Advocacy & Safety - Suggestions for riding

I just moved to an area that has no bike lanes, little bike traffic, high speeds, no way around arterials, and a bike path that is no more than a glorified sidewalk.

Is sharing the lane a good idea or is it better to ride the "bike path" with extreme caution?

Take the lane. Get a Dinotte Tail Light.
It will move the traffic to your left as soon as they see the light.

Take the lane. Get a Dinotte Tail Light.
It will move the traffic to your left as soon as they see the light.
So on 45 mph roads, with little existing cycle traffic, I should take the lane? Drivers seem to have enough trouble seeing cyclists when there is a large cycling population, I hate to find out how well they see me when the population is extraordinarily small. It just seems really sketchy to me.

Speed is only part of the consideration. How many lanes are there? How wide are they and the shoulders? How heavy is the motor traffic? How many intersections or driveways will you have to contend with if you ride the side path?

Most of the roads around me were designed with no thought for bike traffic. If you take the lane you will need to be ready for alot of honking and yelling. Here in Florida, putting yourself in the way of people who either have not been driving in this country for very long or have been driving for WAY too long is borderline suicidal. I know we have a right to the road, but I'm not going to sacrifice my life to prove it.
I will put the bike on the back of the car and find somewhere safer to ride.

If you ride the roads, then in addition to the DiNotte taillight, I can suggest neon-lime outerwear for daytime visibility, and reflective material for nighttime visibility, which is a great description of... an ANSI Class II reflective vest in neon-lime (http://www.safetygearonline.com/products/ansisafetyvests.asp?page=1&tid=4&pid=182)

Bar-tip blinkies are also a good bonus item for lower-light conditions or darkness, because they mark the edge of the bike and give you fault tolerance (three lights, instead of one). Trek offers some that take 1 AAA per side (so you can use rechargeables) and they come in both drop-bar and flat-bar configurations: http://bontrager.com/model/06988 Here's video of a bike at twilight with the bar-tip lights plus a DiNotte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDhwTV229E0

I just moved to an area that has no bike lanes, little bike traffic, high speeds, no way around arterials, and a bike path that is no more than a glorified sidewalk.

Is sharing the lane a good idea or is it better to ride the "bike path" with extreme caution?

Keep in mind that you will know the situation and your own preferences/skill/confidence-level much better than anybody else here. Keep that in mind when you read suggestions here.

If there is little traffic on the "bike path", that might be a reasonable option at least until you get enough familiarity with the road traffic and sufficient skill/confidence to deal with it.

A light can't hurt.

Here's a short guide for riding in/with traffic.

http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/ (http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/)

Start at the shallow end of the pool.

Bike paths are good provided there are few driveways or intersections with crossing traffic

Speed is only part of the consideration. How many lanes are there? How wide are they and the shoulders? How heavy is the motor traffic? How many intersections or driveways will you have to contend with if you ride the side path?
4 lanes or 2 lanes depending on which part of the ride I'm doing. Narrow lanes with 0 shoulder. Generally medium to heavy traffic. Lots of driveways and 4 to 10 subdivision intersections every mile.

4 lanes or 2 lanes depending on which part of the ride I'm doing. Narrow lanes with 0 shoulder. Generally medium to heavy traffic. Lots of driveways and 4 to 10 subdivision intersections every mile. Any alternative routes that might be a mile or two longer but safer than what you describe?

Any alternative routes that might be a mile or two longer but safer than what you describe?
Not really. The subdivision streets suck. They wind all over the place and never come out where you need them too. I might ride one for an extra mile and end up a hundred yards from where I entered. The major streets are laid out on a grid but within that grid is a horrible mess of roads.

That's what I contend with all the time during the week - very conjested roads, no shoulders, and everybody is in a rush. The roads near my house are iether two lanes where traffic crawls or six with cars going 10-15 mph over the speed limit. But I still use the roads instead of the excuses the state has for bike paths.

This is where I'm at.

