Road Cycling - Freeway?

I haven't been riding for that long, so I seek out the safest (and flatest :P)routes, but I went riding with a group of people on Sat. and we got on the freeway. They say this is a completely normal thing, but it freaks the buhjeebas out of me. Does anyone have any thoughts on freeway riding?

i don't like riding on any roads that have greater than a 45 mph speed limit. if i ride on freeways, i make sure it has a wide, clean shoulder. actually i've ridden on roads w/ 50 mph speed limits, but with light enough traffic that it wasn't really too much of an issue.

Bicycles aren't allowed on freeways in Minnesota. The only freeway riding I have done was in Colorado when it was basically the only road around and bicycles were allowed. It wasn't really that bad. The only part that creeped me out was going past exit ramps fearful that someone was gonna cream me from behind as they took the exit.

Under certain circumstances you are allowed to ride on freeways in California (and probably in other states too). Normally the on-ramps are signed as such and once on the freeway there are signs that say "Cyclists must exit here" or something like that.
I do a century that goes from Irvine in Orange County to San Diego and for the last 2 years we have had to use the freeway for a 8-10 mile section as Camp Pendleton (Marine Base) is usually closed to cyclists. We are allowed to use the freeway because there is no other way to go through. Most people I have spoken with actually prefer riding the freeway for that part as the shoulder is fairly wide and CalTrans sweeps it for us a couple days before the ride. I mainly notice the noise and otherwise it's not much different than riding on some other roads around here.

In VA I rode on the Fairfax County Parkway, nto quite a freeway, speed limit of 50, everyone goes 60, I rode on the shoulder. The shoulder was pretty wide so it didn't bother me too much except for about .5 mile where there wasn't one. The parkway still had stoplights every once in a while though, a freeway seems a little too risky to me though.

your location says santa barbara so i bet i know where you're talking about. there's a part of the bike route just south of carpenteria that has a one or two mile stretch that runs along the freeway. i live further south so i've only ridden that way once. it's a little weird (to put it mildly) to have cars and trucks zooming by at 90 mph! but it's all legal in this small stretch of road. i found it to be one of the smoother parts of the bike route so that was nice. but yeah, it's a little freaky.

(i think there's another bit between carp and SB but i haven't ridden it.)

a healthy fear seems justified. but where else are you going to go? and the likelihood of actually getting hit on this section is pretty slim. you're not crossing traffic or dealing with stoplights etc.

Bicycles are not allowed on controlled access highways in South Carolina, this inclues the few sections designated as freeways around Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Hilton Head.

Mostly states allow bicycles on a freeway is there is no sign prohibiting their use on the on ramp. Actually I prefer riding on a freeway vs riding a country road rated at 55 and here's why: First off car and trucks will speed on either road-that's a given, so the reason I perfer the freeway-THE WIDER SHOULDERS! Sure you may have a semi scream past you and you experience the blast of the wind as it passes then the suction at the end-BUT on a country road with no shoulders that becomes extremily exciting-heart racing event as you hold on for dear life as not to get blown off the road. At least on a freeway you can travell on the far side of the shoulder and lessen that impact. I have experience both situations plenty, and let me tell you, after riding on country roads for 25+ years I'm blessed to still be alive!

Actually it is not the state that doesn't allow it. They are federal roads.

However, a limited access road must allow access if there is no other way to traverse the area. This is wny some places you are allowed to ride on the freeway/toll-roads...

I ride several differnet roads around here that have 70mph speed limits. 4 lanes with a wide shoulder in each direction with bike route signs on them. I find them no more dangerous than the two lane roads, just different areas of danger. On, and off ramps are the places to be extra carefull. There is a place where one road does a long merge into a 4 lane that is extra spooky.

The worst problems I have riding on shoulders is that semi truck tires throw off small wire fragments that are puncture night mares! Little wires the size of hair to find and remove, then try finding that tiny hole on the side of the road with a breez blowing. :mad:

I ride several differnet roads around here that have 70mph speed limits. 4 lanes with a wide shoulder in each direction with bike route signs on them. I find them no more dangerous than the two lane roads, just different areas of danger. On, and off ramps are the places to be extra carefull. There is a place where one road does a long merge into a 4 lane that is extra spooky.

The worst problems I have riding on shoulders is that semi truck tires throw off small wire fragments that are puncture night mares! Little wires the size of hair to find and remove, then try finding that tiny hole on the side of the road with a breez blowing. :mad:

I am familiar with some restrictions in cities as to what type of vehicles are allowed on "freeways" within city limits. Many specifically do not allow: scooters, skates, bicycles or pedestrians. They normally have signs posted at entrance ramps. Now on the other hand, you can ride a bicycle on an interstate highway, so long as it isn't within the boundaries of a city with the afore mentioned restrictions.

Bet the exhaust is great to breath.Think i'll stay off of them thanks.

It seems like every road that the state of Tennessee builds into a 4 lane has this big wide shoulder and BIKE LANE signs on the side of them. Some of these roads have paralell routes, but many times the road just replaces an existing route. There not "interstate highways" but they are built just like one, limited access, 65-70 mph, slowing to 45 or 30 when they go through towns. Of course TN is a little different from the bigger states out west, in that there is almost always a town every 10-20 miles apart. This gives you a road where the speed goes something like this 30-45-70 for about 10 miles, then 45-30, through the next town and back to 70 again. Another thing is that many of these roads are the only way to cross major rivers in this part of the country, so many times you have no choice but to ride on the fast highway shoulder, if you intend to cross the river!

i ride on 2 lane highways here, gravel shoulder.. I ride 2 feet left from the white line(we drive on the right).. speed limit is 100kmh.. Talk about near misses.. Trucks and buses pass 2 ft. from my left elbow.. I had near misses with side mirrors too..

Not to mention those overtaking from the other lane and completely occupying mine and heading straight at me, head-on! now that is scary.. But they manage to give me just enough space (between thier side mirror and the white line :( ).,

And who said road cycling isn't extreme.. :D

BTW, I ride alone.. And try to ride everyday.. just for fun..