A bicycle friendly roundabout: designing to direct cyclists to ride where drivers look

This paper examines why roundabout safety benefits don't extend to cyclists and how roundabouts might be changed to reduce roundabout crashes involving cyclists. Conflict points and paths are considered. A comparison is made between cycling in the centre of the lane (along the primary conflict path) versus cycling along the left edge of the lane. If on the edge, a second conflict is created, which may easily be overlooked in a one-lane environment. All roundabout crashes occurring at Victorian roundabouts from 2005-2009 are assessed, with DCAs recategorised into roundabout crash types. Austroads and VicRoads design guidelines promote use of bicycle lanes through roundabouts. Cyclists are most likely to be seen if they ride in the middle of the driving lane. This maximises visibility to cars, maintains a simple one-lane conflict point environment, and reduces the likely speed of impact if a collision does occur. The C1 Roundabout is a new bicycle friendly design which provides clear cues to cyclists to move out from the kerb to the middle of the lane - to facilitate cyclist positioning along the path where drivers are most likely to look. If cyclists are more likely to be seen, they are less likely to be crashed into. Treatments are proposed which slow approaching, entering and circulating vehicles and align entering vehicles for improved visibility to the right. It is recommended that road authorities review the research about the dangers for bicycles in the outside edge of roundabouts and revise design guidelines, with circulating bicycle lanes prohibited rather than recommended.