Motorcyclists

In Ottawa from 2009-2013 people who ride motorcycles were involved in 790 collisions leading to 12 fatalities and 542 injuries on Ottawa streets. People who ride motorcycles are considered vulnerable road users for the following reasons:

• Motorcyclists have on two points of contact on the road and require great skill, balance and diligence to prevent collisions. 
• Motorcyclist are small so they are difficult to see and gauging their speed and distance

The Ottawa Safety Council offers motorcycle training for all skill levels. Visit www.ottawasafetycouncil.ca for more information.

Tips for motorists

• Keep a safe distance when following a motorcycle - at least two seconds
• Motorcycles use a full lane - treat them like other vehicles
• Check your mirrors and blind spots frequently, especially before changing lanes -a motorcycle is small enough to be entirely hidden within your blind spot
• Pay special attention at intersections, where almost 50% of motorcycle collisions occur

Tips for motorcyclists

• Keep a safe distance around you and maintain proper lane position
• Check your mirrors and blind spots frequently - be alert for all other traffic, particularly at intersections
• Be seen! Wear bright colours and reflective clothing, and ride with your lights on
• Be safe! Always wear an approved motorcycle helmet and protective gear when riding

A vehicle blind spot is the area around the vehicle that the driver cannot see, whether through the rear-view mirrors, backup camera or by doing a shoulder check. If you are in the blind spot, the driver simply cannot see you. The larger the vehicle, the larger the blind spots.

It’s essential that smaller, more vulnerable road users – pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders and motorcyclists – know where blind spots are so they can stay out of them.

For example, when a heavy truck is stopped at an intersection, any smaller road user and even a small vehicle beside it are invisible to the driver. Stay in front or at the rear of the truck where you are visible. The truck driver should stay back to see these road users through the front windshield.

These graphics show the blind spots (in red) and the safe zones (in green) around a heavy vehicle.

Safer Roads Ottawa attends in-person events that include demonstrations of vehicle blind spots. To see a schedule of events, visit the Upcoming events webpage.

You can also visit the Stay safe, stay back website, from the Share the Road Cycling Coalition.

What is a roundabout?

A modern roundabout is a circular intersection that does not have traffic signals. It is designed to maximize safety and minimize traffic delay.

Key features

• Central island: A raised area in the centre of a roundabout around which traffic circulates.
   
• Splitter island: A raised or painted area on an approach used to separate entering from exiting traffic, deflect and slow entering traffic, and provide storage space for pedestrians crossing the road in two stages.
   
• Circulatory roadway: A curved path used by vehicles to travel in a counter-clockwise direction around the central island.
   
• Truck apron: If required on smaller roundabouts to accommodate the wheel tracking of large vehicles, an apron is the mountable portion of the central island adjacent to the circulatory roadway.
   
• Yield line: Pavement marking used to mark the point of entry from an approach into the circulatory roadway; is generally marked along the inscribed circle. Entering vehicles must yield to any circulating traffic coming from the left before crossing this line into the circulatory roadway.
   
• Pedestrian crossings: Set back from the yield line and the splitter island to allow pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles to pass through.

Adapted from Federal Highway Administration, Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, Report No. FHWA -RD-00-067, June 2000

Traffic flow  

• Low speed on approach
• Approaching vehicles yield to traffic already in the roundabout
• Vehicles drive counter-clockwise and always to the right of the central island
• Low speed on exit
• Continuous movement of traffic

Signs 

Exit locations in the roundabout

Roundabout ahead. Reduce speed to 30 km/h

Yield to traffic in the circle

Indicates direction to follow in the roundabout

For more information on roundabouts, download Navigating Roundabouts [PDF – 432 KB] or e-mail 311@ottawa.ca.

Making a right turn

1. Unless posted otherwise, use the right lane if there are multiple approach lanes and turn on the right-turn signal.
2. Reduce your speed.
3. Keep to the right of the splitter island.
4. Allow cyclists to enter the roadway in front of you.
5. Watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk or waiting to cross. Be prepared to stop if a pedestrian is already in the crosswalk.
6. Move up to the yield line and wait for an acceptable gap in traffic. Do not enter next to someone already in the roundabout, as that vehicle may be exiting at the next exit. (If another vehicle is stopped at the yield line, do not stop on the crosswalk. Keep the crosswalk clear for pedestrians).
7. Enter the roundabout when there is an adequate gap in traffic within the circular roadway.
8. Within the roundabout, do not stop except to avoid a collision; you have the right-of-way over entering traffic. Keep to the right of the central island and travel in a counter-clockwise direction.
9. Do not overtake other vehicles and cyclists.
10. Keep to the outside of the circulatory roadway within the roundabout and continue to use your right-turn signal as you exit. If there are multiple exit lanes, use the right-hand lane.
11. Maintain your slow speed until you have passed the crosswalk. Watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk or waiting to cross and cyclists on the road as you exit.

Making a left or U-turn (exiting more than halfway around the roundabout)

• Follow the same steps from 1 to 9 (see above).
• When you have passed the last exit before the one you want, use your right-turn signal and continue to use your right-turn signal through your exit. Maintain a slow speed.
• Watch for leading or adjacent vehicles on the outside (for multi-lane roundabouts) that continue to move around the roundabout.

Moving straight through 

• Follow the same steps from 1 to 9 (see above).
• When you have passed the last exit before the one you want, use your right-turn signal and continue to use your right-turn signal through your exit. Maintain a slow speed.
• Watch out for leading or adjacent vehicles on the outside (for multi-lane roundabouts) that continue to circulate around the roundabout.  

Large vehicles

When approaching a roundabout, do not overtake large vehicles (trucks and buses) and give them plenty of room. They may have to swing wide on the approach or within the roundabout.

Emergency vehicles

If you are in a roundabout when an emergency vehicle is approaching, proceed to beyond the splitter island of your exit before pulling over to the right and stopping. Do not stop in the roundabout. If you haven't entered the roundabout, wait until the vehicle has passed before entering.

Tips for two-lane roundabouts

Turning left

• Be in the left lane and put on your left indicator as you enter the roundabout.
• Stay in the left lane as you enter the roundabout.
• Indicate a right turn as you approach your exit.
• Stay in the left lane as you exit the roundabout.

Moving straight ahead

• Be in either lane. You do not need to use an indicator to go straight ahead as you enter the roundabout.
• Stay in the same lane as you enter the roundabout.
• Indicate a right turn as you approach your exit.
• Stay in your lane as you exit the roundabout.

Turning right

• Be in the right lane and put on your right indicator as you enter the roundabout.
• Stay in the right lane as you enter the roundabout.
• Keep your right indicator on until you have exited the roundabout.
• Stay in the right lane as you exit the roundabout.

Adapted from Federal Highway Administration, Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, Report No. FHWA -RD-00-067, June 2000(link is external)(link is external).