Circular Intersection Basics
This article introduces the topic of circular intersections, also called traffic circles, rotaries, and roundabouts. Wikipedia has a detailed description of them.
I hail from Massachusetts, which is notorious for its circular intersections — called rotaries here. Most date back to the early decades of the 20th Century. A few are modern roundabouts, with entries and exits that deflect and slow motor traffic.
This article will cover the basics of riding a bicycle through a small rotary. We’ll deal with complications later.
Mastering a small circular intersection
You can think of a circular intersection as a one-way street wrapped around into a circle, with T intersections from the outside of the circle. At a T intersection, entering traffic yields to traffic on the top bar of the T. This rule is especially important in a circular intersection. If traffic in the circle had to yield, it would pile in but couldn’t keep moving: instant traffic jam!
Be glad that you are a bicyclist as you approach a circular intersection. Bicycle drivers have a much easier time than pedestrians with these intersections. The secret of success? Stay away from the outside edge. If you are at the edge, drivers entering the circle have to turn their heads sharply to see you. Exiting vehicles go nearly straight and do not have to slow down much. Keep far enough toward the inside to allow motorists to enter and exit on your right. No entrances or exits are at the inside, and so no vehicles will cross your path. I have sometimes demonstrated this by riding two or more times around a rotary before exiting!
CyclingSavvy student Ian Whiting captured the ride shown in the image above at a small rotary in Waltham. The video below illustrates all the points I have made.
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Circular intersections are well-known to achieve smoother traffic flow and greater throughput than signalized intersections, because traffic does not have to stop moving. But — there are also problems. Another article addresses these, and describes how to navigate larger, multi-lane circular intersections.
If you would like to check out the very intersection shown in the video, sign up for a future course with me. I have courses in the warmer months every year.
John, I would add to signal as you prepare to exit the circle and glance over your right shoulder. That white car that yielded to you may come up suddenly on your right.
bobgr — I use a rear-view mirror, so I can glance into that. Ian Whiting shot the video. The car had conclusively yielded to him. He probably gave a hand signal, but the signal isn’t visible in the video. Neither is his head: his cameras were mounted on the bicycle and maintain a constant forward and rearward view.
John you are on to something. The first time I approached one I thought “ok yield to traffic in the circle means I could go around this thing all day and maintain the ROW”. Pacifist that I am I decided to carry on.