Rochester Hills. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=rochester+hills&sll=37.09024,-95.712891&sspn=37.325633,78.662109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rochester+Hills,+Oakland,+Michigan&ll=42.658328,-83.149853&spn=0.067918,0.153637&z=13)

UA, it's actually fairly simple: If the lane is wide enough to share safely, share it...if not, take it and leave no doubt to other drivers that they will have to cross into the next lane to pass you. If a path, MUP ect. makes things more convenient for you, by all means use them. One of the beauties of a bike is that road or not is not an either-or item. ;)

Ride predictably, courteously and follow the rules of the road unless doing so will put you in a spot of bother. Finally, always expect the other guy to do the stupidest thing possible and plan your possible options accordingly, so when he does it, you are prepared. The vast majority of people don't want to hurt you and won't give you any crap unless they think you are being a jerk-off - even in Detroit.

This is where I'm at.

Rochester Hills. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=rochester+hills&sll=37.09024,-95.712891&sspn=37.325633,78.662109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Rochester+Hills,+Oakland,+Michigan&ll=42.658328,-83.149853&spn=0.067918,0.153637&z=13)

What road are you concerned with? Livernois seems OK to ride on (using google street views).

Welcome to the American suburbs eh? I live in a similar area to what your map shows. At first I stuck to the sidewalks. Then I tried the streets. I went back to the sidewalks for a while, then I changed my route so it's about a mile longer, but keeps me away from those streets. Another thing I did was time shift to a much earlier commute. Beating rush hour by an hour or two saves me a lot of stress.

Without cycling in your neighborhood the best I can say is, if the streets feel too dangerous ride the sidewalks. That may mean you have to get off and walk sometimes and it will certainly require much care at driveways and intersections.

Best of luck, whatever way you go.

4 lanes or 2 lanes depending on which part of the ride I'm doing. Narrow lanes with 0 shoulder. Generally medium to heavy traffic. Lots of driveways and 4 to 10 subdivision intersections every mile.

With no alternative routes, it seems to me a combination of the poor path and taking the lane on the road is the best option for this unhappy situation. As already suggested, you may want to invest in some good lighting.

You may also want to invest some time and energy with local cycling groups.

Your area looks identical to where we live. At first I thought there'd be no way I'd ride that craziness. After a while, it's like they say in sports "the game slows down for you". I still don't enjoy it, and I avoid the busiest times, but it's manageable and I can get to a much easier route fairly quickly.

I do know what you mean though. I work in downtown Cleveland and it's much easier riding downtown then the type of area your looking at.

it sounds like a dumb place for a cyclist to move to

it sounds like a dumb place for a cyclist to move to

In our case and IMO, it's a dumb type of place for anyone to move to, but that's another story of human fallibility and hindsight.

it sounds like a dumb place for a cyclist to move toThis from someone who lives "In a Yellow Submarine"?

It's really up to you. Most of my route is 2 lanes total with no shoulder, and 55-60 MPH traffic, but it's rural so the traffic is pretty light. Still, often enough there are cars that have to wait to pass me due to oncoming traffic. I have been riding the route for 5 years and have not had any close calls. But I do think I have it easy; drivers seem very courteous here.

I will join the chorus on a Dinotte taillight and an obnoxious neon green reflective vest. Harbor Freight sells what I've found to be quite a good vest for $5. The Dinotte is expensive, but you don't have to get hit very many times (less than one, really) to think maybe $120 for a taillight isn't a bad deal. It REALLY DOES make cars see you. I've had drivers tell me that they saw me more than half a mile away in the daylight due to the light.

it sounds like a dumb place for a cyclist to move to
Yep. I knew it was going to suck but I'd rather be with the woman I love in a ****ty place to ride than in a nice place to ride without her. So here I am, and I need to figure out the best way to ride. No point in whining about how ****ty it is.

This from someone who lives "In a Yellow Submarine"?

:roflmao:

-Kurt

It all depends on where I park my submarine.

:D

It all depends on where I park my submarine.

:D

Off the coast of New England, Lieutenant Rozanov?
Or perhaps in Australia, Commander Sherman?

:p

-Kurt

UA, it's actually fairly simple: If the lane is wide enough to share safely, share it...if not, take it and leave no doubt to other drivers that they will have to cross into the next lane to pass you. If a path, MUP ect. makes things more convenient for you, by all means use them. One of the beauties of a bike is that road or not is not an either-or item. ;)

Ride predictably, courteously and follow the rules of the road unless doing so will put you in a spot of bother. Finally, always expect the other guy to do the stupidest thing possible and plan your possible options accordingly, so when he does it, you are prepared. The vast majority of people don't want to hurt you and won't give you any crap unless they think you are being a jerk-off - even in Detroit.

