Biking Across Bridges
 

My commute to work requires me to cross one of two bridges. One -the Wright Memorial Bridge - is three miles long, two lanes, no shoulder, low guard rail. Generally light traffic, with people mostly obeying the 55 mph speed limit. Bridge two -Virginia Dare Bridge- is 5 miles long, divided 4 lanes, wider shoulder (full of dead birds, glass and trash), with lots speeder (>80 mph) and lots of out of towners. Both bridges have a cut-out at the top of the span where I can rest and take in the scenery without any danger of being hit. Both routes get me to work in about the same distance, but the route across the Wright Bridge has less traffic and intersections the entire way.

My question is: How many other people have long bridge experience? If I get a flat, should I fix it there, or try to walk off? When people find out I bike across the bridges (I do both of them depending on my mood) they think I'm crazy. I wouldn't give it up though, crossing three miles of water at sunrise is one of the best parts of my day.

If you flat on either bridge, i'd say you're in quite the danger. No shoulder is dangerous, but so is a road with shoulder.

This is equivalent to parking your car on the side of a highway and trying to fix a flat. Mucho dangerous.

Do cars safely pass you when you're on the 2-lane bridge (the one in the picture)? If so, I'd probably stick to that one.

I'd never try to fix a flat on the bridge, it sucks walking your bike across but it's not worth the risk.

If not your not adverse to riding with strangers, you could also try and flag a motorist down while walking.
Al

Sounds like on the 2-lane bridge it's easy to ride in the right tire track and stay out of the debris, and, so, you're unlikely to get a flat (as opposed to riding in the debris-littered shoulder of the faster bridge).

Do you use a mirror?

on the flat issue,
if you don't change a flat on the roadside, then your walking right?
i wouldn't want to be sitting there changeing a flat, but i don't think your any bettter off walking.
If you can change a flat standing you might be safer (less profile and more visible.)

On a side note, what about getting the local cycling advocacy org to push for a street sweeper to hit those bridges once in a while.
My experience in bridges is similar, huge ammounts of dirt, glass etc. They're never cleaned.

But one must plan for the worst. It is very possible to hit some metal or glass shard many miles from when it finally works deep into the tire and punctures the tube.

Looks like there is no space to even stand out of traffic, let alone space to repair a flat. I wonder if you could (legally and effectively) use 3 or so safety triangles to direct flow of traffic?

Al

That bridge is breathtaking to cross. I would still be scared because there's really no ped/bicycle path! In fact, a bridge like that would be off limits in New York City so consider yourself lucky they even give you the opportunity to use it. I too would hitch a ride if stranded in the middle of that monster!

Props to you, I rode many bridges on the Pacific Coast. The most notable was the Astoria Bridge at 5 miles. I did ok till I got about mid way across and then I got pretty spooked. All I can say is I wouldn't want to do that everyday.

MBD

Are you talking about this bridge? I don't think I would have the nerve to ride across it.
http://perkowitz.net/photo/places/lo...tml?size=large

I have a real fear of bridges. I take them, but I really have a paralyzing fear. But if you can do it, I really admire you. Just make sure your bike is in good working order before you hit that bridge! Is it a bridge that often has debris? Have you had flats there before?

If you get a flat, walk the bike. Keep your mirror on so you can keep an eye on the oncoming traffic and have an emergency plan just in case.

Koffee

I'm astonished that you regularly ride the Wright Memorial bridge. I rode it just once on my east-coast tour last year, and found it to be the most harrowing experience of the entire 2500+ miles by FAR; a fellow rider I met a day or two later had crossed it the day after I did, and she said she'd found it terrifying as well. Strong crosswinds, too!

Anyway, no advice really: just know that I'm in awe of your courage!

Bridge riding is de rieguer here, as I live in a group of islands. I have had to stop and change a flat, but with a shoulder. You could call the police if you have a flat on the narrower bridge, but I don't know how receptive they would be.

It ticks me off how many things like bridges, roads etc are made so they're dangerous to traverse by any mode but car. There's a bridge near me that's been specifically made to be highly dangerous unless you're in a car. If you're poor/consciencious and walking or biking, it's meant to be dangerous - how dare you travel without paying Halliburton?

Just color me royally ticked....... :-(

Thanks for all the advice! I like the saftey triangle idea. I think I'll throw a couple of 'em in my panniers. Legal or not, I'll let the cops come stop behind me and put on thier flashy lights if they have a problem.

As for courage, I'm not sure I'm well stocked in that area. It was scary the first few times I did it, just like it was scary the first few times I rode on a 55mph two-lane road. After that, its just pretty. In the morning on the ride in, I rarely get passed by more than 10 cars. Its not so much overtaking cars that I worry about, its people popping out to pass slow trucks and busses coming the other way. I keep a sharp eye and say a little prayer.

Fortunantley, its a small town on my side of the bridge, and I know many of the people that pass me every day. I think if I broke down, I would have a good chance of getting a ride in the back of a pick-up truck.

That bridge looks like it has a pedestrian cross walk? Maybe you can ride on the crosswalk instead of riding on the shoulder?

Regardless, that bridge looks beautiful. I love bridges and enjoy taking pictures while standing in the center. It's something the motorist cannot enjoy. I often go to other towns just to take pictures while on the bridge.

Here's a bridge in my own backyard that I enjoy crossing all the time. It's a steel arch bridge and has a ped/bicycle crosswalk separated from traffic and I love riding it all the time. The motorists pays $4.00 dollars but I ride for free! I was scared the first couple of times crossing it but now it's all love.

http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/bayonne/

I'd like to bike across the Astoria bridge one day... that'd be awesome. Prolly hit Vancouver on the way back, and take the 205 back into Portland... tho' I'm not sure exactly where that path starts.

But if you live in Portland, you're pretty much bound to cross bridges since there's a river smack dab in the middle of the it all.

you and me both. there are many places where being without a car is basically suicide. when i first moved to new york i accidently ended up on the roadway that cuts through central park for cross town traffic. within a minute i had several near death brushes with cars trying to get out of there. it's crazy. i was just trying to get to the park... it's amazing how if you make one mistake you can be killed like that *snaps finger*

Does anyone know if it's legal to ride across the Confederation bridge which connects New Brunswick with PEI? This bridge is 13 km long, and I understand it's 2 lanes wide with a 1.75 meter shoulder on each side.

Copied and pasted from Confedration Bridge website's FAQs:

12. Are pedestrians and cyclists permitted on the Confederation Bridge?
Pedestrians and cyclists are not permitted on the Confederation Bridge. The operating company provides a free of charge service for pedestrians and cyclists which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.