commuting on the highway shoulder: I am concerned
 

So I've decided that on MWF, I'm going to bike to work. It's 22 miles each way, and it'll help me get my base mileage for training. The problem is the only way to work is on the interstate. There's a wide shoulder of around 5 ft. A couple of my coworkers are expressing concern, understandably. So what's your take? If I have a tail light, and I stay well within the margins of the shoulder, and pay careful attention when crossing an exit, I should be ok, right?? Another consideration is that this is SE Texas, and apparently there are some bad apples around here.

Each Highway is different.

How many exits/entrances? Those are the most likely danger spots.

Not based on cycling, but based on my drive to and from work each day can be different. Perhaps it would be best to spend a couple weeks driving the bike route and paying attention to what it would feel like on a bike?

Remember Monday is hung over day, Friday is get away day. I'd be the most concerned about the commute home on Friday.

One suggestion, ride the route on the weekend first. Pay attention to road junk, potholes and other dangers. If you are going this time of the year a work commute is going to be in the dark, you can easily fall victim to stuff you would not in the daytime.

Finally attitude at work. Sooner or later you will flat and be late, how will that fly? If there is a lot of road junk figure on sooner and more than once. On that alos figure out how you would feel about changing a flat during your commute timeframe.

Do a search on the number of collisions on the hard shoulders on that route. In the UK, there are quite a few deaths from such collisions on the shoulders of our motorways (interstate equivalent) - tho' not of cyclists since they're not allowed on. Ask yourself what the average speed is on that road and if you want to be on the shoulder when someone is pulling on to it because of a puncture or other mechanical failure.

Another consideration is exactly how you would cross an exit/entrance. Consider the usual scenario of a driver looking back down the interstate in his mirror as he comes on. Are you going to register if you're ahead of him but not yet across his exit/entrance. I'd say crossing an entrance sliproad would probably be the more hazardous in that respect.

Both of the above are really sound advice. I wouldn't ride on the highway without a really high quality hard case tire, due to road debris. In my experience, exist crossings can be hard due to the road conditions, not necesarily traffic. There are some I've ridden past that have prolonged rumble strips, which can't be ridden safely without a wider tire and the rumble strip takes the place of the shoulder, forcing you into the lane.

Anyway you could do this on a weekend and you know someone who can bail you out if there is a problem?

My current commute has some highway travel with a shoulder that's probably 8 feet and I still get buzzed from time to time by someone not paying attention that they're drifting out of their lane.

As others have said, I'd ride it in a non-critical situation and make your own assessment of the risk vs. the reward. Is there really no other way? Interstate bicycle riding is usually prohibited, although it is allowed in some situations where there is no alternative route.

Personally, I'd probably try and get my exercise some other way, both due to the risk and how unpleasant it would be riding 3+ hrs each day on a freeway shoulder with semis whizzing by. Even if I was willing to overlook the unpleasantness, I'd probably forgo the night riding. But this is a personal tradeoff.

- Mark

I'm actually quite familiar with this route. I've been commuting for about 4 months, and probably over 10 times by bicycle. The way I approach the exits is to look back at least twice to make sure there are no oncoming cars. If there are any cars within maybe 100 meters from me coming from the onramp, I slow down and let the car pass. For off ramps, I also glance at least twice at the cars coming off of the highway, noting which cars have a signal. And because most of these cars don't signal, especially when there's a long line of cars, I keep my eye on that lane, as I drift into the off ramp shoulder by about 50 meters or so, and if no cars appearing to be taking the ramp, I then cross the off ramp in like 2-3 seconds and go about my way.

as for cars drifting into the shoulder, I've never had that happen before. I think the highway is straight enough that cars would be able to see my tail light from a fair distance. in fact, a lot of cars actually switch into the farthest lane when they're passing me, even 18 wheelers, but they're not the ones I'm worried about


my personal philosophy is that as long as there's a shoulder, and it's a wide shoulder, I think I should feel safe. What I would worry about more is a desolate road, with barely any shoulder at all. I think that's a more dangerous situation, because drivers won't be paying as much attention, as when they're going 75 mph on the interstate.

Is it legal to ride the interstate there? Don't want those flashing lights coming up on ya.

Around here, I would be THRILLED to be able to take the expressway, IMO it would be far safer than many of the surface streets. There's a wide shoulder, always clear, and always smooth.

The surface streets are 60+ MPH (actual speed of vehicles, not speed limit), one lane each direction, no shoulder, often a dropoff to the gravel, often broken up and sometimes potholed. I don't think lane drifting is any more of an issue on the expressway than it is on surface streets.

I actually rode past a motorcycle cop one day, on the same shoulder as I was. He was riding on the shoulder, against direction of traffic, with lights flashing, presumably to get back to his highway watch spot after just pulling someone over. I think he was notorious for pulling people over on the freeway for dumb traffic violations. But he just waved at me, so I'm assuming it's legal. Besides, my group ride does it all the time.

I have ridden interstates... at various times and for various reasons... first and foremost if the shoulder is only 5 feet wide I would not recommend it. But most interstate freeways have a shoulder to fully accommodate a vehicle completely off the road, which means that shoulder is likely closer to 9 feet wide. At 9 feed wide the interstate looks better than local arterial roads around here with mere 5 foot shoulders.

As others have mentioned the entrances and exits are the biggest problem... followed by law enforcement. The section of interstate I routinely ride is marked for bikes, so I have no problem there, but I have been pulled over and nearly ticketed on an interstate... it was only my fast talking that prevented the ticket (long story). If bikes are not permitted... at some point you will likely face a LEO and a ticket.

