Luckily only one knocked me off my bike. Big roundabout first accident on first exit, 2nd exit (dcw) cars stopped I'm pedaling like mad as usual to get onto the quiet country lane asap. See Golf approaching, I carry on because rules of the road but no stop until knocked me off. Pick myself and bike up while swearing a lot very loudly. Informed by driver he didn't see me. Swear more. As I get off the roundabout he ****s off. I throw my bike at hedge. Another car stops man asks of okay and gets out. Thanked him. Ride to work. Grazeded knees and sour sore.
Had been wondering when something like that would happen on that roundabout but trust cars to stop as majority do.
Then 2/3rds of the way to work another accident car over turned in the same place as last week. Police closed road while vehicle recovered.
And still summer holidays so no school runs yet.
Might have to change route. Shame as narrow country lane is nice provided no traffic on it but if crazed mums late for school on it could be bad.
1st time actually hit by car, been bicycle commuting over ten years.
Can't decide if driver saw me as inferior and that I should give way or if he was too busy rubber necking at the accident behind me to notice me in front of him.
Less than a month on new commute to new job that takes me over the big roundabout.
You've done well 10 years of commuting with no accidents. Been 'picked up' myself on a round about - big dent in car bonnet ! Knocked off about 3/4 times in as many years (Manchester).
I use an off road route these days. Far nicer.
Hope you/bike is OK.
Im sorry but a car cut in front of you and you went into it? Where you watching him? do you have brakes?
Sounds like car ran into cyclist, OP on roundabout already, passing junction, car didn't stop and went into him.
Yes car didn't give way to cyclist on roundabout.
Where you watching him? do you have brakes?
where does it say that - sounds to me like driver pulled out of a roundabout entrance and hit OP who was already on it. Unclear whether 't-boned' or pulled in front and OP went into car, but either way car driver totally to blame.
Yes, we should be able to stop in the distance we can see but when a car suddenly inserts itself from a side road into that stopping distance it's out of our hands.
See Golf approaching, I carry on because rules of the road but no stop until knocked me off.
So you saw the hazard but didn't take any action? Of course legally you were right but its something I always watch for when riding because cars often underestimate the speed of a bike.
Defensive riding and reflective practise
Who T-boned who?
Defensive riding and reflective practise
I agree, but to what extent? If I'm pedalling along at a not world record but equally not insignificant commuting pace (say 10-15mph) and a car appears at a side road? Do I carry on or slow down (to what?) just in case they pull out, getting slower and slower the closer I get.
And roundabouts are worse - all the above plus there are frequent rear enders where a car coming up to the roundabout is looking right for a gap, spots it, and then either finds the car in front hasn't gone, or buzzes onto the roundabout into the back of something to their left that they didn't see because they were looking right for the gap. That thing to the left could well be a bike, particularly if bike is slowing just in case the car from the next road round hasn't seen it, etc.
I tend to do the same as the OP on a roundabout with cars coming for all directions, I'm looking for the way to get off it and back onto a 2 way road as soon and as safely as possible.
Had been wondering when something like that would happen on that roundabout but trust cars to stop as majority do.
Painful lesson. Never ever trust a car driver. Always assume they have not seen you. Stationary car at a junction you are about to pass - watch the top of the front wheel. Car approaching roundabout - you are likely in the b pillar blindspot - if you haven't made eye contact slow down.
Had been wondering when something like that would happen on that roundabout but trust cars to stop as majority do.
Don't.
Not putting my safety in others hands has saved my arse numerous times. Glad you're mostly ok though 🙂
I agree, but to what extent?
to the extent you do not get hit by idiots. On a roundabout I am watching every car entering it - if stationary the top of the front wheel as that is where you see movement first. If they are still moving make sure you have eye contact as above you are likely in the b pillar blindspot. I watch every car around me, I make risk assessments depending on a load of factors
At 15mph you should be able to stop the bike in a few bike lengths - I have been in exactly the same scenario as the OP only I was doing nearer 30 mph. Car coming onto the roundabout did not see me or thought he could get out in front of me. I had already seen him tho and was ready to brake - sure enough he did drive straight on to the roundabout but as soon as it was clear he was not going to stop ie before he even entered the roundabout I was on the brakes hard.
50 years of urban commutting I have hit one car and that was totally my fault and I am quick thru traffic
My post is NOT victim blaming - clearly the car is 100% at fault. Its about learning the lessons to survive on the roads Defensive riding and reflective practise
I agree, but to what extent?
If I see a car that could hit me if it doesn't stop then I'm not pedaling and the brakes levers are at the biting point. Even if I see a car stopped I'm at a minimum still covering the brakes and watching the front wheel for any sign of movement.
My question is still who 'hit' who?
If a car goes into the side of you there's not a great deal you can do other than swerve and hope for the best. If you go into a car, even if you are 100% in the right, there was probably something you could have done.
25 years commuting here. Only had cars go into the side of me and, touch every piece of wood I can find, not yet gone down because of it.
Same thing happened to me on a roundabout, modern cars (SUVs and MPVs especially) have really thick A pillars that are easy to lose a cyclist in, I got collected by a Fiat 500X, passenger saw me, driver didn't. Edit, it was too late for me to brake, they hit me almost dead on the rear, I went up in the air but landed on my wheels and rode it out.
I had a 2 Series Active Tourer that was awful for it, I nearly had a crash at a roundabout the first week we got it because I didn't see an entire car in the A pillar blind spot, luckily the wife was in the car with an unobstructed view and the lesson was learned.
