Texas - Can you ride a bike on the Galveston causeway (I-45)?

I think a ride to Galveston would be fun, but I've wondered if I would be cited for riding my bike on the causeway shoulder (which I understand is quite big now that construction is complete). The answer to the question is a definite maybe.

From Galveston County Sheriff's Office:

Kyle,

I contacted the Galveston Police Department who is responsible for causeway and they informed me that you cannot ride a bike across the causeway. Sorry…I know they often close a lane for bike races.

Capt. John W. Pruitt, Jr
Commander Identification Division
Galveston County Sheriff's OfficeFrom Bill Babbington at Texas Department of Transportation:


Thank you for contacting TxDOT regarding bicycles on the newly completed Galveston Causeway. Based on my research and knowledge there are no existing laws that prohibit bikes on State highways. Section 551.103 of the Texas Transportation Code does state that "bicycles must stay as far right as possible " and Section 545.058 allows for bicycles to use the shoulders without limitations. Hope this answers your question.If I ever do it, guess which e-mail I will be printing out and bringing along. ;)

I've got something similar printed out that I carry with me on my commutes. I sometimes ride on the shoulder of a tollway here north of Austin to get to/from work. The shoulder is probably 8+ ft wide and smooth as butter! Sure is fun to give the toll booth workers a ring with my bell as I zip by... :-)

Here's that one passage he cited:



§ 545.058. DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER. (a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary and may be done safely, but only:
(1) to stop, stand, or park;
(2) to accelerate before entering the main traveled lane of traffic;
(3) to decelerate before making a right turn;
(4) to pass another vehicle that is slowing or stopped on the main traveled portion of the highway, disabled, or preparing
to make a left turn;
(5) to allow another vehicle traveling faster to pass;
(6) as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device; or
(7) to avoid a collision.

(b) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the left of the main traveled portion of a divided or limited-access or controlled-access highway if that operation may be done safely, but only:
(1) to slow or stop when the vehicle is disabled and traffic or other circumstances prohibit the safe movement of the vehicle to the shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of the roadway;
(2) as permitted or required by an official traffic-control device; or
(3) to avoid a collision.

(c) A limitation in this section on driving on an improved shoulder does not apply to:
(1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call;
(2) a police patrol; or
(3) a bicycle.Very nice!

Ok I had to look up Galveston on a map but it appears the only way in/out is I45 unless you take a ferry? In that case I think you may be within the law.
Typically you can not travel on an interstate or other limited access highway unless there is no other way to get where you are going in a reasonable fashion. Galveston certainly seems to fit that criteria.

Ok I had to look up Galveston on a map but it appears the only way in/out is I45 unless you take a ferry? In that case I think you may be within the law.
Typically you can not travel on an interstate or other limited access highway unless there is no other way to get where you are going in a reasonable fashion. Galveston certainly seems to fit that criteria.
That's correct, the bridge is the only way in and out. The ferry only goes to the Bolivar Peninsula, making it wholly unreasonable for people traveling from Houston and etc. Its only 2 miles on the bridge, so I figure I can cross in 12 or 15 minutes (allowing for some uphill climb slow-down). I wonder what would be the best time to time my crossing.

Before the new causeway i used to always ride to galveston along the freeway shoulder.

During the construction i attempted this, but realized.. there was no shoulder, and when you're on the freeway bridge, there's no turning back, so i rode over it with cars honking the entire way. Sure was scary. So I hitched a ride back across on my return.

Now I guess I can add galveston into my ride calendar again.

Years ago, I walked out on the shoulder, watched a train come over the RR bridge, and a barge go underneath. That was kind of scary even, the shoulder at that time was maybe 5' wide, with traffic zipping by at 60+.

From Bill Babbington at Texas Department of Transportation:

If I ever do it, guess which e-mail I will be printing out and bringing along. ;)


I-45 is not a state highway; it's a federal interstate highway. Somewhere there's a Texas law prohibiting bicycles on any Interstate or "limited access" highway.

But hey, go for it.

I-45 is not a state highway; it's a federal interstate highway. Somewhere there's a Texas law prohibiting bicycles on any Interstate or "limited access" highway.

