RubeRad

That is insane, to take a freeway lane like that!

There are two places I know in San Diego where it is legal to ride on the SHOULDER of the freeway (there are probably more). One is I-15 on the bridge across Lake Hodges, just a short distance, and there's also a longer option to take a mup that goes under the freeway and across the bridge on a pedestrian bridge.

The other is I-5 through Camp Pendleton. Once I was on a group ride that was planning to ride through Pendleton, but when we got to the gate we were turned away, and had to ride the shoulder of I-5. There was one car pulled off the side of the road that made us swerve scarily close to traffic, and there was a rest stop where it was just easier to pull off and get back on the freeway after, rather than try to cross the exit/entrance lanes.

Ironic thing was: Pendleton was closed to bikes that day because they were holding a ceremony to honor a wounded warrior that had completed a very long handcycle ride (across the country?).


If I was driving and saw that guy I would try to pull up behind him -- close enough that no other driver would possibly want to cut in between us, but far enough that in case the bike braked suddenly, my longer braking distance wouldn't plow into him. From behind there I would try to shelter his lane from behind traffic until he got off the freeway.

mcours2006

Very noble thing to do, indeed...I, however, would be too flabbergasted and shocked by the whole scene that I'd probably drive right past him, mouth agape, and by the time I would have thought of doing what you suggested I'd been long gone...and still flabbergasted.

unterhausen

I have ridden many miles on an interstate where it was legal. Even taking the lane on a bridge with no shoulder. But that guy is nuts.

acidfast7

At least (s)he takes the lane

ironwood

A year or so ago, someone on the touring forum posted his proposed transcontinental rid which he had meticulously mapped ot with the aid of his computer.I looked at the part in MA, and it was on I-95 from RI to Boston. I have seen the craziest driving I've ever seen there. I'm scared in a car on that route.
Denver drivers in comparison are civilized.

55murray

Wow. I rode down Interstate 75 outside Monroe MI once as a kid, but that was only because it was closed...

Amitoj

Photos like these make me involuntarily cross myself.

Mtroup

I'm not sure taking pictures while driving makes this situation any safer.

at_hiker59

I have a permit from NJ Dept of Transportation to ride the NJ interstates. I got it waaay back in 1981 or 82. I78 used to be dead on Sunday mornings. I would not think of riding it now. Too much debris on the shoulders now.

autonomy

Bostonian checking in here. 95 can be a bit of a rollercoaster in the suburbs, but 93 is even worse - narrow lanes and everyone always goes 70 (speed limit is 55). We've actually had a number of cyclists on 93, here are just 2 I could find

Bicyclist enjoys the freedom of the open road | Universal Hub
We're going to guess Hubway frowns on its riders pedaling down an Interstate | Universal Hub

A really, really stupid thing to do (nevermind it's illegal). I think the problem is that some of the urban entrances to the highway can be very misleading - you think you're on the street but you turn a corner and bam - highway (well, turn around then!). Although I don't even know how that first guy could even get on - either go through the Big Dig tunnel (that's pretty much suicide) or through the very long on-ramp parallel to the Zakim Bridge
.

This is curious to me. I was visiting SD and somewhere in the vicinity of La Jolla on I-5 there were signs for "cyclist detour" and I actually saw someone cycling there. "What the hell?", I thought.

RubeRad

I guess some areas it's just not possible for bikes to get through except for the freeway. Camp Pendleton in particular is locked down pretty tight, so it's either through the base (via the guarded gates) or on the freeway.