Highway code - is this a change.

[scruffyponies]

I just re-read the horsey bits. One thing struck me as odd. Not sure if it's new.

"Avoid roundabouts wherever possible. If you use them, you should

• keep to the left and watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout
• signal right when riding across exits to show you are not leaving"

Firstly, roundabouts are a fact of life, and not 'avoidable' without riding on pavements. So: keep left, whilst steering right, and at the same time signal right pretty much the whole time as you go around the roundabout. Did the person who wrote this have 2 right arms, or assume we're all riding polo ponies? Not to mention how much the 'keep left' position would confuse surrounding drivers.

Have to say, I will be ignoring this, and continue to signal my intention with appropriate and clear road positioning. I will not be hugging the gutter around the edge being cut up by all and sundry as they overtake; I'll be owning my lane, making it clear where I'm going.
It's what's kept me alive so far.

 

[teapot]

It’s not new.

 

[webble]

That's always been the case for horses

 

[Equi]

This has always been the way it is. It’s to avoid cars undertaking horses in the left lane and blocking you from leaving.

 

[Fred66]

This has always been the way it is. It’s to avoid cars undertaking horses in the left lane and blocking you from leaving.

It’s also to avoid you being both under and overtaken at the same time.

Its a rule that is in place to ensure safety so is definitely one to be followed

 

[AmyMay]

This is how we’ve always ridden roundabouts.

 

[Kaylum]

This is how we have always been taught to do roundabouts. Even 30 plus years ago bhs riding and road safety.

 

[scats]

This is how I’ve always ridden roundabouts. You only need to signal right when approaching an exit you aren’t taking, you don’t need to constantly signal right.

 

[BSL2]

Not new.

 

[Rowreach]

Not new and much safer to stay to the left and not end up squished between vehicles coming up both sides of you. "Owning your lane" when you are a vulnerable road user is incredibly risky.

 

[Red-1]

Yep, I used to ride in areas on busy roundabouts, including motorway roundabouts, and this is how we did it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Echo the others, it's not new. My RCs ex police force Riding and Road Safety tutor told us nearly 40 years ago 'Never be the meat in a sandwich' ie never put yourself in a position where you can be undertaken and overtaken at the same time.

Anyone who can't ride while holding the reins in one hand and signalling with the other shouldn't be on the roads.