Chip's got it right. Note: When you ride to the extreme right you are saying "Come on by, there's room enough for all of us." I swear drivers are usually more upset about misjudging a close pass than they are at having to wait and pass safely. A mirror will help you to understand and be able to judge normal driver behavior in the area.

I'll add that a texter is almost as likely to hit you in the lane or not. The only rider in my area that has been hit recently was on a WIDE shoulder.

Yep. I knew it was going to suck but I'd rather be with the woman I love in a ****ty place to ride than in a nice place to ride without her. So here I am, and I need to figure out the best way to ride. No point in whining about how ****ty it is.

I don't buy this argument, there are two reasons for moving to a place like this, first is that she already lived there, second she wanted to live there. I'm guessing you didn't discuss this before moving there. If you did, then I would seriously wonder about her commitment to you, forcing you to put your personal safety in danger, in order to live in a certain place. Many women committed to a relationship would be willing to sell their house before forcing their man to move to an area that puts his safety in danger.

Having said that, often places that look like they would be horrible riding places, are not anywhere near as bad as we think, although the artificial world of outer suburbia is probably the worst. One place I would rather ride then drive is the core of the city, although traffic is heavy and drivers are clueless, I feel safer there where traffic tends to average 35km/h the suburbia where the speed limit is often 70 and drivers exceed it with gay abandon.

Outer suburbia is also going to go through some really rough times in the next 20 years or so, because it only works, sort of, when fuelled by cheap petroleum. We may not run out of petroleum in the next 40 years, but we are running out of cheap petroleum, even now, a prediction I heard from an economist recently said we would be looking at $100/barrel oil again this year, and likely $200/barrel oil somewhere between 2012 and 2015. This isn't really a stretch when you consider it was $146/barrel in June 2008. Although demand in the US is down, China and India are making up for it, neither was severely affected in the economic downturn.

I just moved to an area that has no bike lanes, little bike traffic, high speeds, no way around arterials, and a bike path that is no more than a glorified sidewalk.

Is sharing the lane a good idea or is it better to ride the "bike path" with extreme caution?

You should take a class from a League certified instructor. Go online look for an LCI in your area and get trained to ride in traffic. You deserve no less.

I just moved to an area that has no bike lanes, little bike traffic, high speeds, no way around arterials, and a bike path that is no more than a glorified sidewalk.

Is sharing the lane a good idea or is it better to ride the "bike path" with extreme caution?

PLEASE write the Rochester Hills Mayor and city manager to let them know what a poor job they're doing. I can assure you that they think their city is one of the best places to ride a bike when in fact they are one of the worst in the state of Michigan.

They are re-building Tienken Road, which would be a great time to add bike lanes, but they're not. They're adding more sidepaths/sidewalks. Will you come out to a public hearing on this project and let them know? I don't have a date yet for that meeting.

Please feel free to cc me on your letters to the Mayor and city manager. My email is info *at* m-bike.org.

PLEASE write the Rochester Hills Mayor and city manager to let them know what a poor job they're doing. I can assure you that they think their city is one of the best places to ride a bike when in fact they are one of the worst in the state of Michigan.

They are re-building Tienken Road, which would be a great time to add bike lanes, but they're not. They're adding more sidepaths/sidewalks. Will you come out to a public hearing on this project and let them know? I don't have a date yet for that meeting.

Please feel free to cc me on your letters to the Mayor and city manager. My email is info *at* m-bike.org.
Sounds like a great idea. Let me know when the hearing is, and if it works with my schedule, I'll be there.

Suburban Detroit has got to be onerous to ride as a bicyclist.

high vis clothing, good blinkies, a slo-mo triangle 131235 a rear view mirror, and RIDE!

be prepared to put up with some motorist grief, those roads look pretty tough to share without traffic static.

It's shameful america has inculcated car culture to the extent lots of our public rights of way are distinctly unfriendly for bicycling. wide shoulders or wide lanes should be the bare minimum for consideration of bicyclists on all roads wherever physically possible.

Sounds like a great idea. Let me know when the hearing is, and if it works with my schedule, I'll be there.

