specific advice for commuing
 

here is my commute

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=10...ra=ls&t=m&z=14

5 lane road, 35-45mph, one bridge. ONE MILE.
i hate it!
maybe i should take another route, but the alternatives are ~10miles. walking feels more dangerous sometimes.

I would say just plop yourself in the middle/right tire track of the lane and ride on. There is another lane for others to pass you if they need to get by, it also shouldn't even be held up with left turning because of the middle turn lane.

+1

If there is no bike lane, then take the far right lane and make sure you are plenty visible! Bright clothing or vest, GOOD lights, reflective tape in as many places as you can put it. Make sure you obey traffic laws. If possible try, to commute during non-peak traffic times.

and

BE

SAFE!

Good luck!

Do you ever see other bikes on this 1 mile stretch? While people tell you to "take the lane", I can only seem to do this near intersections where the cars are not traveling 40 mph faster than I am.

That RT 385 near Grandview Dr. looks kinda of intimidating!

I've been known to walk my bike across and around certain thoroughfares...

What's the law about riding on the sidewalk there? Looking at google streetview, it doesn't look like it's broken up too badly by driveways on the west side of Fairview. Much pedestrian traffic on that sidewalk? Your speed might suffer so much that it wouldn't be a good solution, and I'm not sure if it would even be safer than riding on the road there, but you're in a better position to assess that than I am.

Pendergast is on the right track. If you can take the sidewalk, and you find the roadway intimidating, then ride the sidewalk.

my commute includes a stretch of a nasty 45 mph narrow road. I get plenty of honks and obcenities on a regular basis, but Ive only had one close call so far. +1 on the high vis clothing and mega-lighting

It looks like going down to Harrison Bridge Road might at least get you out of having to ride thorough that half- cloverleaf, and doesn't look too much longer. Otherwise, sidewalks are a good suggestion. I have a short stretch of my commute that is very nasty, and I ride the completely empty sidewalk as a self-preservation strategy.

If it's really just 1.5 mile, why ride? Walking on the sidewalk should only take you 20-25 minutes. I mean I like riding my bike and might do that if I was running late, but it just doesn't seem worth it to me to ride that short of a distance if you're going to be fighting traffic the whole way.

Not sure what the law is there, but both sides of the street don't look great for riding on a the sidewalk. Lots of shops and traffic in and out of those stores. A lot of potential conflict points with people not looking while turning out into the street. This is especially true if there are not a lot of peds on the sidewalk and so people are not used to looking for people.

wear Ugly Bright ANSI striped reflective clothing, so you stick out obvious ..