Touring - your expereinces with best/worst states to be a cyclist.

Not so much your impressions but your actual expereinces. COnsiderations are things like traffic, shoulders, hostile motorists. I can't imagine riding in cities such as Newark, Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville. Narrow shoulders , fast paced traffic. Oregon , I think I vote to be number one.

Victoria and Tasmania are both great. Northern Territory was pretty hot when I did day trips there, plenty to see but not sure I'd do a bike tour in the centre.

I would vote for Tennessee as a worse place, especially eastern Tennessee. Often there are not many through streets due to natural geographical barriers, like ridges. So, there are few alternative parallel routes. The streets that do exist are often narrow with no shoulder and a sharp drop-off into a deep ditch. The drivers almost always exceed the speed limit.

I have cycled in parts of Cleveland and it was not bad.

Funny, I was going to say Tennessee as the best (where I currently live). I live in East Tn. Lots of back roads and drivers always waving. Very strange when coming from Alabama were I would get lots of honks and "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!!".

I'd have to say that New Jersey is a mixed bag. Northeastern NJ is a nightmare for biking with the likes of Jersey City, Elizabeth, Newark, etc. But, the rest of the state is actually pretty nice. Northwest NJ will wear you out with hills, but the scenery is nice and the traffic is far less. Southern NJ is a flatlanders dream with miles of wide roads through the Pine Barrens, although scenery can get boring.

Maybe a state can offer a mixuture of cycling environments. My home state of Michigan. I consider Detroit very cycing unfriendly; yet, Northern and Western Michigan offers some great cycing locations.

Greater Chicago area: great!
Columbus OH area: okay in parts
Charlotte, NC area: crappy
Raleigh, NC: some decent parts

Nevada is terrible. The roads burst into flames all summer and cars like to hit cyclists more than eachother. Poorly maintained hick backroads but the main ones (super-danger-turkey) are good. Up in Reno/Tahoe area they get more respectful though...

I live in NC, but have ridden cycle tours in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Georgia (and lived there as well). I've also ridden in the Chicago area (western suburbs around Geneva). It seems like most states have nice roads to ride on if you get away from the traffic. The pavement definitely tends to be smoother in the South, apparently because of the milder winters and perhaps better road maintenance. I like the Midwest because the roads are relatively flat and it's hard to get lost with the grid network. Wisconsin is also a very bike-friendly state, in general, without much traffic outside the cities. I've ridden 3-4 bike tours in Wisconsin for that reason, but southern Indiana was comparable in many respects. It is also much cooler in the Midwest during summer than down South, which makes for more comfortable riding and camping, but I wouldn't like the long winters.

North Carolina generally is a nice place to ride, with good roads as long as you get away from the traffic in large metro areas. It is much hillier in general than the Midwest, which can be good and bad depending how you feel on a given day. I often wish I had just ONE simple route I could ride that was relatively flat. Sometimes you just want to take it easy and rest your legs, but it's hard to do that when there's always another hill to climb.

Of all the areas I've ridden in, I probably most enjoyed a cycle tour I rode with my brother in SW Wisconsin around Sparta. The terrain was very varied, with lots of hills comparable to parts of North Carolina. But traffic was very light, with little development and scenery very nice. There also are some extensive rails-to-trails bike paths in the area. Sparta calls itself the Cycling Capital of the US or something like that, and is very friendly to cyclists for that reason.

Best state - Vermont

Large poll done at Crazyguy -

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/poll/?o=QzzM&poll_id=26

I'd have to say that New Jersey is a mixed bag. Northeastern NJ is a nightmare for biking with the likes of Jersey City, Elizabeth, Newark, etc. But, the rest of the state is actually pretty nice. Northwest NJ will wear you out with hills, but the scenery is nice and the traffic is far less. Southern NJ is a flatlanders dream with miles of wide roads through the Pine Barrens, although scenery can get boring.

Delaware Bay (both sides) is like another planet, Never Never Land.

