses I tried to avoid it when possible.

One of those on one of my rider assessment routes... easy to spot the riders who think 'I have right of way' from the riders who think 'the other driver might not see me'...

[The Spin Doctor]

Overcrowded roundabouts don't work, is my conclusion.

They don't - particularly if there is a stream of traffic mainly back and forth in one direction. They were getting taken out and replaced with traffic signals.

[Mr. Dazzle]

There are a few here in MK which are "half lit". Strikes me as the worst of both worlds, the entrances which are controlled get a nice steady flow but the ones which are not get left picking up the scraps of gaps.

Re: 'straightlining' roundabouts. I do it all the time in the car, albeit with my head on a swivel. In fact as I've probably mentioned before, the goal jn MK is the three drain covers In a car if you straightline the roundabout with maximum efficiency your left wheels hit drain covers on the entry and exit and your right hits one on the 'apex'.

In possibly related news, I had to replace the front bushes in my BMWs suspension twice in 100k

[Dodgy69]

Always straight line when safe. Road surface on roundabouts can be a bit challenging.

[Cousin Jack]

I do it too, but beware of the sports bike, late braking from Warp Factor 7, that might not have been visible in your mirror 10 seconds ago.

[Horse]

Re: 'straightlining' roundabouts. I do it all the time in the car, albeit with my head on a swivel. In fact as I've probably mentioned before, the goal jn MK is the three drain covers In a car if you straightline the roundabout with maximum efficiency your left wheels hit drain covers on the entry and exit and your right hits one on the 'apex'.

An important point you've hinted at is that planning and execution of this needs to start well before the roundabout.

Potentially:
Centreline
Left kerb
Right kerb
Left kerb
Centreline

However, concerns:

- Planning to exit and end over by the centreline leaves no leeway

- It's likely you'll be increasing your speed, so:
1. The island kerb 'apex' needs to be beyond mid-way
2. If you are going faster, holding the line accurately will be more difficult

- if the island is raised at all, it's likely to obstruct your view of the surface beyond

- If you're committed to this (line and speed) early, you need a good view of all other roads in, traffic and pedestrians

[Mr. Dazzle]

I just have god as my copilot

[Horse]

I just have god as my copilot

How often does she start praying?

[Pirahna]

The roundabouts here are a disaster. Most are two lanes, the Spanish are taught to drive round them in the right hand lane, unless you're very certain of the outcome use the inside at your peril. On a busier dual carriageway you'll find the right lane on the approach to a roundabout one big queue with nobody in the left lane, they're all too firghtened/sensible to use it. You can spot the non-Spanish using roundabouts, they're the ones that indicate.