slipknot0129

I have to ride on the highway to get to town. Im wondering if these roads look safe?

Bicycle dirt road pic is the dirt road I get off onto the highway from. Bicycle highway pic is the highway I have to ride on to get to town. Highway 270 pic is the highway to seminole that has wide sides. I have to ride highway 59 to get to wewoka and 270 to get to seminole. Highway 59 has no sides.

I have those pics cause people always confuse highways with those big highways that dont allow bikes.

unterhausen

it's interesting that there is only one motor vehicle in those pictures. I would say that those roads are all pretty safe.

damnpoor

I wouldn't. Not only is the shoulder extremely limited but I wouldn't expect drivers on that type of road to be on the lookout for cyclists. I'd be constantly worried about getting whacked with a side mirror or something poking out the side of a trailer.

canopus 

Looks like some of the ones I have to ride on. I am not fond of no shoulder roads but if there is little traffic I don't have a problem riding them.

rogwilco

It depends on how much traffic there is, but I'm not comfortable on roads like that. If you do ride there, you can't let the cars intimidate you by honking and passing close.

slipknot0129

Do I just stay to the right or take the lane?

Chris516

270 seems good. The others don't. I went on club bike ride several weeks ao, on a road that is similar to the latter three roads you listed.

CommuterRun

55 mph posted speed limit, I assume? Substandard width lanes, less than 14'? They all look good to me. Excellent sight lines. What I do is; on a road like that without a paved shoulder I use the entire right half of the right lane, giving same direction passing motorists the other 3/4 of the road, with regard to on-coming traffic. With a paved shoulder I will shift to the right onto the shoulder when a motor vehicle is approaching from the rear to extend the courtesy of ease of passing if that appears to me to be an acceptably safe course of action under the given circumstances at the time. Keeping in mind that this course of action will invite closer and higher speed passing.

Paved shoulder or not, in the absence of motor vehicles approaching from the rear I ride well out into the lane to mitigate on-coming vehicles attempting to pass each other as they are passing me going the other way, as will happen from time to time. When a driver does pull out to pass as they are approaching me I point at the passing driver then back into their lane to their right repeatedly to indicate that they need to get back in their lane because I am not moving over. This seems to help a lot in getting the message across that they need to get back into their lane.

I try to be highly visible on roads like this to make my presence blatantly obvious from further away. On days of lower light such as overcast or rain I use flashing taillights in the rear and a flashing headlight in front. Early morning and late afternoon when the sun is low I am especially cautious because I know that drivers may not see me in the sun no matter what I do.

Wear colors that are very noticeable and don't be afraid to take a lane position that puts you in the way to make your presence blatantly obvious from a distance. If a motorist approaching from the rear has to slow to your speed until on-coming traffic clears enough for them to at least partially change lanes to pass, then they just have to slow down.

I take a close pass as an indicator that my lane position is not far enough to the left. I have found that the more room I keep on the right, the more I tend to be given on my left by passing motorists.

Oh, one other thing. The thing I watch out for the most when riding highways like this at night is deer. When approaching them I talk to them, "Good Morning, Deer! How'ya doin' this morning?". This lets them know there is a human behind those strange lights, and they nearly always run away from me, if they run at all.

sggoodri

Those roads look like the typical routes used for our local clubs' and bike shops' organized rides.

It's all about the traffic volume. With low traffic volumes, drivers can easily change lanes to pass, and there aren't that many drivers passing.

With higher volumes, it's good to have wider smooth pavement in one form or another to make passing easier and more comfortable for everybody.

10 Wheels

The roads look good to me.
Get a Dinnotte Tail Light for day time use.

hotbike

Those roads look scarry. The lack of traffic has a negative side; if someone runs you over, there won't be any witnesses.

If I had to ride those roads, I would watch my rear-view mirror, and be prepared to hit the dirt.

Zizka

Yes it's safe.

canopus 

Also if you have space get one of these:

chasm54

If I didn't ride roads like these I'd virtually never get on the bike. They look perfectly normal. CommuterRun's advice, above, is good.

steve0257

Look fine to me. If they are low volume roads they should be just fine. If the traffic volume starts to pick up you may want to consider alternate routes.

slipknot0129

I didnt know lanes could be 14' wide if thats in feet,thats like 2 of me then 2 more feet. Or are you talking about the whole road being 14' wide?

fordmanvt

roads are generally referred to in terms of one lane width.

noglider 

It depends also very much on HOW the drivers there drive. Are they attentive? Considerate? Fast?

wheel

I would time it so I drove on the road around the same time. (if possible)

I found people who used the road at the same time started looking out for me. (they would get out of the right most lane in my case. )


Second get a rear view mirror.

slipknot0129

I got a drop bar end mirror but it doesnt let me see well unless I turn right.

CommuterRun

Thanks for reminding me. Depending on the bike I use either the Blackburn Road Mirror or their Multi Mirror. I don't really consider a mirror a requirement, more of a convenience. When the posted speed limit is 55 or 60 a car in the distance approaching from the rear can be on you pretty quick. I use these mirrors because I like a big mirror with a wide field of view. I tried a helmet mounted mirror for a while, but never did like it. With a big 'bar mounted mirror I can check my 6 at a glance.