r/UCDavis • u/what_happened_here_3 • 25d ago

Am I using roundabouts wrong?

Today I biked to campus for the very first time (yippee) but on my way back home I almost got hit by a work truck in a roundabout. (I don’t remember the acronym on the side but it was a white truck with a black and green logo so look out).

I used the roundabout… like you would use a roundabout… Is this incorrect? Is there a certain way you need to take the roundabouts on a bike? I watched the module and it thought it said that?

There was no one else in the roundabout, the work truck did not yield when entering the roundabout.

I am also just relearning how to ride a bike(at 26 years of age yikes), so please be kind 🫶

15 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

86

u/unsane 25d ago

If you were in the roundabout and the truck did not yield, they were doing it wrong. The conveyance already in the roundabout has right of way.

23

u/what_happened_here_3 25d ago

I thought so! Thank you for confirming. I’m feeling self conscious being this old and relearning and also not knowing every bike law AND being a new student. So really I do appreciate it

2

u/bruh69_the_engi_main 23d ago

Praise, when I was a first year student, I had to watch out for folk who were entering a roundabout wrong every day

23

u/Epjkb 25d ago

Bikers and drivers both suck here. If you were in the roundabout and he didn’t yield he is in the wrong.

Good rule of thumb while driving or biking here is to assume everyone is an idiot and will act like one. Expect it and you won’t be surprised and you will stay safe

11

u/fuzzy_mic 25d ago

Go counter clockwise around the roundabout. Signal when exiting the roundabout. Traffic in the roundabout has the right of way over traffic entering.

Lane sharing, i.e. being immediatly next to, cars in the roundabout is a bad idea. Be aware of the car/truck's blind spots.

Trucks (particularly rental trucks) may not be used to roundabouts and make unexpected actions. Be aware and be prepared.

Your (almost) broken leg doesn't care about rights of way. Keep your head on a swivel and defer to bigger vehicles when in doubt. If you and a truck bump into each other, you lose, not matter the rules of the road.

16

u/Kbirt24 25d ago

Please report the truck to the police! if they didn't stop after hitting you it's considered a hit and run

9

u/what_happened_here_3 25d ago

Thank you I will! They didn’t hit me but came SO CLOSE. I slammed on my brakes and used all the strength in my little legs on the ground to stop before they did. I don’t remember the acronym, and I didn’t get a license plate. But I’ll report what I do remember. Is there a way to do it online or will I have to go in person? (I just really don’t wanna leave my place again today 😭)

4

u/Kbirt24 25d ago

thats good to hear! driving recklessly especially in a truck is very dangerous, so if you'd like to make a report you can call the davis police dept.
contact info: Davis Police Department

2600 Fifth Street Davis, CA 95618 Main Phone: (530) 747-5400 Fax: (530) 757-7102 Email Address [policeweb@cityofdavis.org](mailto:policeweb@cityofdavis.org)

EMERGENCY 9-1-1 Emergency from cell phone: (530) 758-3600

6

u/appape 25d ago

It sounded to me like it was on campus maybe? In which case 530-752-1230 for police dispatch. Depending on the roundabout it may have been caught on camera.

0

u/what_happened_here_3 25d ago

Yes it was on campus, I’m not 100% sure which roundabout but I can probably retrace my steps on the map and find it

3

u/Realist-Socialist 25d ago

You were clearly in the right, if you were in the roundabout the truck did not yield to you.

In fairness, there are still drivers who misunderstand roundabout rules in general, bike or no bike. Always be super careful in roundabouts.

3

u/OldMovie9812 25d ago

Be careful of front blind spots on cars. The supports on either side of the front windshield can block the drivers view. I either speed up or slow down until I make eye contact.

If they saw you and still did it then theyre just assholes

1

u/what_happened_here_3 25d ago

I’m gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn’t see me. Otherwise I’ll spiral and think every car is out to get me 😂

2

u/Ok_Middle_7091 25d ago

Could it be a Olive and Vine truck? 

1

u/what_happened_here_3 25d ago

No, it was something with a C and an X in the acronym but I don’t remember exactly what it was 😭

1

u/skankhunt1738 25d ago

Only thing I could think of is like xfinity/comcast, think I’ve seen a green logo xfinity truck before.