You can write the mayor and city manager today to let them know about the poor riding conditions you encounter in Rochesters Hills and how the sidepaths/sidewalks are unsafe. That would be a good start. I'll try to find out when the public hearing is on Tienken Road.

You can write the mayor and city manager today to let them know about the poor riding conditions you encounter in Rochesters Hills and how the sidepaths/sidewalks are unsafe. That would be a good start. I'll try to find out when the public hearing is on Tienken Road.
Working on a letter right now.

I just moved to an area that has no bike lanes, little bike traffic, high speeds, no way around arterials, and a bike path that is no more than a glorified sidewalk.

Is sharing the lane a good idea or is it better to ride the "bike path" with extreme caution?

Use your own best judgement. Since you didn't mention speeding down the sidewalk with reckless abandon I think your options are all reasonable things to do.

I'd tend to ride on the road. First I'd spend some time on google maps and make sure there's no other way around.

To amend this, as the snow comes down, the side paths looked to be unmaintained so it'll force me into the street. I may be looking into that taillight...

So on 45 mph roads, with little existing cycle traffic, I should take the lane? Drivers seem to have enough trouble seeing cyclists when there is a large cycling population, I hate to find out how well they see me when the population is extraordinarily small. It just seems really sketchy to me.

Oh they'll see you fine. The worst part of a 45mph arterial (4 lane I assume) will be how loud they are when they pass. Most of them will floor it as they pass. It's not intended as a slight against you. It's them being impatient, don't take it personal.

If it's multiple lanes in your direction of travel I'd take more lane space. That way they know they have to move over well ahead of time.

If the road has lots of driveways and intersections, commuting motorists must frequently deal with other motorists slowing down to turn or entering the road in front of them, as well as stopped garbage trucks, mail trucks, and other service/delivery vehicles. This tends to keep them more alert and accustomed to changing lanes to pass.

I commute a stretch of road with 4 lanes, 45 mph posted limit, and lots of driveways. Where the lane is less than 12 feet wide I ride the center of the lane; a very rare horn honk is as bad as it gets. On sections with few driveways and a wider lane I ride the right edge of the lane and get an occasional (every several commutes) pass at slightly less than three feet.

I do think that commuters habituate to cyclists claiming the lane, and I am comfortable doing it on such a road, although I prefer lower speed limits where driveways and intersections are so numerous.

Working on a letter right now.

Thank you! I think far too many cyclists in places like Rochester Hills don't take such action. That inaction allows government officials to think they're doing a great job whereas the reality is quite the opposite.

Most of the roads around me were designed with no thought for bike traffic. If you take the lane you will need to be ready for a lot of honking and yelling. Here in Florida, putting yourself in the way of people who either have not been driving in this country for very long or have been driving for WAY too long is borderline suicidal. I know we have a right to the road, but I'm not going to sacrifice my life to prove it.
I will put the bike on the back of the car and find somewhere safer to ride.

Yes, the "mean streets" of Florida can be a little tricky at times, but from experience at least here in the Tampa Bay area I can tell ya that they aren't as bad as you're trying to make them sound.

That and some of us don't have a choice but to ride the streets that we have as we don't drive.

I lived in that area for a while (during my non-cycling years). It's 13 years since I've moved, so things may be busier, but I think you should be okay taking the lane in most areas. Make yourself as visible and possible and don't be ambiguous; take the left tire track of the right lane so that cars are positive they can't squeeze by you without changing lanes. I've ridden similar streets out here in Texas and you'd be surprised how much cooperation you get. Also remember that if they honk at you, it's clear that they've seen you.

A super-duper resource for riding in bike-unfriendly areas is CommuteOrlando (http://commuteorlando.com/). Keri and friends have done a great job of putting together instructional materials, including videos showing techniques for playing in traffic. Check out the "On the Road" and "Smart Moves" sections. It teaches a lot about vehicular cycling without being all preachy about it.

I can tell ya that they aren't as bad as you're trying to make them sound.

Ditto that. Drive your bike like you belong and the cars will give you room. I went from riding sidewalks to riding in the gutter to taking the lane, and I feel much safer out in the traffic lane. I'll ride along some of the busiest retail areas in the lane and get a lot of respect from the cars.