But hey, go for it.
I know, but I specifically asked about the Causeway, so I can claim some plausible deniability here. I doubt I'd get ticketed. I might get warned in the 15 minutes I'm on the Causeway.

Well, I found the definitive answer. "Maybe". See the quote below.

Summary: Either the state or local authorities can prohibit bicycles from controlled access roads, but if they do so, they have to post signs to that effect. So, apparently, no signs implies that it's okay. And I don't remember what the signs out there say- I would not be at all suprised if they don't prohibit bicycles.

The text- from: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc%3a%2f%2fSOTW%2fASUPUBLIC.dbo.vwSOTW%2fTN%2fS%2fTN.545%40SOTW&QueryText=bicycle%3cOR%3econtrolled%3cOR%3eaccess%3cOR%3eroad&HighlightType=1

"Sec. 545.065. STATE AND LOCAL REGULATION OF LIMITED-ACCESS OR CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAYS. (a) The Texas Transportation Commission by resolution or order recorded in its minutes may prohibit the use of a limited-access or controlled-access highway under the jurisdiction of the commission by a parade, funeral procession, pedestrian, bicycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, or nonmotorized traffic.
"(b) If the commission adopts a rule under Subsection (a), the commission shall erect and maintain official traffic-control devices on the portions of the limited-access or controlled-access highway to which the rule applies.
"(c) A local authority by ordinance may prohibit the use of a limited-access or controlled-access roadway under the jurisdiction of the authority by a parade, funeral procession, pedestrian, bicycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, or nonmotorized traffic.
"(d) If a local authority adopts an ordinance under Subsection (c), the authority shall erect and maintain official traffic-control devices on the portions of the limited-access or controlled-access roadway to which the ordinance applies."


And, from the Galveston municipal code:
Sec. 34-15. Closing streets to traffic.
The director of traffic, with the approval of the traffic commission, is hereby authorized to determine and designate those heavily traveled streets upon which shall be prohibited the use of the roadway by motor-driven cycles, bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles or other nonmotorized traffic and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof. When signs are so erected giving notice thereof, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs.

Well, I found the definitive answer. "Maybe". See the quote below.Yup, that's probably the answer. A similar question came up in Austin a few months back, when a group of people rode on the upper deck of IH-35. (There was no police involvement, nothing bad happened and it was quite calm, but a stink was made when a video of it hit the Internets.)

When asked, TxDOT said it was both legal (but a bad idea) and illegal. The group that said `legal' had already done their research previously when asked about riding on the tollways, and the group that said `illegal' had not (or so it seemed.) And reading the laws (they're not so hard to read) seems to support the `legal' position.

But of course Galveston is another city, with it's own laws. But it sounds like you've found the right law -- no signs, it seems legal. Printing out the relevant laws and any letters you've gotten from TxDOT that support your position would probably be enough to keep any curious police off your back.

That's correct, the bridge is the only way in and out. The ferry only goes to the Bolivar Peninsula, making it wholly unreasonable for people traveling from Houston and etc. Its only 2 miles on the bridge, so I figure I can cross in 12 or 15 minutes (allowing for some uphill climb slow-down). I wonder what would be the best time to time my crossing.

Best Time to cross the Causeway:
Monday thur Friday 9 AM to 3 PM
Too Busy on Week Ends.

I know, but I specifically asked about the Causeway, so I can claim some plausible deniability here. I doubt I'd get ticketed. I might get warned in the 15 minutes I'm on the Causeway.

You won't get a Warning or Ticket

I've seen people riding the Fred Hartman Bridge that links Baytown to La Porte on 146. Honestly someone should just call Galveston PD if they are curious as to the whether it is legal. I personally would not want to ride any "freeway" or it's bridge while it is busy. People in the Houston/Galveston area drive like fools as it is.

-Nate

We ride the Hartman, Kemah, Cedar Bayou, Dickinson, Hgwy 96 overpass, 2004 Chocolate Bayou
We call it bridge day.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/5th%20DSR/wideload.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/FredHartmanBridge063West.jpg

I've seen people riding the Fred Hartman Bridge that links Baytown to La Porte on 146. Honestly someone should just call Galveston PD if they are curious as to the whether it is legal.
As stated in the OP, I already did. Galveston PD says illegal, DPS says legal.