Shame the tool that hit you didn't stick around, I was lucky and got a lift home and a new bike when it happened to me.
bloody hell TJ, you love falling out with people for no reason. See every thread going…
I don't always agree with TJ but on this I do, treating roundabouts and junctions on a bicycle like you're driving a car will get you killed, especially around commuting times.
I can count four occasions this year alone on the same roundabout where if I hadn't slowed/braked I'd have been over the bonnet of someones car, **** that, it hurts.
I don't think it's possible to ride around a roundabout on an open road and not be in danger of being hit by a careless driver. Do you people walk around the outside of them? For all your wishful thinking sometimes you're not doing anything but trusting that people aren't going to drive into you.
My one roundabout collision was with a doddery old fool who had seen me but got confused and decided to go anyway as I passed.
Been ‘picked up’ myself on a round about – big dent in car bonnet ! Knocked off about 3/4 times in as many years (Manchester).
My mste in Manchester has a similar record, I thought it was just him.
I wasn't there so not getting drawn in to TJs comment, but I was offered a free Bikeability course a few years ago, after 10+ years of commuting. Level 3 identified a few bad habits I'd got into and boosted my road craft and confidence. I would reommend it to anyone.
Manchester is pretty shoot for commuting - not quite critical mass of cyclists and traffic is bad. The roundabout one - I'd seen the driver not looking (driver next to them had seen me) and then swerved to avoid them, but ran out of road and got scooped up by the wing. Handlebars flipped over and dented the bonnet and I went through the wing mirror.
Others have been swiped from the side as a car moved over, then had a couple of cars turn right across my path, even with braking you'll get scooped up if they don't brake. Tends to be small cars with me, small Fiats, Aygo's etc.
I avoid roundabouts like the plague, and those that I do use, I'm very wary now. I don't use any on the commute.
I try to make eye contact with drivers of cars approaching roundabouts, when I’m cycling round them. Of course it depends on the geometry etc.
Also recommend daybright flashing lights, if you're not already using them - Exposure Link on the helmet follows the movement of your head as well
not insignificant commuting pace (say 10-15mph) and a car appears at a side road? Do I carry on or slow down
I watch for eye contact. No eye contact, I'm slowing down, I might shout which is surprisingly effective at waking up an inattentive driver. And then I'll make a judgement call when I think I'm able to pass the bonnet before they can sweep me up, normally by moving across the lane to give a bit more space. This is why I absolutely hate illegal tinted windows, and to a lesser extent, sunglasses, as you can never be sure you've made eye contact.
Exposure Link on the helmet follows the movement of your head as well
I've been hit by a car once. Car driver at fault pulling out of a side road, I was on an urban dual carriageway and kicked myself off the driver's door which put me into the outside lane before. It was dark and raining. I'd looked at the driver and made eye contact, she definitely saw me, I then looked ahead and carried on pedaling. She then pulled out in front of me. I reckon the spotty helmet light got her attention, and then as it turned away she thought I'd turned into the side road. My bar light was on but probably merged into the traffic passing me in the outside lane.
I'm now very wary using a helmet light on the the road, however a low powered wide flood style is probably still a good thing as it won't shine 'at' anyone.
The driver in this situation has left the scene of an accident. Which I believe is an offence.
You should go back tomorrow a bit early and wait to see if you can spot that Golf, then you can report them to the police.
You should report it anyway as you are injured.
Been commuting for over ten years so I've learnt defensive riding. Also learnt I personally can't spend every ride to work thinking it might be this time I get smashed by a car, can't spend every morning and afternoon hating on and fearing drivers. I wouldn't say trust is the right word, perhaps more like faith that the majority don't intend to cause us any harm... eases the tension while cycling to work.
The entrance onto the roundabout I was passing (from where the car came) I'm always wary of because of the speed cars approach the roundabout - it's biased toward the dual carriage way - if its clear for drivers to continue onto the roundabout there's very little round-abouting to do so they carry their speed. Even as a driver it can be unnerving to pass when turning down the country lane between the dual carriage way exit/entrance. Despite this until today vehicles stopped.
Once across the roundabout I'm cycling along a quiet narrow country lane which over the past month has been virtually traffic free and very pleasant to cycle along on these warm mornings. More so than any other other route so despite reservations about the roundabout I've kept using it, and navigating the roundabout takes barely any time (unless hit by a car).
Anyway doubt I will be riding around it again for some time.
Wasn't seeking advice, and definitely don't feel like arguing about what I should/shouldn't have done. It just felt pretty shit, I was pissed off, disappointed, but thankfully unharmed and able to get back on the bike and ride to work.
Wouldn't know what to report. Maybe a Golf, very dark blue or black, guy maybe late 30s early 40s, dark hair, accent from round this way. Fingers crossed someone else might have reported him, cheers me up to think that. Maybe someone at the other accident.
Really glad you’re not badly hurt, definitely the driver at fault. You must report the accident because you have sustained an injury even though you don’t have any details, all adds to the statistics to improve road safety for cyclists.
Having commuted by bike for many years, TJ is absolutely right in that every driver is a potential threat and until you have made eye contact with the driver you must presume they haven’t seen you.
For the record, I’ve been hit by cars twice in the last 10 years and consider myself lucky!
It will help flag the junction as an accident hot spot, if nothing else.
"– it’s biased toward the dual carriage way – if its clear for drivers to continue onto the roundabout there’s very little round-abouting to do so they carry their speed. "
Just bad design. My dad was a civil engineer specialising in roads. He said the first thing roundabouts need to do is force drivers to slow down by not having a straight path through.
As a cyclist they can be tough. Need to take the lane. Be fast enough to get through and get clear but at the same time slow enough to be able to brake.
Never had a crash on one. A few close calls though.