peanut_man

Hello,

I live a relatively busy life (who doesn't these days!). On weekdays after I get home I only get about 1-1.5 hr of riding time and weekends are usually booked w/ activities with my gf. So I'm attempting to ride into work instead of driving in. Most of the roads are pretty busy where I live. But I'm able to put together a 12 miles route. Having to ride during rush hour, however, is a scary thought. Drivers have totally different attitude during that time and not leave much room for cyclists on the road (trying to squeeze between a bike and opposing traffic on narrow lane w/o shoulder, etc.). So, I'm looking for advices on some situations that I see encountering on this route:

1) One section is under construction, single lane w/ double yellow, no shoulder and concrete barriers on both side. I tried this during rush hour and was pretty scary, cars try to pass me leaving literally 5-6" of room only.

2) Busy 2-lane road thru a town, safest way to make a left turn? I would encounter this intersection both with and without traffic lights.

3) Road with parked car, should I ride between parked car and (busy) traffic? Or should I go ahead and ride on the sidewalk? I have fear of getting squeezed or some one suddenly open the door to exit from the parked car.

4) Single lane double yellow, with very small shoulder, and again heavy traffic. There's a sidewalk but only on the opposite side of the road. Should I try to ride on the sidewalk instead of the narrow road shoulder?

Any other recommendation to make this a safe trip would be great. Again, it'll be during rush hour, so scary traffic. =) For reference, here's the route I'm planning on taking:

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/43230

There's a pedestrian over pass that gets me across Rt 22 that doesn't show up on the map.

RacerMike

You might get better responses in the appropriate regional forum.

peanut_man

Wasn't looking for some local rider to give local road advice, but more of advices for the situations I'm encountering. Thanks.

merlinextraligh

Safety and Advocacy will give you all the advice you could possibly want.

Here's my shot:

1) I'd stay out of this if at all possible. If you have to ride it, the only safe way would be to take the lane. (i.e. move into the middle of the lane, and not allow anyone to pass) If it's a short section this could be a feasible method.

2) Signal your intention to make a left turn, move from the right side of the lane to the left, when safe to do so as you approach the intersection. If you have to wait to make your left, again take the lane if there's not room for cars to safely pass you.

3)Stay off the sidewalk. Ride far enough out from the parked cars you don't get doored, and keep an eye out for people coming out of cars.

4) Stay off the sidewalk. Ride a steady line as far right as practableIf there's not room for cars to safely pass, again take the lane.

5) poke around on Google earth, Bikely, routeslip or other mapping services, and in your car, and explore linking together a route that avoids some of this stuff. Often with a little creativity, (and some extra miles) you can cobble together a more bike friendly, but less obvious route.

Phantoj

I would advise the "Commuting" forum. "Advocacy and Safety" is consumed by bickering.

peanut_man

Thanks! I can probably avoid #1. I'm still not comfortable taking the lane but I guess that really is the safest. I'll try that. Wasn't sure how the drivers will react. Great advices tho.

nowheels

Try the commuter forum......there generally a very helpful group

madturtle

Hey I used to live in Somerset way back in grade school. Is Pine Grove elementary still there? I'd second the notion to research the route a little more. Is there a bike path along the river there or a maintenance road along the RR tracks? Might get you around some of the cruxes. LBS, regional forum or maybe a local commuting website mass transit, park and ride kind of thing might have more up to date info than mapping programs. At least near me there are a lot of unmapped bike paths that aren't terribly obvious w/o local beta.

Other than that, some times you just have to be a little aggresive in taking a lane to keep people from passing you. Overpasses and construciton zones scare me. Maybe do your fartlicks in the construction zone if you can keep up w/ traffic that long. This is tough on the overpasses because cars are going pretty quick and looking over their own shoulders trying to merge not watching for cyclists, especially in Jersey . I wouldn't take a lane to make a left turn on a 2 lane road w/o a light or a suicide lane personally if it is even moderately busy. Doing this in my car is why I am now carfree .

When making left turns w/ a light I usually take up a lane (in the rt turn lane if there are 2 lanes) and then get back on the shoulder when I'm thru the intersection. The tough part is usually getting myself into the turn lane. Easiest if the straight traffic is slowing down for the light when you move across it. Hope this helps.

Grasschopper

IMO if you are going to ride on the raod at any time you need to become comfortable taking the lane. You have the right to do so and it is for your safety to do so. Also wear something bright...get one of those bright yellow or orange relective running vests or very bright shirts...I picked up 2 yellow and 2 orange T shirts from Target that are made of a simialr material to a cycling jersey but fit like a T shirt...they keep me cool and are very visable.

ken cummings

I grew up north of there, just over the border into New York. Never mind, not what you are asking.