Bridge day sounds fun :D

I've wondered about the toll bridge at San Louis pass also. But i live too far to ride from home to either, so where i "start" from can be pointed towards either access to Galveston.

I always thought that the only logical way to get on Galveston by bike was the San Luis Pass Road bridge coming off the Blue Water Highway because it is a state highway and not an interstate like the causeway is.

Sometimes I think we cyclists tend to take our car attitudes with us. When we go to Galveston by car we tend come and go by the I-45 causeway because it's fast and and a direct shot from Houston. We also tend to be in a hurry up and get there mode in a car.

On a bicycle there are other criteria. We are "there" in the world instead of sealed inside our cars. Wind carries scents to us, we hear the birds singing, we see, hear, taste, smell and feel the world around us on a bike. Personally a little extra distance and time on a bike means more fun and adventure. Taking a different path for the sake of exploration. I lived in Dickinson a while and I-45 bores me.

I haven't explored it yet but maybe taking Old State Highway 288 (not the freeway monstrosity) down to Clute and catching 332 to Surfside Beach, catch that Bluewater Highway to Vacek Bridge and cross into Galveston that way.

Considering I live in SW Houston that may be the shorter route anyway. I will be a whole lot more interesting then going down the same roads I drove on countless times.

I-45 is not a state highway; it's a federal interstate highway.

There's no such thing as a federal highway outside of national parks or miltary bases. You're never going see a USDOT-FHA maintenance crew filling in pot holes on an interstate!

Interstates are limited access state highways, and yes, there are different rules that apply to the use of these roads.

tcs

Blue Water Highway was torn up by the recent hurricane, and I'm not sure what the status is.

Looking at the map, you can also swing WAAAY to the east and come in from Bolivar Peninsula via the ferry.

If I go that way I'll never make it past the nude beach and go to Galveston.:roflmao2:

Also as long as your avoiding the interstates the nearest way across the Trinity River is the Hwy 90 the old Beaumont Highway then come south on 563 or 61.

That route down bolivar is probably a pretty bad idea too...Bolivar was pretty well destroyed by Ike, and while it might be quite empty, I doubt they have the roads repaved and there isn't much in the way of infrastructure left.

Okay, so I rode down to Freeport, camped in Quintana Beach. Then I was going to go Surfside and Galveston, but it stated "via toll bridge 44" on the signs...which made me think it might be impassable on bike. I didn't want to go that far out of my way if they were going to turn me around, and I was tired anyway, so I rode back to Houston.

Thanks for the ride report.

I think people have reported riding the toll bridge (pay the toll and ride on).

One advantage to coming from the Galveston end is that if you get down there and turn around, you're not quite as far in the middle of nowwhere.

I saw an article a while back where a guy rode his bike with trailer from Louisiana on down the Texas coast. There were a number of bridges he deemed it not safe to ride a bike across (IE, old narrow truss bridges, for example). He just hitchhiked across them, apparently didn't have any trouble finding people with pickups to get him, his bike, and his trailer across the bridges.

I think people have reported riding the toll bridge (pay the toll and ride on).

One advantage to coming from the Galveston end is that if you get down there and turn around, you're not quite as far in the middle of nowwhere.

I saw an article a while back where a guy rode his bike with trailer from Louisiana on down the Texas coast. There were a number of bridges he deemed it not safe to ride a bike across (IE, old narrow truss bridges, for example). He just hitchhiked across them, apparently didn't have any trouble finding people with pickups to get him, his bike, and his trailer across the bridges.
Having ridden down through the backroads of Brazoria county, I can tell you there are a ton of good old boys with trucks. Its kind of weird to go to a place where every single person waves at you going the other direction in their truck. So friendly. I'm sure plenty would be willing to give me a lift, if needed.

I stopped at one point for about 10 minutes to check my map and re-hydrate on 523 @ Hoskins-Mound Rd and 6 different cars stopped to ask me if I was okay. A couple of them were very persistent when I told them I was fine.

Totally different type of folk.