And when the weather gets warmer, if anyone yells, "Get on the sidewalk!" Remember to reply, "Get on a bike!" :D

Ditto that. Drive your bike like you belong and the cars will give you room. I went from riding sidewalks to riding in the gutter to taking the lane, and I feel much safer out in the traffic lane. I'll ride along some of the busiest retail areas in the lane and get a lot of respect from the cars.

And when the weather gets warmer, if anyone yells, "Get on the sidewalk!" Remember to reply, "Get on a bike!" :D
I don't know how to turn left here. We have "Michigan lefts" where the left turn is actually a u-turn past the intersection. I don't know how to turn left when the streets are signed as 45mph streets meaning cars are typically doing 50 to 55 mph. People in MI don't seem to be too keen on letting pedestrians use the crosswalks, either.

I don't know how to turn left here. We have "Michigan lefts" where the left turn is actually a u-turn past the intersection. I don't know how to turn left when the streets are signed as 45mph streets meaning cars are typically doing 50 to 55 mph. People in MI don't seem to be too keen on letting pedestrians use the crosswalks, either.

CommuteOrlando to the rescue (http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2009/08/22/smart-moves-left-turns-on-big-roads/)... see if any of that helps. A lot of the concerns you have about traffic are similar in Orlando. I was there a year ago on business, and once you get away from the Magic Kingdom, the city is a zoo of traffic. Keri and friends have done a good job of figuring out how to coexist, and share their knowledge well.

If you are not riding on skinny tires, the greenspace you can find on google maps gives you lots of options for connecting quiet deadend streets. I also support riding the road with visibility accessories and horizontal flag.

Those bike trails look pretty usable to me. I say use them when and how you can. That's what they're there for. No point in dealing with the extra stress of riding in those streets when you don't have to. Depending on what you're riding right now, you may want to go up to 35mm tires.

One thing I discovered this winter is that in snowy weather you can sometimes get places faster on a bike on a bike trail than you could in a car on a road. Depends on just how much snow is there, but it worked for me even with a couple fresh inches on the path.

On the other hand, be prepared to go ahead and use the road if you need to. Have the lights and such you would need.

Whenever you're going someplace new, check out Google Maps and Google Street View to find possible alternative (sometimes nonstandard) routes and look for potential problem locations.

It appears you live a typical American town, Lots of cars and no thought for the alternate transport people----Bicyclist. As far as riding on the roads
You must do more than is required to be seen from the rear.
1. Have rear flashing bike light. Just one or you'lll confuse the drivers with two. (which way are you turning?)

2. Wear hi-viz clothing. Even reflective ones. the market is getting better for this stuff.

3. Have rear view mirrors to see behind you.

4. Until you're used to the traffic stay to right as safely as possible.

5. After they(the drivers) are accustomed you--you'll see some coutesies given. But don't expect them.

Bob

1. Have rear flashing bike light. Just one or you'lll confuse the drivers with two. (which way are you turning?)I haven't noticed any motorists who are noticeably confused by one flashing rear light on a bicycle.

A flashing rear light on a bike looks quite different from a car that has it's turn signals on. Especially if the running lights on the car are also on, as they usually are at night.

As far as I can tell, most motorists know that a small flashing light like is found on a bicycle (front or back, white, red or other) means bicycle or something similar to a bicycle (tricycle, pedicab, etc.)

Chip's got it right. Note: When you ride to the extreme right you are saying "Come on by, there's room enough for all of us." I swear drivers are usually more upset about misjudging a close pass than they are at having to wait and pass safely. A mirror will help you to understand and be able to judge normal driver behavior in the area.

I'll add that a texter is almost as likely to hit you in the lane or not. The only rider in my area that has been hit recently was on a WIDE shoulder.

Maybe they should put in an ADD strip to wake them up : P.

Suburban Detroit has got to be onerous to ride as a bicyclist.

high vis clothing, good blinkies, a slo-mo triangle 131235 a rear view mirror, and RIDE!

be prepared to put up with some motorist grief, those roads look pretty tough to share without traffic static.

It's shameful america has inculcated car culture to the extent lots of our public rights of way are distinctly unfriendly for bicycling. wide shoulders or wide lanes should be the bare minimum for consideration of bicyclists on all roads wherever physically possible.

:roflmao: Oh wow that picture is just crack a rib funny. Jesus those lights are so bright even sperm could see it.