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after commuting for several months now, I am contemplating my first commute in heavy traffic on a four-lane 45 mph speed limit arterial. This is the way I take my car to work. No left turns required. I am doing it mostly as an experiment to see if I like it and if I get any crap from motorists. at several points along the route I will be able to turn right and bail onto my quiet route north of this arterial. I'm pretty slow. my top speed is probably only 15 mph. advice?
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NEVER pass a moving car on the right.
In addition to whatever good advice you get about flowing predictably with traffic, remember that whenever some driver displays the lowest side of their character to you, do not respond with that first temptation to blurt out a curse against their entire family. :) You might be on that road everyday, and even the most ill-behaved motorist can learn to accept a nice person on a bike.
... I am contemplating my first commute in heavy traffic on a four-lane 45 mph speed limit arterial. ... advice?Assuming that you're asking for safety advice, you might want to have a look at Ken Kifer's How to Avoid Bike-Car Collisions, Illustrated (http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/traffic/bike-car.htm) or Michael Bluejay's How to Not Get Hit by Cars (http://bicyclesafe.com/).
What's the shoulder like? Is it wide enough for you to be passed safely by the cars in the far right lane?
What's the shoulder like? Is it wide enough for you to be passed safely by the cars in the far right lane?
no shoulder to speak of. just a gutter and sidewalk. businesses on each side of the road.
Which road are you contemplating riding on at which time and direction? Broadway? I think its a NOL, right?
If narrow curb side lane, drivers can not pass you in same lane, they are going to have to merge left and cross over lane divider to pass. Don't be tempted to ride to far right, stay at least 2.5' from curb (minimum, 3' is better) Some may suggest riding center bias and moving right when vehicle approaches, but unless you have a mirror and are used to using it, I find it better to stay right, basicaly in the right tire track on the NOL.
Don't push it solely based on any perception that you should from this forum - if you have a quiet efficient bypass route enjoy it. Wait until weekend morning to ride the same road so you can get comfortable in lighter traffic. In rush hour you will have some drivers pass with hard acceleration, not neccessarily close, but loud.
I'm also happy to join you for a ride anytime. PM if you wish.
Al
Why do you want to try that road? What is the advantage to you? If nothing else having that fresh in your mind will let you make the right decision on bailing out or not.
BTW I find the idea of having a bail out plan ready (as you do) to be very smart.
Oh one just came to me. Pick your day with care. I would advise against either Monday or Friday unless your city is different from others I know. Pick the day that is the calmest trafficwise.
Why do you want to try that road? What is the advantage to you? If nothing else having that fresh in your mind will let you make the right decision on bailing out or not.
BTW I find the idea of having a bail out plan ready (as you do) to be very smart.
Oh one just came to me. Pick your day with care. I would advise against either Monday or Friday unless your city is different from others I know. Pick the day that is the calmest trafficwise.
The only advantage is it might save some time. One thing is that my work hours are flexible and I can work from home part of the day and I normally don't ride until after AM rush hour is over and leave just before PM rush hour gets bad (3:45 pm or so).
I don't know, I'm just curious. maybe I should leave well enough alone!
Is this route shorter or faster than your 'quiet' route? If not, I don't see the point of changing your route. You ain't gotta prove anything to anyone. Me, if I have a choice between a busy arterial and a quiet residential street, I take quiet, even if it might take me a few minutes longer - and I am quite comfortable riding on busy arterials. I ride to enjoy myself, not to assert my rights or prove something to some peer group. Again, I don't know your reasons or situation, but I just want to make sure you are riding how YOU want to ride, not trying to fit into someone else's mold.
What's the shoulder like? Is it wide enough for you to be passed safely by the cars in the far right lane?I don't know about the shoulder, but the right most marked lane in the traveled way (that's the portion of the highway reserved for traveling) will always be plenty wide enough to pedal in. If he doesn't feel comfortable enough to stay right within that lane, then the overtaking drivers can pass him via the next lane to the left when there's an opening.
The only advantage is it might save some time. One thing is that my work hours are flexible and I can work from home part of the day and I normally don't ride until after AM rush hour is over and leave just before PM rush hour gets bad (3:45 pm or so).
I don't know, I'm just curious. maybe I should leave well enough alone!
Nothing wrong with just curious. Actually it is a good thing to know all your limits, including comfort. Who knows 5 months from now they might do some construction on the nice quiet road and you might have to decide if you want to ride part or all on the busy street.
