bikeskiatook

Recently I observed an organized ride traveling east on 126th St N. the route they used crossed Highway 75.. This is major traffic 4 lanes traveling 65mph +. The route could have turned north to 116th and used the new overpass not having to cross traffic... This is not an isolated incident I see riders doing this all to often. Most of use ride for a lot of reasons and a detour of a couple of miles is really no big deal and a WHOLE lot safer.. I would hope anyone reading this will pass this information on to fellow riders, club members etc..

daihard 

If you ask me, I believe it should be left to the rider's judgment, assuming it is legal to cross Highway 75 on 126th St N. If I was there and felt that taking a detour of a couple of miles would be worthwhile, I would do so. OTOH, if I felt I could cross the highway without too much risk, I wouldn't hesitate to do that.

FBinNY 

IMO rules are different for individuals and small groups of cyclists, than for larger groups and/organized cast of thousands rides.

Individuals can use their street smarts and cross safely (otherwise there wouldn't be an intersection), and small group dynamics usually allow some cooperation so folks don't blindly follow the leader through narrow gaps.

OTOH large group dynamics are very different and follow the leader (aka devil take the hindmost) mentality has folks crossing long after the gap is closed. There's a local pickup ride here with the very bad habit of following the leader through intersections, and they have a long history of riders paying the consequences.

Years ago I witnessed an accident, where a crossing car (with the light) slammed on the brakes to avoid t-boning a rider, but knocked him down anyway, then the car getting broadsided by 2 more riders not able to stop.

prathmann

On the off chance that the OP is paying attention to this thread, it would help if some indication of city/state/country were given of where this transgression occurred. And contacting the organization that sponsored the ride would be more likely to have results than posting here.

If this is where I think it is (Tulsa, OK), the overpass is pretty new and the ride organizers may not have been aware that it was open yet. And depending on the day and time, the at-grade crossing at 126th doesn't look particularly risky with good sightlines, an island in the middle (so only need to cross 2 lanes at a time), and usually light traffic levels.

atbman

Were they crossing against the lights? With the lights?

Were they crossing through 65mph+ traffic?

Would the 2 mile detour have led to them going through a road network which was safer for such a ride?

I'm afraid that you provide nowhere near enough information for us to even begin to judge whether or not your judgement is correct, let alone pass on your advice to anyone else.

FBinNY 

Yes I found the same intersection by searching the rough description. This may be the only case of that mix. but as you point out it's in OK, and the OP is in Seattle.

Specifics really help in road issue posts.

daihard 

How did you figure that the OP is in Seattle? I'm asking because you may have seen my reply and somehow considered me the OP. As far as I can tell, there is no "126th St N" in or near Seattle.

FBinNY 

Yes, when I scrolled back, I stopped one short.

But it would have been nice if the OP was a bit more specific.

daihard 

Agreed.

CB HI

Would have been nice if the OP would not try and tell other cyclists how and where to ride.

CB HI

Plus, I question if a 50 mph overpass with merging and exiting traffic really is any safer.

daihard 

It would have been nice if the OP had given us more specifics about the overpass. Some don't have on/off ramps; others are major arterial passes with constant merging and exiting traffic.

no1mad 

I'm not the OP, but live in NE OK. Though it has been awhile since I've been on that stretch of road, US 75 is a wide, divided 4 lane with wide shoulders and that section is relatively flat and straight. An experienced cyclist or group could handle it with a bit of patience. There were no lights the last time I was up that way.

Hold on... the description is a bit off. 126th is north of 116th, so they couldn't turn north towards 116th.

CB HI

If Tulsa, OK is the location, it does have the at speed roadway exit and merges. Tulsa, OK seems to fit, as maps show at design like overpass while the older street view just shows a crossing at 116th.

Camilo

Common type of post when posters, for some reason, think they're posting on a local forum and use street and highway names as if the readers know what they're talking about.

Keith99

Now you have me thinking. Thinking about one overpass near me. Horrible merge situations when riding. But most important places where you have to KNOW which lane to be in at one point, not to figure it out from some directions.

Not something I'd like to follow a route slip through and something I'd even like trying to write the route slip for even less.