UK's first Dutch-style roundabout gets underway in Bedford

'predictability of the final destination,' Hardly what the film buff cyclists want to read!

This is pretty scandalous. Using a £420K cycle safety grant to build a 'Dutch-style' turbo roundabout. A turbo roundabout is not what is shown in the picture. A turbo roundabout is a high speed solution for motor traffic which is never used by bikes in Holland... http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2012/01/turbo-roundabouts-be-carefu...

Big Softy. My life is worth that, it just seems a lot of money for what it is

I was one of the guinea pigs for the dutch style roundabout tests at TRL. I think the picture is similar to what we were testing with a separate cycle lane round the outside.

Sarah's comment "other styles of Dutch roundabouts feature segregated cycle lanes around the outside" suggests that the Bedford one isn't the same as what's in the picture.

In the segregrated cycle lane type, yes the motorist exiting has to give way to a cyclist going round, though various different methods and combinations of laning and give way markings were tested at TRL.

Like in this (to me) terrifying video: youtu.be/wEXD0guLQY0

But since this doesn't appear to be the same type of roundabout it's not clear if exiting motorists have to give way.

Well, I don't think the dutch generally would have cyclists taking a turbo-roundabout. Turbos are meant to allow motorists to get through roundabouts faster, by reducing conflicts. Cyclists would have a separate cycle track usually. If the dutch had cyclists mixing with traffic on a roundabout, it would usually require the roundabout to be single-lane, in a 30 km/h zone.

(I say 'generally', because no doubt there are exceptions - but then those exceptions are usually in low-traffic areas, e.g. because there are better routes for both cars and cyclists, or because it's a low-traffic, rural area).

so are vehicles exiting the roundabout going to have to give way to cyclists crossing the exits? Becayuse until that is so, it is NOT a Dutch style roundabout...

With the Dutch only using turbo roundabouts in conjunction with an entirely separate walking/cycling route because of known problems......

So, what's described in the article doesn't sound like what it shown in the photo, but rather a turbo-roundabout:

However, not quite the dutch turbo-roundabout, but a watered down version, with bumps that can still be driven over rather than the hard, raised kerbs of the dutch versions.

*Takes a seat nearby this new roundabout and grabs some popcorn*

Quote:

Although cars will be able to cross lanes, they will get a ‘bumping’ sensation reminding them to reduce their speed

Oh yes, i'm sure that's going to work perfectly with the British driving public.

The lanes are said to be wide enough for a car, but not a lorry, to overtake a cyclist who is cycling close to the kerb or plastic lane divider.

Said by who? (this is not a rhetorical question).

And why would someone be cycling next to a plastic lane divider?

Presumably the expense is because it's a new idea in this country, I doubt they would cost that much if there was a widespread roll-out.

I think this is a really good idea. There's a big roundabout where I live, where car drivers keep using the wrong lane so that they can jump in front of the queueing traffic for one particular exit, then they swap over halfway round the roundabout. It's bad enough in the car but could easily be fatal on a bike (either pedal or engine-powered).

Sending police patrol cars up there would be one solution, but if not then these roundabouts are probably the next best thing.

"The lanes are said to be wide enough for a car, but not a lorry, to overtake a cyclist who is cycling close to the kerb or plastic lane divider. "

FFS, what they mean is the car could do some shitty pass if the cyclists is cycling in the gutter and not attempting to cycle around potholes etc.

This sounds pretty awful to me, problem being the larger vehicles might also attempt the overtake whilst still being mostly in the same lane - causing a danger on both sides of the overtaking vehicle.

If you're approaching a roundabout, the norm is to ride in primary.

I sometimes have to deal with entrances to bike lanes on side roads which seem to think I can turn within the width of a bike wheel, this brings up the question - can I cycle this infrastructure at 10-20mph, or do I have to cycle like some 3 year old on a tricycle?

Example bad bike lane entrance:
http://goo.gl/maps/NVmMu

Quote:

The lanes are said to be wide enough for a car, but not a lorry, to overtake a cyclist who is cycling close to the kerb or plastic lane divider.

Not if I'm taking the lane there bloody isn't. Car driver looking right to see if okay to enter roundabout, bicycle at front nearside corner of car. Why might that not turn out well?

Damn that is expensive!!!

American 4-Ways? They don't work here in the US either ...

Looks good. Motorists don't tend to respect each other in roundabouts - let alone cyclists. The American's 4 way stop signs always amaze me. Can you imagine a system based on manners working here? There would just be four cars crashed in the centre with the drivers fighting each other..

"The lanes are said to be wide enough for a car, but not a lorry, to overtake a cyclist who is cycling close to the kerb or plastic lane divider."
- Because waiting until the roundabout is cleared to overtake would be far to much of a waste of important car driving people's valuable time.

Half a million quid for a roundabout!