Charles Ramsey

I just completed a tour across New Mexico no problems on interstate 10 or interstate 25 until Raton. 6 miles from the border the signs said no bicycles both service roads on either side of of the interstate have been turned over to private owners. I called the police and demanded a state police officer to show up. I told him the New Mexico drivers manual states bicycles are allowed on all roads in New Mexico. I also quoted him the federal law written around 1870 that states any Indian trail or wagon road in common use shall be defined as public land these roads cannot be closed nor can tolls be charged for the use of these roads. A bystander confirmed Raton was founded as a toll road stop owned by the Sante Fe railroad. The officer said he couldn't tell me cycling was allowed but he would not bother me on the interstate. At exit 460 or 0 a sign on the Colorado side clearly states bicycles are allowed.

ItsJustMe

I wish I could ride on the interstate here. There are 18 foot wide breakdown lanes that are totally clear, and the passing traffic makes a constant tailwind.

Instead I have to ride on the surface streets with horrible surfaces, potholes, patches, no shoulder, 60 MPH cars, narrow lanes and often a several inch dropoff to the gravel.

Camilo

Reading your story, I was wondering why you didn't just keep riding the last 6 miles rather than call for, wait for and argue with the trooper? I'm not being argumentative, but just wonder if there was something in the situation I'm missing. I would think that after a successful cross state ride, I would just have ignored the sign with only 6 miles to go, if I had the knowledge of the law that you did.

But that aside, how did the ride go? I've not done interstates, but I've done divided highway expressways with on/off ramps in semi rural areas. The off and on ramps very often make me very nervous because it's really hard to expect a car traveling 70 mph to yield to me if I happen to be crossing the off ramp as they approach me from the rear. The on ramps aren't quite as nerve wracking, but again, can be a set up for disaster. Sometimes, if it's a "diamond" type intersection, I'll just go down the off ramp, across the intersecting street, and back up the on ramp. A little longer, but much safer. Note I'm not a paranoid traffic rider at all. I feel very comfortable in traffic and have never had a problem or paranoia about riding amonst cars (but I'm extremely predicitive (thinking ahead), predictable, and defensive).

CB HI

So what was wrong with educating LEOs when the local government improperly infringes on our freedoms?

If the LEO stopped the cyclist and the cyclist then explained the law, too many LEOs are unwilling to learn at that point and admit they were wrong. The OP allowed the LEO to learn without the LEO being proven wrong.

ItsJustMe

Why does the LEO need to be "educated" when it's the local government that did the infringing? Why not insist on seeing the mayor or a councilman?

randomgear

Wouldn't the issue be more appropriately discussed with the New Mexico DOT? Is there a New Mexico bicycle advocacy group that you could speak to about this? They may know more about the issue than the NM Troopers or anyone you could easily get to at the NMDOT.

zonatandem

Have ridden on Interstate 10, 19 and 40 in Arizona.
If there is a sign specifically prohibiting cycing then it's unlawful.
Was stopped on I-10 by state trooper near Picacho Peak while on my single bike.
He told me it was not 'advisable' to ride the break down lane on the interstate.
Told him I appreciated his concern but riding that part of I-10 was not 'prohited', plus the adjacent Frontage road has just been graveled which would be 'unsafe' and cause punctures on my skinny tires.
He told me 'OK, be safe!'
Just our input/experience..

Camilo

Well, of course you know I didn't say anything was wrong with it. I was just asking the poster why he did it. But since you aren't him, I guess you can't answer. I am interested in his story though - both about his strategy there, and the tactics he used for ramps.

dpeters11

This is a totally foreign concept to me, it's illegal on all Interstates here. Is it that in areas out west, the Interstate is the only road available? It sounded like it in Phil Keoghan's documentary when he was on the Interstate.

mev

Thanks for checking.

I've ridden I-25 over Raton pass in a ride from Raton to Trinidad. There isn't much practical alternative that doesn't add a lot of distance. I am surprised you took effort to call in highway patrol rather than just riding it and bringing that to bear if stopped.

