WHY WORRY ABOUT PEDESTRIANS AT TRAFFIC CIRCLES?

Instructions for a Pedestrian at a Traffic Circle:

Pay attention. Think. Be prepared to make decisions.
Step up to the curb and make eye contact with drivers so they know you intend to cross.
Keep watching all the way across as you cross a multi-lane roundabout, watch for a driver coming in the next lane. Make sure that the driver sees you.
Look and listen for a safe gap in the traffic flow before crossing. Do not start to cross if a vehicle is so close that the driver cannot safely yield the crosswalk to you, or if a driver shows by the way that they are driving that they do not intend to stop for you.
Use the sidewalks and crosswalks around the outside of the roundabout. Do not cut across the middle of the roundabout.
Use the splitter island. This will let you cross one direction of traffic at a time. Wait on the splitter island if needed.
The appropriate gap in traffic is something that you can create by your behaviour, not just something that will eventually occur if you wait long enough.
Most drivers slow down as soon as they see a pedestrian at a roundabout crosswalk. Whether they then yield the crosswalk to you by slowing or stopping will depend mostly on your body language. There is enough sight distance at the roundabout for the driver to see you and slow or stop.
Drivers are more likely to yield the crosswalk to you if your body language shows that you intend to cross. Use the following assertive body language to clearly tell drivers that you intend to cross:

Come up to the crosswalk briskly and deliberately - this also shows that you will not make drivers wait a long time for you to cross;
Scan for a gap in traffic as you come up to the crosswalk;
Look at the drivers;
If you have to wait, step up to the curb or even stand with one foot into the crosswalk;
Start to cross as soon as you are sure that the driver intends to slow or stop to yield the crosswalk to you.

Drivers are more likely to NOT yield the crosswalk to you if your body language shows that you are willing or expecting to wait for a very long gap in traffic before crossing. The driver will assume that you are not ready to cross or do not intend to cross.

Also See The City of Windsor’s War on Pedestrians, Read More -->

Cyclist Safety

Studies internationally are less conclusive about bicyclist safety at roundabouts. Most show they are safer at single-lane roundabouts than at other intersections, but not always safer at multi-lane roundabouts.

In either case, collisions that do occur are less severe because of lower vehicle speeds.