This type of roundabout, which is very common in Central European countries, is coming to Spain and has already been installed in several cities in our country. We tell you how they work and what their advantages are.
Roundabouts are essential elements in today’s urban traffic, as they allow for greater fluidity and also the reduction of certain risks in crossroads or intersections.
But there are several types of roundabouts, such as turbo roundabouts, which we have already told you about. Now they’re catching on roundabouts that give priority to bicyclesalso called Dutch roundabouts.
What is a bike roundabout or dutch roundabout
The first thing we must be clear about is that in reality a roundabout of this type has the same shape as a conventional one, but with the difference that includes a perimeter ring that is nothing more than the extension of the bike lane.
This, in practice, gives priority to vehicles circulating on the cycle lanes inside the roundabout. This is valid for bicycles, electric scooters and in general all Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP) authorized to use the aforementioned bike lane.
How a bike roundabout or dutch roundabout works
The operation of this type of roundabout is the same as the usual one in that the motorized traffic that circulates inside it has priority over the one that intends to enter it.
Of course, as happens with pedestrians at the zebra crossings located at the entrance and exit of the roundabout, cyclists or scooter users and other VMP also have priority while traveling on the outer ring or bike lane.
This is how a Dutch roundabout works in the Netherlands.
The position of the bike lane, which is usually indicated in maroon or green, is variable. In some roundabouts it is located right in the outer perimeter of the roundaboutwhile in others it does so a few meters behind, next to the pedestrian crossing, leaving space for a vehicle below and before entering the roundabout.
Be that as it may, in this type of roundabout the cyclist will always have priority over motorized vehicles, as well as the pedestrian.
Advantages of the roundabout bike or Dutch roundabout
The intention of this type of roundabout is to put an end to the abuse of cyclists in a point as conflictive as this point usually is. On many occasions, cyclists and users of electric scooters, who are forced to circulate on the road or on the bike laneare not respected or seen by drivers, causing serious accidents to this vulnerable group.
Unfortunately, in Spain its implementation is being complicated as a result of the lack of culture of the driver with this type of roundabouts and the circulation of bicycles in the cities, which has led on more than one occasion that priority is not respected or incidents occur.
Will they be more and more common and end up triumphing?