Roundabout Cycle Lane Query

[aycliffeboy]

Can I get your advice

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&...

Roundabout where Heighington Lane and Durham Way South Meet

The plan view shows cycle lanes going all the way up the the give way line of the roundabout (streetview is slightly different).

Now if you wish to turn left is this classed crossing a cycle lane ie a shoulder and left hand mirror check ? As you have to concentrate of right hand traffic at the same time this seems like madness.

Even if this isn't the case such an arrangement is an accident waiting to happen, as cyclists will use the cycle lane to go straight on even when a vehicle to their right is signalling left

[OvalOwl]

Did you mean here? http://goo.gl/maps/k6bkJ

Welcome to the daft world of cycle farcilities.

If I was going left from Durham Way South into Heighington Lane in a motor vehicle I would position it so that a cycle couldn't come up my near side leaving me free to concentrate on traffic on the roundabout. The lane is advisory (broken line) so you may drive in it.

Cycles going straight on or turning right should not be in the lane, they should be adopting the primary position (centre of traffic lane) to make their intentions clear.

[SK425]

aycliffeboy said:

Now if you wish to turn left is this classed crossing a cycle lane ie a shoulder and left hand mirror check ?

Daft layout or otherwise, your decision whether to do a shoulder and/or mirror check does not depend on what this pattern of white paint is classed as - that would be driving by rote which is the opposite of advanced driving. Your decision depends on your assessment, on a case by case basis, of whether those checks are necessary to gather all the information you need to gather in order to proceed safely.

[MrTrilby]

The cycle lane is marked with a dashed line, so it's not mandatory and cars can legally enter it. I'd suggest that when turning left, cars should enter it once at the head of the queue to prevent the issue you describe of bikes coming up your inside and continuing straight on.

It also goes without saying (although not always easy) that before turning left you should always do a shoulder & mirror check, regardless of road markings.