I can only speak to Southern Oregon, which is like a different world from Eugene-Portland. Eugene to Portland (up in the central to northern areas) are like a bikers heaven from what I hear and see (although I'm without practical experience). The Oregon Coast has an official " bike route" that covers the north-south route with signs. I've heard that Portland is one of the most biker friendly cities. But down here in the red counties I would rate it as fair at best. Most of the roads are chip sealed (bumpy), bike lanes are not prevalent and drivers get too close because they are driving while cleaning the shotguns and hunting rifles.:eek::D

CA. is great for cycling
Texas is crap for cycling

I must disagree with Slowjoe about what the drivers in Southern Oregon are doing.
They are doing chainsaw "sculpture" while they are driving,

Funny, I was going to say Tennessee as the best (where I currently live). I live in East Tn. Lots of back roads and drivers always waving. Very strange when coming from Alabama were I would get lots of honks and "GET ON THE SIDEWALK!!".
I never rode in Alabama. I lived in East Brainerd (Chattanooga) for about a dozen years. It was difficult to feel safe riding into Brainerd or out Shallowford Road toward Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. You are right that once you get into a rural area it is quite nice. Most of my riding was more city than rural.

I never rode in Alabama. I lived in East Brainerd (Chattanooga) for about a dozen years. It was difficult to feel safe riding into Brainerd or out Shallowford Road toward Ooltewah-Ringgold Road. You are right that once you get into a rural area it is quite nice. Most of my riding was more city than rural.


Yeah I can imagine down in Chattanooga it would be like that. I hate driving down there. I am up north 30 miles in Cleveland. It is great up here. I'm only on the bike 5 minutes and I am out on some back road with no traffic what so ever. Plus riding up to the Ocoee is really nice.

Texas is crap for cycling
Where in Texas? The entire state can't be "crap" since there's so much variety across the state. Far SW Houston/Harris County is dangerous.

I just completed the Southern Tier from San Diego to St. Augustine Florida a couple of months ago. During our trip the drivers in Arizona were the worst with the drivers in Globe Arizona as the very worst. We were planning to stay the night in Globe but were treated so badly by the drivers that we decided to spend our money elsewhere. The roads in Arizona also were terrible with glass and debris everywhere. The rumble strips, where there were some, were located right where a bicyclist needed to ride. Who engineered these roads? Just my humble opinion...

CA. is great for cycling
Texas is crap for cycling

Well, I happen to be a cyclist riding in Texas and you can come down here and ride any time you like. Yes, there's idiots in duallie pickup trucks and drunks and bad drivers, etc. but they're everywhere. If cycling is so bad here, then why are there so many charity and fun rides every weekend all around the state?

We're building advocacy strength but the lunacy of self-righteous conservative capitalists earning their millions from the chemical and petroleum industries presents challenges to cyclists here. Fortunately, we're treated as relatively harmless rather than a threat. When we present the statistics that show cycle-friendly community planning is more profitable for developers, folks start to listen. Except for the governor and his cronies, of course.

My attitude as a 5th-generation Texan whose roots go back to the Republic is that it will only change as those of us committed to improving quality of life and conditions for cycling keep working and being involved.

If Texas looks like a bad place to ride or has been a poor experience for you, I'm sorry about that and you should not come here to ride...we still need a few more decades (or gasoline to go to 5 bucks a gallon) to improve conditions, I guess.

CA. is great for cycling
Texas is crap for cycling

Not sure if I agree with Texas being crap. I rode through the tip top into OK eventually. As soon as I entered Texas the shoulders were smooth and wider than the car lanes. Easy riding, except for winds.

Worst states IMO were Ohio and CT. Ohio destroyed my rear rim on tour and CT has some terrible shoulders in old money areas where you'd expect they took care of themselves.

I must disagree with Slowjoe about what the drivers in Southern Oregon are doing.
They are doing chainsaw "sculpture" while they are driving,


So true; my bad.!:D

Nevada is terrible. The roads burst into flames all summer and cars like to hit cyclists more than eachother. ..
Did the Oatbran across US 50 once. I loved it. Would be eager to do it again. Nothing out US 50 but sagebrush and rocks and little traffic. Loneliest Road in America. I'd recommend it. Might better do it with a pack of cyclinsts tho. There is nothing out there for sometimes over 100 miles. Riding up the ranges, perfect climbs. Mid September, perfect temperatures.

