baltazar

Hello! This is my first post and may I say that this is truly an excellent forum with lots of valuable information. Because of this forum, I've decided to get into bike commuting - 13mi one way and I do wear a helmet. I have some questions.

The area where I live is known for having lots of bad drivers and my route to work requires me to cross a complicated freeway entry and exit ramps. In the 2x that I tried it, I got a close call which I know was not my fault. So now, I use the sidewalk, wait for the pedestrian light, and cross. I'm aware of the dangers of going on sidewalks on a bike but in this case, I feel that I don't have a choice. What are my other options without taking a diferent route? Should I force and train myself to use the road at all times as a regular bike commuter?

Also, I use a mountain bike (very good in quickly getting on and off sidewalks as danger lurks) and in my commute, I go through about 1/4 mile of dirt/gravel. Would it be worthwhile to change to road tires? How would road tires do on dirt/gravel?

Thanks.

Andy Dreisch

Hey baltazar, congratulations. Hope it works out for you.

If you're doing 13 miles, then you should be able to go another route to avoid the on ramps, you think?

As for the MTB, I've heard others on the forum say that slicks do the trick.

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Oh, and stay on the road. It is the safest bet in the long run. I think most on this board would agree.
</edit>

Anyway, great to have you on board. Good luck.

Ouch !

Hello

Baltazar, Don't let the bad drivers put you off, they are everywhere.

Try to stay on the road but when you get to the pedestrian light to cross the road that's what they are there for, if you feel safer using them it's okay. Just jump off the bike and walk.

There's one road on a route I take that I used to use the P/crossing until another biker called me to follow him, when I did he showed me a path that went under the bridge where the crossing is, it's a narrow path that adds some excitement (if you get it wrong you get wet, but I haven't got it wrong yet.) so I use this story to explain that some commutes seem to evolve over time.

I cannot really talk about road tires because I've never tried them.

But good luck and don't let the drivers get you down, just by getting on your bike and trying to commute you've already done more than most of them would even dream of.

threadend

Hello, baltazar !

Welcome to the forums and kudos for giving bicycle commuting a try.

Commuting requires that you be resourceful, not just in how you manage the your gear and daily supplies, but also in the manner in which you survive the ride. Take the sidewalk, I can just about guarrantee that if one of those near misses crossing the freeway had been a direct hit it would have soured your attitude on commuting real fast. Just be polite to the peds and if the foot traffic is very heavy, walk that section. I cross a heavily travelled 4 lane bridge with 10" high curbs on my commute, there isn't one chance in a million that I'm moving off that sidewalk to jostle with the cage jockeys. The objective of my commute is to arrive at work, and I don't work in the ER or morgue

I run street tires and have managed construction zones and a few other sections of dirt from time to time, don't try anything over the top like high speed cornering or sudden changes in direction and you should be okay.

Careful though, bicycle commuting can develop into an addiction that is very hard to break.

Rich Clark

Regarding the intersection, my own experience is that being assertive and predictable is the correct countermeasure to confused drivers. (And it is confusion that's usually the problem: they just don't know what to do when they see a bike, and they're often downright grateful when you tell them.)

So I rarely have problems as long as I hold my line, obey the same rules the other traffic is following, and if necessary telegraph my moves and even direct traffic if it seems called for (for example, if someone looks like they're thinking about zooming around me on the left and then cutting in front of me to get on a ramp, I move towards the center of my lane while waving them to my right).

Having a rear-view mirror is a huge help. I recommend the Take-a-look eyeglass-mount mirror (because I also recommend never riding without eye protection).

As for tires, a road slick will be fine on dirt and gravel, unless it gets muddy a lot. Even then, it'll be worth it for the improvement in your pavement riding. Something like a Specialized Nimbus EX is a smooth riding, relatively high-prssure tire that can still take a fair beating.

Congrats on your new lifestyle. It will change you forever.

RichC (back from the netherworld)

Michel Gagnon

I'm not a fan of sidewalks and I almost never walk my bike. I feel that if I need to walk my bike through a dangerous intersection, car drivers should also push their cars through it.

That being said, there might be a few tricks, like waiting until the traffic light (or the previous one) is at the beginning (or at the end) of its cycle. There is one place I frequently cycle through where pushing the pedestrian button turns the light red a few seconds after I go through. I then cycle safely across an 8-lane arterial to take the centre-left exit.

Another trick might be to access that freeway overpass from a different direction, so you cycle with traffic that won't turn right in front of you.

Regards,

JDP

I would use the sidewalk if it is much safer than using the road but this may just be a case of jitters that you need to get over. There are special rules for bikes like needing to stay right, wait for traffic at a sensor activated traffic light, etc. To me, this means there can be special priveleges for bikes like taking a sidewalk momentarily if safety is an issue. It's not like you are darting across several driveways and intersections. You are waiting for the pedestrian crossing signal.

I put slicker/skinnier tires on my Mtn. Bike and don't regret it. I have to ride across some dirt and grass on my commute too. You have to be more careful and remind yourself that you don't have those wide knobbies anymore. Since you are mainly on the road, the slicks will be a big benefit. Also the ride is rougher but you get used to it.

oceanrider

There are many who I respect and admire on these forums that will disagree with me but in my heart of hearts, commuter that I am, there are times when I feel it is pretty much necessary to take the sidewalk. I HATE crossing freeway on/off ramps. They are scary as all hell. If you have a safe way to get across, I suggest you use it and argue the merits of competing with vehicles for the road later.

There's a drawbridge I cross regularly with one-lane traffic going in either direction. There's usually one butthead who tries to pass on the left into oncoming traffic going over the bridge. Several times I've witnessed near head on collisions or the car passing nearly clips me getting back over in a big rush. Most other cyclists use the sidewalk on this bridge but I've held out. I'm rethinking this.

Pete Clark

Hi, Baltazar, and welcome to the magical (and profitable) world of bicycle commuting.

In addition to all the experienced advice already given, I'd suggest taking an Effective Cycling course through the League of American Bicyclists.

Click on:

https://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/courses.htm