Going through a two-lane roundabout. L or R lane?

[Oakie]

My scenario is a roundabout with an inner and an outer lane. The inner (right) lane markings show that you can either go straight through the roundabout or veer right. The outer (left) lane markings show that you can either go straight through the roundabout or turn left.

Assuming you are going to go straight through the roundabout, which of the two lanes available do you use (given that you can legally use either). I tend to use the inside (right) lane because it straightens the route quite nicely and gives me a little better view of anything approaching from my left. I am aware though that some motorists approaching from my left may see me in the inside lane and assume I am going to veer right and so continue into the roundabout ... and into my path. So. Left lane, Right lane or don't care? And why?

[Slyer]

All other variables equal, I'd choose the inside lane, means that the traffic to my left have a free left turn.

[slofox]

I go through such a roundabout not far from my home. I usually use the right (inside) lane...because I can fang it harder in that lane than in the outer lane...

[been_there]

The least amount of traffic suits me

[PirateJafa]

I just ride over the roundabout.

Fuck the establishment.

A bit of mud never hurt anyone.

[Supertwin Don]

As far as can remember, the rule is the same in NZ as in UK - KEEP LEFT - any right hand lane is a "passing" lane, so you should only be in the right hand lane if you are passing something i.e. left turner.
Also, unless it is marked otherwise, someone in the left lane has the right to go ALL the way around the roundabout. Makes for interesting viewing sometimes

[slofox]

As far as can remember, the rule is the same in NZ as in UK - KEEP LEFT - any right hand lane is a "passing" lane, so you should only be in the right hand lane if you are passing something i.e. left turner.
Also, unless it is marked otherwise, someone in the left lane has the right to go ALL the way around the roundabout. Makes for interesting viewing sometimes

I would debate that point actually...NZ roundabouts are supposed to use the "Alberta" system. If you can be bothered trawling through ten gazillion words, have a look at THIS

[steve_t]

Someone will flame me if I'm wrong but I'm sure I read somewhere that you're not supposed to use a two laned roundabout to overtake a vehicle... that said, I regularly find that I do as the person in front of me will slow or stop instead of scanning ahead early to look for traffic.
The poll should include "If there's no traffic, start in the left hand lane, cut across to the right lane midway thru and exit via the left lane" so that the bike basically travels in a straight line Don't pretend that you've never done it

[BiK3RChiK]

I usually use the right (inside) lane, whether I'm in the car or the on the bike. If you are near Whakatane though, watch for morons who cross over the lanes to straighten up the roundabout! I was in my 4x4 the other day when a woman in another 4x4 thought she'd do that and I was very lucky she didn't re-arrange my passengers door. I don't think she'll do that again in a hurry. She got a good blast from my horn!

[Max Preload]

Right lane because it leaves more room for me to react to people who don't give way when they should.

BTW, the right lane is the outside lane, not the inside.

Also, unless it is marked otherwise, someone in the left lane has the right to go ALL the way around the roundabout. Makes for interesting viewing sometimes

I bet it does when you're driving, because you're wrong. See Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (SR 2004/427) Section 4.6, Clause (4).

[Supertwin Don]

My main point is "unless marked otherwise" - if it is marked you should follow the markings.
BUT - unless you are passing something, you should not be in the right hand lane anyway!

[steve_t]

As far as can remember, the rule is the same in NZ as in UK - KEEP LEFT - any right hand lane is a "passing" lane, so you should only be in the right hand lane if you are passing something i.e. left turner.
Also, unless it is marked otherwise, someone in the left lane has the right to go ALL the way around the roundabout. Makes for interesting viewing sometimes

Are you sure? I guess it's lucky we have the arrow markings in most places. The person in the left lane trying to turn right might get a punch in the face from the person in the right lane that is going straight after an idiotic collision

[sunhuntin]

only ones like that that spring to mind are down welly way. since i tend to ride in the left lane, ill say left. only time i use the right is when i was already in that lane.

i remember going down there in susans car. the return trip: she started in the left lane, drifted to the right, and then back to the left. all without indication. needless to say i gave her an earful, asking her what if there was a motorbike there, and she hit them? the fact we know a couple of welly riders drove the point home.
strangely enough, the next time we went, she stayed in the same lane the whole way around the RAB.

[Supertwin Don]

Are you sure? I guess it's lucky we have the arrow markings in most places. The person in the left lane trying to turn right might get a punch in the face from the person in the right lane that is going straight after an idiotic collision

NZ has it lucky - in most cases, there is enough land to have two (or more) full width lanes in the roundabout, over here, quite often there is not, and "centre" markings are not allowed unless there is room for two full lane widths.
So we quite often get "left laners" going right around the roundabout. or left turners hugging the centre of the roundabout until the very last second before signalling and swinging out

[YellowDog]

If the markings show a straight arrow for either lane (which they do) then you can choose.

However the correct lane according to the highway code is the laft lane.

Personally I would always prefer the right lane.