Your non-interstate roads have 5 foot shoulders? I've never seen a shoulder around here more than 2 feet wide. Most roads have the white line within 2 inches of the gravel. 5 foot shoulders sounds awesome; I could have a party in 5 feet.

yes, the shoulders can accommodate a parked car, so it's actually wider than 5 ft.

It appears that it's legal for a bicycle to use an interstate in Texas.

http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/mo...cycle/faq.html

I would avoid Friday's after work because there may be more drunks on the road.

If there are no street lights on the interstate, you will need some very good front lights to see the road/shoulder.

You should check out the shoulder ahead of time in daylight. You want to locate hazards that might not be visible at night. You may also want to locate what the area to the right of the shoulder is like, so you are prepared to avoid the bad apples. The local police might be able to give you some information regarding these bad apples.

Around here, it's illegal, and besides, they are designed for 70 mph traffic with the ability to merge. We have a host of on ramps on the left hand side, so I would have to merge on, then go across three lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. I would vote no.

oh yes, I would agree there. I'm not messing with high volume highway situations with probability of lots of twists and turns. The on and off ramps I'm referring to are only one lane each.

Also, Fridays are get off work early day for me. I'd be on the road by 3:30 at the latest. I mean that's a little early for drunks don't you think?

I presume you are around Corpus Christi? Are you referring to I-35. I-35 runs from Texas to Duluth(Minnesota), where I lived(Nov.'02-Jan.'07), and it was illegal to ride on I-35.

Yeah, it's illegal to ride on interstates around here, but different states have different laws. Plus, **** riding on I-35. People cruise at like 85mph on that thing.

I live in the beaumont area, with I-10 going east/west. legal or not, the big question is how safe it really is, and from the answers I've received, that judgement really depends on a variety of factors.

I used to ride an interstate as part of my commute (about four miles out of twenty-five). That was back in the days of crappy rear lights. With today's quality lights, I wouldn't be overly concerned, other than Friday evenings. If you work late on Fridays, you need to take a careful look at just how bad the worst of the worst in your area are, because those are the ones you need to be concerned about. Two Dinottes on the rear, some sort of mirror and off you go.

On the bright side, you'll have a tailwind no matter which way the wind is blowing. Also, if people ride a stretch of interstate it can sometimes cause the powers-that-be to build some better accommodation. Where I used to ride, the state has since built an elevated bike path. (Unfortunately, they built it on the downwind side of the six lanes of freeway. Sigh.) I guess if enough people swim across the river a bridge just might get built.

The speed limits along I-10, are 75-80mph. I wouldn't do it.

http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/mo...cycle/faq.html

The Texas Transportation Commission by resolution or order recorded in its minutes may prohibit the use of a limited-access or controlled-access highway under the jurisdiction of the commission by a parade, funeral procession, pedestrian, bicycle, electric bicycle, motor-driven cycle, or non-motorized traffic.

If the commission adopts a rule prohibiting the use of bikes on such a roadway, the commission shall erect and maintain official traffic-control devices on the portions of the limited-access or controlled-access highway to which the rule applies. Tex. Transp. Code § 545.065.

Note: The office of General Counsel is unaware of the commission taking any such action to date.

oops sorry... I meant 5 foot bike lanes... where bike lanes exist. And that 5 feet includes about a foot and a half of gutter pan. Party on dude.

The interstates do however have actual 9 foot shoulders... except at places like bridges... where the "shoulder" is about 2-3 foot wide.

OK, that sounds about the same as here except the bike lanes are narrower. I think we have maybe 3 feet including the gutter pan, and I'm only aware of one bit of road anywhere near me that actually has bike lanes, a recently built 4 lane divided 50 MPH road, a state highway that has grown a sprawling exurban business strip along it going about 10 miles out of the nearby largish town.

If there is no other way chances are it is legal. I have ridden interstates (I-5)* legally many times in the past but never after dark or before light. One key factor of interstates is they will never state "Bicycles ok to enter" where legal. However once you see a sign that states "Bicycles Must Exit Here" it is illegal from that point on. The difficult is knowing where it is legal to enter, where to get off is well signed. I would ask local authorities.

* Genesse to Sorento Valley Rd San Diego CA (I will go down but never travel up)

Camp Pendleton to Los Pulgas Oceanside CA (when base is closed)

Bakersfield to Gorman Gorman LA (The Grapevine)

The up route takes loads of special consideration, considering the slope of the hill involved. I usually end up doing about 8-10 MPH as I reach that Genesee exit and generally want to make a left turn at the light... which means I have to cross the exit to move out of the sweeping right hand turn that eventually goes to Torry Pines road. I used to work at the end of Sorrento Valley road and I commuted on the highway daily.

The way I did it was as I used the exit and neared where I wanted to make a left, I stuck my left arm way out... and kept it there (a bit difficult to do while also trying to pedal up a hill... but it can be done). A few cars would always pass me... decelerating as they went up to the same light, but generally doing 40-50MPH at that point... eventually an exiting car would slow way down... that car would become my cover... then and only then would I make the left turn... looking to ensure that the driver was looking at me and that there wasn't some idiot flying up the exit ramp. I would then take my place to the right of the other vehicles making a left turn. I would never do this in the dark... which meant I didn't bike commute in the winter.

It is a bit tricky and crowded which is why I avoid that climb. I opt for Torrey which adds a few miles but some safety as well. The bomb down is a quick punch and off with little worries. I do not commute as I am in construction and have a truck full of parts and tools. I do get my miles in as an often looked down upon in A&S as a recreationalist. I like to mix it it up with some different routes. I am based in PQ and almost always ride from my house. Torrey might be out of the way from SV but not terribly so and it is a class A when it comes to scenery.