Advocacy & Safety - Any California Laws Requiring Shoulders?

I live in a combination commuter/agricultural town south of San Jose, CA. Generally, the roads outside of the town and immediate surroundings are lightly traveled and are great for cycling. One 55 mph road (more like 70 in some cases) outside of town is heavily traveled. Shoulder width varies between 2 feet and "where did it go". Taking the lane on this road would probably be death. Assuming the state or country have sufficient right of way is there any law in California that would require creation of at least a minimal shoulder when a road is repaved? I should also mention that there are numerous road and driveway intersections.

I'm being a bit selfish here as I'm stuck riding at least 3 miles on this road to get almost anywhere which has led me to load my bike on the car to find a safer starting point. Mind you my kids are grown and I might get lucky an get hit by someone with a good deal of insurance to provide for my wife, but wouldn't count on it. We all have a tendency to speed, but when I'm coming up on a pedestrian or bicyclist or jogger I've always slowed down and moved over. Others are not so considerate.

Unfortunately, there is evidently no law requiring shoulders or bike lanes on rural 2-lane roads. I was very pleased when a narrow stretch of Via de la Valle, just east of I-5, was augmented with a much-needed bicyclist-friendly shoulder, and I wrote a counterargument when some local complained about the $1.4M pricetag. I pointed out that shoulders make roads safer for all road users.

Safety - highways with paved shoulders have lower accident rates, as paved shoulders:
Provide space to make evasive maneuvers;
Accommodate driver error;
Add a recovery area to regain control of a vehicle, as well as lateral clearance to roadside objectssuch as guardrail, signs and poles (highways require a “clear zone,” and paved shoulders give thebest recoverable surface);
Provide space for disabled vehicles to stop or drive slowly;
Provide increased sight distance for through vehicles and for vehicles entering the roadway (rural:in cut sections or brushy areas;
urban: in areas with many sight obstructions);
Contribute to driving ease and reduced driver strain;
Reduce passing conflicts between motor vehicles and bicyclists and pedestrians;
Make the crossing pedestrian more visible to motorists; andProvide for storm water discharge farther from the travel lanes, reducing hydroplaning, splash andspray to following vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Capacity -
highways with paved shoulders can carry more traffic, as paved shoulders:
Provide more intersection and safe stopping sight distance;
Allow for easier exiting from travel lanes to side streets and roads (also a safety benefit);
Provide greater effective turning radius for trucks;
Provide space for off-tracking of truck's rear wheels in curved sections;
Provide space for disabled vehicles, mail delivery and bus stops;
andProvide space for bicyclists to ride at their own pace;
Maintenance -
highways with paved shoulders are easier to maintain, as paved shoulders:
Provide structural support to the pavement;
Discharge water further from the travel lanes, reducing the undermining of the base and subgrade;
Provide space for maintenance operations and snow storage;
Provide space for portable maintenance signs;
Facilitate painting of fog lines.

from www.loupathways.org/pavedShoulders.pdf

I live in a combination commuter/agricultural town south of San Jose, CA. Generally, the roads outside of the town and immediate surroundings are lightly traveled and are great for cycling. One 55 mph road (more like 70 in some cases) outside of town is heavily traveled. Shoulder width varies between 2 feet and "where did it go". Taking the lane on this road would probably be death. Assuming the state or country have sufficient right of way is there any law in California that would require creation of at least a minimal shoulder when a road is repaved? I should also mention that there are numerous road and driveway intersections.

I'm being a bit selfish here as I'm stuck riding at least 3 miles on this road to get almost anywhere which has led me to load my bike on the car to find a safer starting point. Mind you my kids are grown and I might get lucky an get hit by someone with a good deal of insurance to provide for my wife, but wouldn't count on it. We all have a tendency to speed, but when I'm coming up on a pedestrian or bicyclist or jogger I've always slowed down and moved over. Others are not so considerate.

I don't think there is any shoulder requirement. This is really evident in Northern California when one goes from Oregon to California and the very nice shoulders/bike lanes available in Oregon are clearly missing once one crosses that border. The difference is dramatic.

Even locally fighting for shoulders and or wide outside lanes on rural roads is an uphill battle.

Here's my $0.02. When most of the rural roads in my area where made I would bet a lot (if not all) the traffic had something to do with horses. I don't know of any "new" roads being made in rural areas in California. I might be wrong. If there were they probably would be wider by some code.

We are lucky if they can keep the potholes filled around here. The thought of widening them is crazy in these days. :(

Two words: Critical Mass!! Check out this site. You worried about your rights to the road, check this out:

http://critical-mass.info/

We have them here in So. Cal and anyone can join.

Two words: Critical Mass!! Check out this site. You worried about your rights to the road, check this out:

http://critical-mass.info/

We have them here in So. Cal and anyone can join.

Gee, the site pretty much tells you were to go F yourself... I don't really see this as a solution for anything.

CalTrans is starting to understand that they are in the business of "transportation", and that that is not limited to just motorized vehicles.

Here in Northern California, I've attended two recent meetings with representatives of cycling and pedestrian groups, and CalTrans employees, to help formulate plans for improvements for cyclists.

Their old school "traffic engineering" mentality is gradually giving way, and there are new policies and laws in effect which require them to take into account the needs of non-motorized users.

That said, between the budget crisis, and the thousands of miles of existing roadways, it will be quite some time before things get much better.

Keep your ears open for local and regional planning meetings, and make your voice heard whenever road projects are scheduled. Local bike clubs and cycling advocacy groups are best for this.

http://www.calbike.org/ has a lot more information on the subject.