But my advice now is focused. Once you have done enough of the busy street to satisfy your curiosity if you find the quiet street a better choice it is time to 'bail'. (If not of course stay on the busy street).
Some might disagree with this, but there are roads I could take that I avoid simply because a) there are other equally convenient routes, and b) if I rode on those roads I'd create a major delay in the traffic pattern because traffic is so heavy there, and c) it would be less pleasant to ride in a dense traffic pattern. I have an equal right to use the road, but I can use more pleasant options that benefit all concerned.
Some might disagree with this, but there are roads I could take that I avoid simply because a) there are other equally convenient routes, and b) if I rode on those roads I'd create a major delay in the traffic pattern because traffic is so heavy there, and c) it would be less pleasant to ride in a dense traffic pattern. I have an equal right to use the road, but I can use more pleasant options that benefit all concerned.
I agree 100%. I try to avoid Cobb Parkway for just these reasons.
I fully agree that if there are lower stress routes to take that are not significatly less effcient, by all means take them.
But if someone lives in the Phx-metro area, then gaining comfort on riding on arterials is a neccessity if one wants to be a utility cyclist who avoids sidewalks. But one doesn't and shouldn't start out on an arterial with NOL during rush hour. Take steps to gain comfort, assuming one is full confident on residential streets, then try:
-weekend morning arterial with WOL (striped BL or not) - main focus should be on intersections and clear communication of destination
-arterial during busy traffic with WOL (striped BL or not)
-weekend morning arterial with NOL
-then when high confidence in all the above, try busier arterial with NOL. (with bailout options)
Al
Is this route shorter or faster than your 'quiet' route? If not, I don't see the point of changing your route. You ain't gotta prove anything to anyone. Me, if I have a choice between a busy arterial and a quiet residential street, I take quiet, even if it might take me a few minutes longer - and I am quite comfortable riding on busy arterials.
Ditto. I already take a 3.5 mi detour each way (7 mi RT) because it is safer. I absolutely have to ride on busy highways, but I'd gladly extend it another 3.5 mi each way if there were a safer and quieter alternative.
well, THAT was interesting. I actually tried the busy route on the way in, in two different spots for about a mile each , separated by a stretch on my "easy" route. The first stretch, on Broadway just east of McCLintock, is mostly residential and office, not much retail ... I was riding in the right hand lane in the right tire track area, sometime a little more to the left. no honks, no yells, only one close pass. I noticed that the farther left I was the more room they gave me in passing. Traffic was light, though, after rush hour. then I bailed for a while to my quiet route and came back on to broadway later at about Mill, where it starts to get a little heavier traffic. little bit of a difference.... I got two honks. one from a guy in a toyota who actually STOPPED in the lane next to me. and then cruised on ahead of me. not sure what that was about. scared the bejesus out of me, though, along with a woman who was riding on the sidewalk about ten feet away.. .. I think she actually got ooff her bike... another honk came from the other side of the road. but it was not that scary at all, and it did save a bit of time. Thanks for the advice! I made it in one piece! :eek:
I think I will take this route if I want to save time... but I usually am never that crunched for time. It was interesting riding in traffic, not as nerve-wracking as I expected. I also got a better workout because I had the feeling that I had to pedal faster to keep up with the traffic, which of course I could never do.
It was interesting riding in traffic, not as nerve-wracking as I expected. I also got a better workout because I had the feeling that I had to pedal faster to keep up with the traffic, which of course I could never do.
Glad it worked out. Cycling conditions always look worse from the perspective of a ped on the sidewalk or a motorist behind the wheel.
That driver stopping in adjacent lane is weird though, maybe their attention was actually on something else?
Al
The only way to learn to be safe and comfortable on busy arterials is to ride on busy arterials. It's something you want to learn, because, sooner or later, you won't have a choice.
Good for you!
Glad it worked out. Cycling conditions always look worse from the perspective of a ped on the sidewalk or a motorist behind the wheel.
That driver stopping in adjacent lane is weird though, maybe there attention was actually on something else?
Al
could be. I just heard the honk RIGHT next to me.... it was loud! and then the guy stopped just ahead of me briefly and then took off. maybe he didn't see me until he wanted to get into my lane and suddenly there I was ... maybe it freaked him out. I wasn't veering or anything, just keeping a straight line. maybe he was afraid I was going to veer in front of him or something. wierd.
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