Saskatchewan + use your dog as a guide and you'll never get lost ;)

Texas good. (I speak mostly of San Antonio and Tyler/Longview area)
NM bad. The only thing good to say is the decreased population and wide open spaces.
OH is also bad, and after the past two days, I say stay clear of New Albany:eek:

Might seem hard to imagine, but this car crazed mecca of Orange County, CA is one of the best places for cycling I've lived in. Roads in almost every direction provide me a decent shoulder to ride on, many with bike lanes. I'm a daily bike commuter, and I put in maybe 6000 miles a year pedaling the local pavement. I have lots of routes to choose from too. An even better place for cycling is central coast area of CA, San Luis Obisbo to Santa Barbara.
I've lived in NJ too, and enjoyed cycling all over central and northwest Jersey. Upstate NY is awesome, way underrated. Parts of eastern PA are pretty nice too.
Lived in the deep south a couple of years. Riding paved roads in GA, AL, TN or SC is a mixed bag. It's hard to find routes that have any decent shoulder on the pavement. North Georgia and NC mountain areas have quite a few good road rides, but got to be careful on those narrow roads. I pedaled a lot of unpaved roads on fat tire road bikes when living in Dixie. The rural south has endless miles of unpaved back roads, just need a good idea of where you're headed for.

Pennsylvania is one of the prettiest states to bike in. http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdBikePed.nsf/infoToSafetyTrafficBikePeds?OpenForm

I was on Route Y/Rte 6 during my tour this summer. It was a highlight of the whole ride. I can't imagine the other state bike routes are terrible. Wide shoulders, great views, little traffic.

My home state of Indiana compares well to any other state I've cycled in. The northern half is mostly flat with roads laid out in a grid most of the time, but you do have to deal with the wind. In the southern part of the state you have the cycling friendly area of Bloomington of Breaking Away fame. Our governor even said to attract tourists to the flat parts of the state where we can't offer mountains or seashore we should emphasize things that work well, such as cycling. We'll see how much he supports that.

I recently took a two-day trip through a part of the state I wasn't familiar with, and almost every time we stopped to check a map another cyclist came by and stopped or slowed to see if we needed help or directions.

I gotta say, California is tough to beat. You can ride somewhere exceptional 12 months of the year... I ride in the sierras from April through November, the foothills and coastal ranges December thru May. Stunning scenery, little traffic, lots of brew pubs !!! Great centuries in various areas every week or two. This year kicked off in Solvang in March, Chico in April, Unknown Coast and Indian Valley in May, Sierra & Summer Solstice in June, Deathride in July, Holstein Hundred next week, to be followed by Eastern Sierra & Tahoe Sierra in September. Lots of others too !!! Plus, I ride in the Markleeville are ~ twice a week, and Truckee ~ once a week from mid-april through thanksgiving. And... every couple of years I'll take a 4-5 day spin down Hwy. 1 (Leggett back to SF just after Labor day being my favorite) Spent 26 years in Illinois.... last 22 in cycling heaven. Oh yeah, you like mountain biking ??? Only thing is you better like (or learn to like) climbing, cuz I ain't found a flat ride yet.

Lou D. Jan, Feb. I like to ride in the inland coastal ranges. Little less fog and slightly warmer . August, the coast , it has equal draw. Lots less heat. rarely hot. By mid February , usually winter is gone in Calif. Excellant riding as long as you live in an area to decent bike lanes.

I've heard that Portland is one of the most biker friendly cities.

I can't say which state is the best or worse having not riden in all of them. I did like the snow mobile trails of the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Western New York was also good around the finger lakes. I also took ferries around some islands in B.C. and biked a bit and that was lovely.

