Dutch roundabout: What is it and how to navigate it

Bicycle lanes have long been a part of urban planning and transportation distribution. With them, cyclists and the increasingly popular e-scooters can move more comfortably and safely, separated from pedestrians and other vehicles.

However, even though they are so common and easy to use, they often get complicated when the bike lane reaches an intersection or roundabout. That's where Dutch roundabouts come in, according to USA News.

A Dutch roundabout is a conventional roundabout that also includes a bike lane so that bicycles and electric scooters can travel on it. It can have one two-way bike lane or several separate ones for each direction of traffic.

It gets its name from the fact that it originated in the Netherlands, which is where they are most common. Although there are not so many of them in Spain and the rest of Europe, they can already be found in some cities and are becoming more common.

Their benefits are obvious: they provide greater safety and comfort for both cyclists and other drivers. Of course, for them to be effective and safe, you need to know how to navigate these intersections.

At a Dutch roundabout, the same priority rules apply as for the rest of the traffic. That is, pedestrians have the highest priority, followed by cyclists and personal vehicles, and finally other transport.

In any case, even though pedestrians have priority when crossing at a zebra crossing, they must make sure that they are seen by both cyclists and drivers, stop, and not cross until they have been given the right of way.

For their part, cyclists should stop at pedestrian crossings located at the entrance or exit of a roundabout when there is a person ready to cross. When entering a roundabout, they should respect the priority of cyclists who are already passing through the roundabout. They should also make sure they are seen by drivers and sign properly when they are about to exit the roundabout.

As for drivers, they should also allow pedestrians to cross the roundabout when there are no bicycles in the bike lane. When entering the roundabout, they should give priority to those cars that are already turning around it. The most convenient way is to stay in the inside lane until you reach the exit, then gradually change to the outside lane until you turn into the exit, always using your turn signals.