Approximately 300 miles further north, I was once yelled at by Colorado State Patrol officer while on shoulder of I-25 close to Wyoming Border. In contrast, this stretch of road had explicit <caution bicycles> signs and also an indication that at exit 288 one should leave. I had ridden to Cheyenne the previous day and decided a little too much wind to do my original route so was coming back along I-25 about 7am. There was a truck that had rolled off the shoulder. The driver looked ok, though shell shocked and two CSP officers parked on side with truck driver.

As I cycled southbound, I rode through and intended to just quietly ride past as looked like officers had enough on their hands. However, as I approached one officer yelled out, "Get off the interstate!". So, I stopped and politely explained that Colorado DOT map indicated this was legal and also provided information on the signs both for <caution bicycles> and where bicycles must exit. The officer apologized and explained that he just hadn't seen anyone out there on a bike in his six years on the force. I'm sure he looked at me slightly crazy though given main alternatives to Cheyenne [I-25 = 10ft shoulder and ~75-85 MPH traffic, US85 = ~2ft shoulder and ~65 MPH traffic] it isn't worse than alternatives.

chipcom 

I commuted between Raton and Trinidad on a bike for most of the 90s, the only place anyone will hassle you about riding on 25 is between the southern-most and northern-most exits into Raton, which is in compliance with federal law. The old pass road will take you over the pass as well...till you hit the Berg ranch. The Bergs never had a problem with people riding/hiking his road, as long as they had the good manners to ask first and not throw their litter all over the place. Their portion of the old pass highway, as well as other portions of the frontage roads along the I25 corridor were private property in the first place. They granted right-of-way based on certain conditions, which once the interstate went in, were no longer met...so the the agreements were null and void and the land reverted to the land owner.

Before you go making scenes, you should talk to the locals and perhaps learn some of the history of the area. The folks at the Raton library are a great source of that...ask for Richard, if he's still there...they guy is a walking encyclopedia.

chipcom 

A few years back, that would have been me....and I probably would have taken him out, got him drunk, bought him a hooker and sent him on his way with copies of the video.

Seriously, the only education needed here was the OP.

CB HI

Yet you claimed the OP argued with the trooper. All I saw in the OP was that he stated the law to the trooper (likely to ensure he did not get a ticket that he would either have to pay or travel back to New Mexico to fight) and got a guarantee the trooper would not ticket him. Sounds like a smart move to me.

CB HI

Five repeat post! Seems you got a head start on the OP with the getting drunk part.

aztimm

Isn't there some serious climb between Raton and the Colorado border?

Jamesw2

Good post and history lesson. I have driven that area at night and thought what a desolate place formidable place. My kind of place to ride and hear the wind talk

Bekologist

A rule of thumb: NEVER draw attention to yourself while on a bicycle tour.

Preemptively calling the police to grouse about out of compliance signs when six miles of riding would have gotten you past the 'closure' in a 30 minutes? the service roads were closed, but the rider was on the interstate?

doesn't seem like a wise tactic IMO.

genec

OK, we got your message...

Now if I happen to be in the neighborhood... can we at least get drunk? Don't bother with the video...

aztimm

Good to know. I used to live/work on Tucson and drove the I-10 between PHX and Tucson regularly and would see cyclists quite regularly.
Someone told me (not sure what truth there is to it), that they generally allow cyclists on the AZ freeways when there isn't a viable alternate. So you'd be fine on I-10 from about Riggs Rd (south of PHX area) to about Ina.

The way drivers are on the freeways, I'm glad I don't even consider them, especially in town.

Camilo

I appreciate your help in answering the question I posed to the OP.

chipcom 

Holy crap...I thought the site was broken because my post never came up, even after multiple refreshes.

chipcom 

Believe it or not, I usually liked riding up to Raton pass on my wallyworld beaters better than riding down.

noisebeam

With a few exceptions all interstate freeway shoulders in rural areas in AZ are open to cyclists. The exceptions are I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix and a stretch of I-19 south of Tucson. (note: I-10 is normally closed to cyclist around Picacho Peak area, but if the acess road was closed then I would estimate one could use I-10 as there would be no other choice)

This map shows the closed to cyclists freeways: https://www.azbikeped.org/images/Map2...0409_side1.pdf (warning large pdf)
This reviews the law: https://www.azdot.gov/highways/traffi...PGP/TM1030.pdf

CB HI

And yet it worked just fine for the OP.

CB HI

Great links, may I suggest that you post them in the touring forum.