You have planned a fairly direct route, allowing for restrictions due to the RR tracks and a limited number of bridges over the "river". Is there any way you can drive or take public transit part of the way to avoid the worst conditions. There have been a couple of routes I've taken where I carried my bike over a set of RailRoad tracks as a shortcut. Almost every time I have commuted I have never stayed with the first route I tried. Ride between the two end points several times on weekends, checking out different routes. Look for secure places to leave a car during the day so you can do part way rides at first. Be willing to take a longer route just 2 or 3 days a week until you get stronger. Attend one of the League of American Bicyclist safe riding classes and ask the instructors for adivce. I have been riding for nearly 50 years and enjoy some traffic situations that scare the willies off of casual weekend riders. It does get better with time.

superdex

do you have any flexibility in work hours so you're on the road earlier/later than rush hour traffic?

curiouskid55

Looks like there are myriad altenate routes. Ride a few more miles and get there in one piece. Pick safer roads.

OCRider2000

I'm in a similar boat. By the time I get home there is little time for a ride. For me the most important thing is safety. I carefully mapped out my to work route to ensure it didn't include any unsafe roads. I wouldn't ride on any sidewalks unless you plan to go very very slow while on them. I wouldn't ride on any roads that are busy unless they have a decent unobstructed shoulder. Remember lot's of those folks driving to work in the morning aren't full alert . We've had a lot of riders hit down here in So Cal recently so for me it's safety first. If you are unable to map out a safe ride to work then I consider other options. At one point I was keeping my bike at work during the week and riding after work.

rmikkelsen

Is Weston Schoolhouse Rd. any mellower?
Looks like you can N. 13th almost all the way to S. Main.
Also looks like there are a lot of side roads between Ste 22 and 206.
I wouldn't hestitate to use a sidewalk in a situation with no shoulder and heavy traffic if pedestrians are not a problem.

mleess

If the road is really narrow, do NOT go far to the right. That will only encourage drivers to try to squeeze by you because it looks like you're inviting them to try. Stay more in the middle of the lane until the road widens up more. But be warned -- you will piss off a lot of drivers trying to get to work and you do run the risk of drivers taking things into their own hands. Might be better to avoid this route.

On a tough left with lots of traffic both ways, if you are not secure in your bike handling skills, there is no shame in pulling off to the right, stopping, and waiting for an appropriate time to cross. Over time, your confidence in traffic will increase and you can take the turn.

Stay off sidewalks.

Don't weave in and out of parked cars on the right side of the road. Cars can't see you when you duck between cars, then you have to pop back out. Better to stay in the driving lane, off to the right side.

FYI -- there are some good, cheap books out there that discuss all this kind of stuff. How to react in different situations.

Jinker

Most constructions zones with single lanes and barricades like you describe also mean slower traffic speeds.

If it's only a couple kilometers, take the lane and sprint like the dickens to keep up with traffic as best you can. If you're holding people up, pulling over after a few hundred meters to allow people by can do a lot to prevent people from getting too aggravated.

If people do honk, yell, etc, practice your 'smile and wave' routine. Try to look like you recognize them or something, that can really throw people off.

Don't let it get you down, and don't respond to a toot of the horn or gunning of the engine with negativity, it'll just stress you out.

I find when someone does something TRULY boneheaded and my adrenaline kicks in, it's good for a few extra kph which in turn helps you keep up with/beat traffic.

Oh, and there's nothing more satisfying than making your way through town FASTER than the cars which you're sharing the roads with. Try to keep your smug grin internal though, don't want to antagonize the people trapped in their cages.

rog

I'm pretty familiar with the route you're taking, and if I were riding that route, by the construction (I assume you are talking about the construction going on on Finderne, at the bridge?), I'd absolutely take over that lane, ie get out into the middle of the lane so cars can't get around you. They won't like it, but it'll absolutely be safer than riding on the side so people can pass. If you can, practice this during a less busy time of day.

Any time I'm on a road where I feel unsafe if traffic can go alongside me, I take the lane over completely. I've always felt that to be the safer way to go.

BTW - why do you take S Bridge down to 206, and then over to Finderne? I'd take E Main to Finderne...definitely safer/less aggravating than having to make a left off 206.

mezza

Ride. Be an a$$hole to the drivers (Own the road).

Don't worry.

2Tired2Shift

You (respectfully) use the words scary and fear alot. It takes a certain amount of assertiveness to stay safe in traffic, and that takes confidence. If you don't have that confidence or are too fearful to be assertive when necessary you are probably better off not doing this.

peanut_man

Yup, you know that, I know that, but the a**hole in the car behind me thinks the lane is his exclusively and bicycle has no right to be on the road.

In anycase.... success! I did try my best to re-route everything to local roads and has a drama-free ride into work this morning. Only the last left turn into my office complex is a little hairy. I moved to the left lane and wait for the light. I may be able to go a little further to get on a less busy intersection, we'll see.

I did change the road pedals on my bike to SPDs. Easier to clip in/out and I can walk resonably well w/ the MTB shoes.

Thanks for all the advices!

peanut_man

Hi, rog,

Actuallly this is from my house to work (Somerset -> Bridgewater). I rerouted to that 206 section to avoid the construction in Findern Ave. So on that section I go left on 206 and left on S. Bridge St. Not too bad. Coming back maybe an issue tho. I'm trying to find out how I can negotiate that section back now.

Coming back I probably will get off the bike @ S. Bridge St. and just walk it on the sidewalk across 206 section and then ride again when I get back on Dukes Pkwy. 206 is just very big/wide, it would be a bit hard to ride across and then make a left turn again.