Originally Posted by John Forester

(unnamed cyclist) is hiding behind the ambiguous phrase "continuous high-speed traffic." I will specify one particular level of "continuous high-speed traffic." I consider that a stream of several hundred vehicles traveling at 50 mph with headways of 2 seconds to be within unnamed cyclist's definition. Such streams of traffic frequently occur on freeways. And I will say that I know of no cyclist, riding on the level, who is capable of merging into such a stream. But I also say that such streams are almost non-existent on urban streets or normal rural highways. As long as there are gaps in the stream of urban traffic that are more than, say, 5 seconds or so, the cyclist may merge into such streams. He may even ride the lane line, as I have often done, with motor traffic overtaking on each side, until a gap comes along sufficient to negotiate a move across the lane. This does not require any extreme level of skill, no more skill than is required to qualify for driving a car, a level of skill that we expect of all normal adults. It is not particularly dangerous, either. Whether or not it requires courage is only a measure of the fearfulness of the cyclist, which is not within the proper province of traffic regulation or highway design.

John Forester, MS, PE
Bicycle Transportation Engineer
7585 Church St.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945-2306
619-644-5481 www.johnforester.com

Originally Posted by genec

What do you think of Forester's comments about riding in 50MPH traffic?

Originally Posted by John E

I am the "unnamed cyclist." My debates with Forester center on freeway-style high-speed freely-flowing merges and diverges, which I claim should be built only on freeways themselves, and never anywhere with bicycle, pedestrian, and/or mobility scooter traffic, such as across the mouths of freeway access ramps. I get tired to being told I don't belong on high-speed roads because I can't negotiate gaps, lane-split, etc.

Originally Posted by Da Tinker

Depending on my mood, I either let them go or back them or back 'em down with my steely-eyed, alpha road user stare.

Originally Posted by genec

The above was sent to a select group of cyclists on the local San Diego County Bike Coalition mail list.

What do you think of Forester's comments about riding in 50MPH traffic?

What about the aspect of riding on the lane line in streams of 50MPH traffic? Would you consider this "safe?"

Originally Posted by LCI_Brian

From Forester's other writings and seeing him in the "Effective Cycling" video, what he considers to be a shareable lane width is much narrower than what I consider to be shareable. When extended to the example above, it appears that he considers riding on the line to essentially be safely sharing with traffic on the left and traffic on the right. Personally, in this case, I would rather be in one lane or the other - even if it is just 6-12 inches on either side of the stripe. (Plus most of our lane lines here have raised pavement markers.)

Originally Posted by NoRacer

I've done it in 55 MPH traffic, here:



That's the Route 24 / I-95 Interchange. I, and others, ride Route 24 (legal to bike) to get to Bel Air, Maryland from the eastside of Baltimore. Many of the right lanes are RTOL or acceleration/deceleration lanes. One could dodge in and out of the shoulder or if you're bold (some would say stupid) enough, ride the white lines left of the RTOLs w/55 +/- MPH traffic buzzing you on both sides (going straight or exiting/entering I-95).

I see either method as having the same potential hazard risk.

Originally Posted by genec

Originally Posted by joejack951

So I guess it's a little ambiguous as to whether or not you can ride in the roadway on a 55mph road to avoid a RTOL in MD. Anyone care to comment?

Originally Posted by joejack951

I get off at that exit to visit my sister in Bel Air. I believe the road is three lanes wide at that point so why not just take the right lane and get rid of the ambiguity (or is that what you mean by "dodge in and out of the shoulder")? With the length of those RTOL and merge lanes, I would not consider it a "dodge" but then again, I'm not even sure of the meaning of what you wrote yet

Originally Posted by joejack951

Also, I thought Maryland prohibited bikes on roads with speed limits over 50mph. Is Route 24 an exception? I've considered biking down from Wilmington sometime and I'll probably end up on that road for at least part of the ride.

§ 21-1205.1.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a person may not ride a bicycle or a motor scooter:
(1) On any roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles an hour; or

But they do say "roadway" which I would assume then means you are allowed to still use the shoulder on those roads. But in the next section, they say you can leave the shoulder for certain reasons:

(b) (1) Where there is a bike lane paved to a smooth surface or a shoulder paved to a smooth surface, a person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter shall use the bike lane or shoulder and may not ride on the roadway, except in the following situations:

<snipped the other exceptions>

(iv) When reasonably necessary to leave the bike lane or shoulder because the bike lane or shoulder is overlaid with a right turn lane, merge lane, or other marking that breaks the continuity of the bike lane or shoulder.

So I guess it's a little ambiguous as to whether or not you can ride in the roadway on a 55mph road to avoid a RTOL in MD. Anyone care to comment?