Portland is a good city to ride in although not many sign posted routes. Another good one is Minneapolis with its chain of lakes in the city however I was once hit and run there and left unconscious. In my limited experience my favorite city to bike in is Cleveland because they have a chain of parks around the city that are mostly connected by bike trails.

None of my experiences in the US compares with all the dedicated bike trails found in a lot of the Western European countries. It makes for a more relaxed tour.

Pennsylvania is one of the prettiest states to bike in. http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdBikePed.nsf/infoToSafetyTrafficBikePeds?OpenForm

I was on Route Y/Rte 6 during my tour this summer. It was a highlight of the whole ride. I can't imagine the other state bike routes are terrible. Wide shoulders, great views, little traffic.


Huh. I used Z and S, Z was horrible for the most part, and S was mediocre. GUess I went the wrong way. I have been reading this thread trying NOT to list PA as a worst state, b/c I figured there had to be better places than where I was.

Oh yeah, the Bay Area & coastal CA are great, and everything in Colorado over 9000 feet.

I also didn't love south dakota - too many res dogs and drunk drivers

After crossing this country twice I have decided that every state has some good roads and some bad roads, some good drivers and some bad drivers. I will say that I found few good roads in southern/western Alabama, and some really bad roads in eastcentral Mississippi.
I think that we all are looking for the backroad with no traffic. If there is much traffic, we need a dedicated/marked shoulder to ride on. The question is: "How do we find that quiet back road when touring in an unfamiliar state?" I think that I can read a AAA road map fairly good now and pick out the good roads. But sometimes my "good road" turns out to be impossible. It is just part of the experience. I have learned to do the bad roads on an early Sunday morning. Too bad every day isn't Sunday when we are on tour.

West-central Alabama (Tuscaloosa area) is wonderful (but really really hot this week). Lots of rural roads with little traffic, and almost any kind of terrain your heart desires. Great local club too.

Colorado, Boulder Area. Endless bike paths, some of the best climbs in the country and typically considerate drivers.

Not so much your impressions but your actual expereinces. COnsiderations are things like traffic, shoulders, hostile motorists. I can't imagine riding in cities such as Newark, Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville. Narrow shoulders , fast paced traffic. Oregon , I think I vote to be number one.

I don't know, i live in Louisville and it is a good place to ride. Downtown has bike lanes and the river road always have cyclist on it. it has become much more cycling friendly in the past 5 years and while some of the roads don't have much of a shoulder the cars keep an eye out for you for the most part but just like anywhere else you need to obey the traffic rules just like as if you were in a car that is when the trouble starts when cyclist run stop lights and signs and ride up along side cars but with a little common sense and good manners Louisville is a great city to cycle in. as long as it isn't 100 degrees like it has been for the last month.... LOL

Tuff. must have been 10 years since I passed through Lousiville. Looked really congested back then.

Best - Vermont and North Carolina and France
Worst - My neighborhood

Tuff. must have been 10 years since I passed through Lousiville. Looked really congested back then.

it still is congested but they are doing a great job making it more bike friendly..

Idaho. Beautiful country, good wide roads, friendly motorists (when you see motorists at all). Just be ready for 2 hours of rain and hail every afternoon.

I'm talking about summertime, of course. Has anyone biked ID in the winter?

Nevada is terrible. The roads burst into flames all summer and cars like to hit cyclists more than eachother. Poorly maintained hick backroads but the main ones (super-danger-turkey) are good. Up in Reno/Tahoe area they get more respectful though...

Las Vegas is like Los Angeles, not good cycling. Reno-Sparks is a reasonably bike friendly city. The rest of Nevada is OK and the roads are very well maintained. Weather can be a problem with very hot days and cold nights. Wind can be an issue and thorns are often blown onto the road after a windstorm. Anytime the wind blows hard, expect a couple of flats the next day. The people you meet can range from very friendly and helpful to downright scary. Unfortunately, the isolation of much of Nevada means that you will be alone when you meet the scary ones.

http://www.dot.state.wi.us/travel/bike-foot/bikemaps.htm

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/trails/tbike.html

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/findatrail.html