Northern California - Expressways South bay

I'm going to start riding to the gym every morning. But Google maps has me going on San Tomas expressway starting at Saratoga ave to W. Hamilton. Is it legal to ride a bicycle on expressways? If it is why do I not see anyone riding there? This will be in the early morning 5am.

Thanks!

Some may not consider it pleasant, especially during heavy traffic periods, but there's no prohibition on bicycling there. Bicycles are restricted from many, but by no mean all, limited-access freeways. Where that's the case there will be a sign stating it by the on-ramp. If the sign doesn't explicitly mention bicycles then they are allowed on that section - watch for a sign indicating that 'bicycles must exit' by a subsequent off-ramp.

Be very attentive for turning cars. The straight aheads mixed with wide bike lanes puts the drivers in an autopilot mode and they really don't seem in to see bikes. I and others I know have had auto run-ins on that road. The time of day means you should have less traffic, but the drivers out at that time may be even more on autopilot.

In Santa Clara County, bicycles are legal on all county expressways. In general, the only places where bicycles are banned will have "no bicycles" signs at the on-ramps (mostly limited-access freeways and bridges).

I ride Lawrence Expressway all the time, and it can be busier than San Tomas Expressway, so I don't think you'll have any issues.

You'll see Foothill Expressway with plenty of bikes, especially on the weekends.

I see cyclists on San Thomas all the time. Although it's closer to Santa Clara.

At 5am it will be dark. Invest in some good front and back lights.

I've ridden that stretch off and on, it's not bad. San Tomas crosses 280, which is why you need it for part of the route, but you can always cut over to a parallel course before and/or after, if you find it unpleasant to stay on San Tomas.

Yeah, definitely doable. I drive this route often.
But as other said... make SURE you get GOOD front/rear (and maybe side) lights.

It's not uncommon for me to see -barely lit- cyclists along this route after dark.
I usually end up spotting them at the last second, and it surprises the heck out of me. ...and I'm one of the guys looking out for cyclists.

Good luck

I do Central and Foothill all the time (Sunnyvale-Stanford). When I lived in Cupertino and worked in SC, Lawrence and Central were most of my route.

Lights, reflective material, pay attention at the off-ramps, and keep your speed up. None of that 7mph bike path stuff on the expressways. :)

thank you everyone for all the good info. I am now seeing how light is my friend and the more I have the better. I will be watching for those auto-pilots and off ramps ^_^ . I just bought a spoke granade 1000 I wont leave home without it.

Why *do* so many people ride Central, when Evelyn is right next to it with 1/10th the automobile traffic? I'm always stumped.

Why *do* so many people ride Central, when Evelyn is right next to it with 1/10th the automobile traffic? I'm always stumped.

There are less stops, and unless you're at Mary or Castro, crossing from one to the other is not straightforward. Also, after Castro, one must get on Central or jog up to California to continue north.

My current route is Ahwanee-Almanor-Mary-Central, and I can stay on Central right into Palo Alto.

Which way would you be turning on Hamilton? There's Cypress down the east side of San Tomas as far as Williams, and Phelps after that.

Why *do* so many people ride Central, when Evelyn is right next to it with 1/10th the automobile traffic? I'm always stumped.
For half a dozen stoplights on an eight-mile commute. Also smoother pavement.

For half a dozen stoplights on an eight-mile commute. Also smoother pavement.

+1. Sunnyvale needs to pave that stretch, and badly.

Hmm, I've ridden Alma/Central from Palo Alto University down to San Antonio and that part of the pavement really seemed crap -- lots of tight-squeezing cars honking at me too. But maybe my stretch -- Lawrence-ish up to Stevens Creek Trail -- might be worth another try.

Alma is crazy, I wouldn't take that anywhere near rush hour. Alma turns into Central east of San Antonio, where it has wide shoulders with just a few narrower squeezes on overpasses.

I jump onto the sidewalk at Alma/San Antonio and continue to Charleston, where I cross Alma and get on Park to continue to the office. It is far more direct than that awful "bicycle boulevard" route that curlicues through the neighborhoods between San Antonio and Charleston.

Based on the enthusiastic reviews, this morning I decided to give it a shot and tried the cool-kid route: northbound up Central from Lawrence up to Castro, and it was incredible!

I didn't need to even get more than twenty or thirty feet onto the expressway before being greeted by a woman who was also entering traffic from the ramp behind me -- the cheerful honk of her horn seemed to say, "hey there, nice folding bike!" and she made a special point of veering her sedan far to the right of the white line just to make sure she could get a close look before waving me on with a colorful hand gesture.

And she was not the only engaging motorist to be found -- twice I encountered apparent fans of my wee blinky Cygolite, who made sure to lean close behind, then rev their motors to quickly pass before making hard rights and slamming their brakes to share the jovially Christmas-like bright red lights on their Mustangs and minivans. Thanks, guys, for reminding me how well my own brakes work!

To be sure, I did encounter one rather slow fellow, who stopped his car on the Wolfe on-ramp to watch me pass before flooring it to zip away -- then again, his slightly different behavior might have been due to the spiffy Colnago that was pinned upright atop his 5-series.

Some day, I might be groovy enough to make this my regular route, but I think I might need more practice on Evelyn.

... and I did Fair Oaks to San Antonio (and on the sidewalk to Charleston) this morning without a peep from anyone. I usually get on at Mary, but I had to hit Home Depot this morning.

It's been ages since anyone tooted at me on Central.

So I gave Central another shot tonight, this time Southbound. (http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/36675228) I'd say that the pavement is in better shape, and the ride is marginally faster. A bit boring for a night ride, but... okay.

No honking this time, just a guy in a Boxster who paced me revving his motor back and forth for a while. I couldn't tell if he was challenging me to a race, trying to convince himself that he hadn't paid too much for that thing, or he just didn't know how to shift out of first gear.... :D