Roundabouts are among the more intimidating road features you face as a cyclist. Here’s how to get around them confidently and safely.

Roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving. The choreography isn’t complicated: you signal where you’re going and you give way to traffic approaching from your right. When everyone is observant and adheres to the rules, traffic merges and splits seamlessly. Problems arise – particularly for cyclists – when, in their haste to get onto (or off) the roundabout, some road users barge in front of others due to impatience or carelessness.

Being T-boned by a driver joining a roundabout, or hitting the side of their car, is the biggest risk cyclists face in this situation. Around 70% of cycle crashes at roundabouts happen where entry roads join them. Often it’s a SMIDSY incident: sorry, mate, I didn’t see you. Such incidents are much more likely if you’re close to the roundabout edge. You’re harder to see there and both you and the driver have less time to react. Take your lane! The Highway Code now endorses this advice. Rule 79 says: “Position yourself in the centre of your lane if it is safe to do so.”

With good road positioning and effective communication with drivers, cyclists can use roundabouts confidently and safely. That’s what we’re going to look at here.

Alternative tactics

But first it’s worth noting that you can often avoid using roundabouts. If there’s one on your journey to work that you’re not comfortable cycling around, plot a different route with a navigation app. It doesn’t matter if it’s less direct or takes longer. You’ll be happier.

If you can’t avoid a roundabout that you find intimidating, deal with it as a pedestrian instead. Pull over to the side of the road a good distance ahead of the roundabout and push your bike along the pavement, crossing each side road in turn. Walk along the pavement of your exit road, then carefully rejoin the road when you’re at least 30 metres from the roundabout.

Approaching a roundabout

As you approach any roundabout, take your lane. On a single-lane road, that’s straightforward. If the road divides into two or more lanes, you usually want the leftmost approach lane that goes in the direction you’re headed. Check behind at least 50 metres before you’re due to reach the roundabout, signal if necessary, and get into the centre of your chosen lane.

Taking the lane like this will dissuade drivers from racing to get the roundabout ahead of you, then cutting you up as they pull in or as they turn left at the roundabout. Being in the centre of your approach lane also sets you up to take the appropriate lane on the roundabout itself. Signal clearly as you approach the roundabout so that any drivers behind you and on the roundabout know where you’re going.

As you near the roundabout, ensure that you’re in a gear that you can accelerate away in so that you don’t get stuck trying to set off from a dead stop in top gear. If possible, try to avoid coming to a complete halt at the roundabout. Adjust your speed so that your arrival at the roundabout coincides with a gap in the traffic. If you’re forced to stop, it can be difficult trying to get up to speed to merge with moving traffic. But you may have to, so be ready to brake.

Turning left

Signal left as you join the roundabout. If you’re comfortable riding one-handed, signal left until you reach your exit. Otherwise, signal left as you join the roundabout, then again as you approach your exit. Remember to take your lane on the roundabout and as you enter your exit lane. This should prevent left-turning drivers overtaking you and cutting you up.

Going straight on

Join the roundabout and take your lane. As you pass the exit before yours (which is to say, the one on the left), signal left. If it’s too awkward to keep signalling left – because you need both hands on the handlebar – signal left again as you approach your exit. Remember: keep in the centre of your lane.

On a two-lane roundabout, unless road markings indicate otherwise, it’s up to you whether you use the left-hand or right-hand lane to go straight on. Both are permitted. Using the left-hand lane prevents drivers going straight ahead from undertaking you on the roundabout. Using the right-hand lane prevents drivers turning left from cutting across you. The best option will depend on traffic speeds, primary traffic flows and the size of the roundabout. If in doubt, use the left-hand lane but (as ever) make sure you ride in the centre of that lane, not at the edge.

Turning right

Join the roundabout and take your lane. Signal right as you join the roundabout and as you approach each intermediary exit. Some cyclists will be comfortable doing that by leaving their right arm out; others will want to return their hand to the handlebar in between exits in order to control the bike better. As you pass the exit before yours, signal left and then exit the roundabout.

On a roundabout with two lanes, it’s usually better to take the right-hand lane because that’s what drivers do and what they expect other road users to do. It means you won’t have to deal with drivers who are leaving the roundabout cutting across you. Instead, you’ll be the one changing lanes. As you pass the exit before yours, signal left, check behind, then peel over into the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so. Then exit the roundabout.

Mini roundabouts and gyratories

Mini roundabouts can usually be treated like any other roundabout. There are two complicating factors. The first is that they’re small, with the entry and exit roads very close together. No one spends more than a moment or two on the roundabout, so it’s less obvious who gives way to whom. As a result you sometimes get a standoff, where no one is sure who has right of way.

You can sometimes take the initiative by coming to a ‘rolling stop’ as you approach the mini roundabout. That is, you slow down but don’t halt. As you get closer, you can assess whether it’s safe to continue onto the mini roundabout or whether you need to stop. You’ll have momentum on your side if you do proceed.

The second issue is that the central circle of a mini roundabout, whether raised or flat, can be driven over. Drivers approaching at speed, perhaps also confused about who has right of way, may go straight over – even if you reach the roundabout before them and are turning right. As you approach the mini roundabout, weigh up what any drivers are doing on their approach, make your turn signals unambiguous and be ready to halt if necessary.

Gyratories are like roundabouts but are bigger, with straight sections of road between the entries and exits, making them rectangles or pentagons rather than circles. Because of the straight sections, traffic can travel faster. Gyratories also often have multiple lanes. While the same rules for roundabouts apply, negotiating gyratories can be problematic. Avoid them unless you’re already comfortable riding on roundabouts and on multi-lane roads.

Non-traffic hazards

Slippery surfaces such as wet ironwork, diesel spills, ice, mud or gravel are more hazardous on roundabouts than on straight roads. You will, inevitably, be turning, and you might be braking or have only one hand on the handlebar. On frosty days or whenever there’s been recent rain after a dry spell – something that will bring spilled oil to the surface – take great care on roundabouts. Brake harder as you approach the roundabout so that you can ride around it steadily. If you take too much speed onto the roundabout, you may fall.