can I legally/safely train on this 'hill'?
 

I have a 100 mile ride/race in a month, and I want to get a little more serious, and maybe eventually do a cat 5 race without getting dropped badly. This bridge (deemed tallest in the state of TX) seems perfect for me to go to town... However, they're each oneway highways, and one of them doesn't have a shoulder. So if I were to do intervals, I would probably go back and forth on the one that does have shoulders, meaning I would have to ride counter-traffic on the shoulders. I couldn't find any state law that prohibits this... But more importantly would it be a safety concern? The shoulders on both sides are 6' wide, easy. I was thinking I could climb opposite to traffic, go back down with traffic, and repeat.
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Comment: rainbow bridge, Port Arthur, TX; the bridge I'm talking about is on the left.

Best to check with the local police.

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Why not just take up smoking and get a few hundred MRI's?

Assuming you are legally allowed to ride there, i wouldn't ride in a 6" shoulder i would not feel safe with that little room or margin for error i would want the whole lane or a different bridge :) of course YMMV but i would find somewhere a bit less interesting to ride :)

I've never seen anyone ride the Veterans bridge so don't know how legal it is. Missed the sentence under the pic and thought you meant the Rainbow. That would be utter sheer folly!
Call PAPD and/or DPS and ask. Probably wouldn't hurt to call Bridge City PD also.

Being Texas and knowing someone that has A LOT of issues with local PD's I don't know if I would even want to try it. I definitely WOULD NOT want to be riding against traffic. I don't even like doing that when there is a marked contra-flow bike lane.

Aaron :)

Can't say anything about the bridge on the left, but I'd ride the one on the right if it was legal and the traffic was generally as sparse as pictured. It looks like the two bridges are one way in opposite directions?

right, the bridge on the left is slightly shorter, and has shoulders on both sides, just like an interstate. But it's 1 way.

Another thing to think of about that bridge: how high are the barriers on the side?

The wind could be quite nasty once you get up there, even if it's pretty calm down on the surface. And if an 18-wheeler goes by you closely at 50+ MPH, the wind blast off it will be pretty strong. Is the side barrier low enough so that if you get knocked into it hard you'd go over it?

I'll just bring a parachute! But no, the wall goes up to my pelvis when I'm standing, and I'll bike with enough clearance and awareness to not fall over.

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Doesn't seem like it'd be too bad when traffic is light. Going against traffic shouldn't be an issue, as long as there are no intersections/exit/entrance ramps. Should be legal if it's not a limited-access rd. and there are no signs prohibiting bicycles. Could always call the highway dept. or similar. NEVER ask a cop for legal advice- they often give wrong info.

Maybe go out there several times to see when the traffic is light. Around here, it's right after rush hour so around 7PM. I wouldn't have a problem riding anywhere as long as the timing is right.

Unless the century ride you are training for has lots of hills, I don't see a reason why your training needs to include hills.

Do intervals by keeping speed, cadence, and/or heart rate above some level that makes it a good workout for you. Another option would be to go out on a windy day on a flat and quiet stretch of road parallel to the wind and do intervals into the wind and use the tailwind on the return trip for a rest.

oh yea... Imma bike myself stoopid dis weekend.

I want to practice climbing hills because it simulates high wind conditions. And I want to not only get comfortable riding long distance (which I'm stil doing), but also build myself up to be fit enough to race.

I would need no reason to ride it other than that I can.


Hey, check out STRAVA and see who's ridden it and what the KOM is.

I know that the Claiborne-Pell Bridge that provides access to Newport, RI is fairly steep and long, and you can bike on that. I wouldn't under most circumstances, it's heavily traveled and far steeper than it looks. The RI DOT has the information for that does Texas have a DOT website you can check for info?

Clairborne Pell Bridge....

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The OP wrote that the shoulders are 6' (6 feet) wide, not 6" (6 inches).

You couldn't find any state laws that prohibited riding against traffic??? Didn't look too hard?

On the shoulder?? Where is THE LAW on that?

The shoulder is part of the roadway.

You sure that this "roadway law" applies to cyclists, everywhere?

Of course laws vary.
Generally a bad idea to ride against traffic on a shoulder.

Yikes! I've driven over the bridge on the right back when it handled 2-way traffic. That was scary enough for me.

oh great, I don't know whether to feel brave or stupid now.