ks1g

Specifically the toll bridge on Ocean Drive between Rt 109 (Cape May) and Pacific Ave (Wildwood). Or was there a better way I should have tried? (The next causway up - Rt 47, at least has a shoulder, but a lot more traffic.)

This is for historical "I could have kept going" reference at this point - I was in Cape May earlier this month (the week of 8/20 - when fall came a bit early) and tried riding up to Wildwood as far as the toll bridge. Considered the bridge (narrow lanes, no sidewalk), traffic, weather (blowing salt drizzle headwind off the marsh) and decided I didn't need to see Wildwood by bike THAT badly. [We drove thru it on Friday on the way home and it's as fun and tacky as I remember it as a kid.] In restrospect, if I'd figured out a way to get over the bridge (probably walk across on the narrow curb, or wait for a bridge opening to stop traffic), the rest of the road seemed to be bikeable (there were 2 bridges on the Cape May side without shoulders or sidewalks; my technique was to wait for a long break in the traffic and sprint across).

So I headed back to 109, cut across to Seashore and up to 47 (including the nice but way too short rail trail) then back, past Cape May Winery and out along the bay to the ferry terminal, then back to Cape May via the Seashore Rd/Rt 162 bridge (MUCH nicer than the Lafayette St/Rt 109 bridge). Seashore has bike lanes each direction and light-moderate traffic; Lafayette has 4 lanes, a sort of sidewalk on one side, HEAVY traffic that seemed a bit oblivious to the nut (me) out on the bike. Much of the Cape May area roads seemed very bikeable, and I saw a number of roadies out as well as (when the weather improved) mobs of couples and families on rental beach cruisers and MTBs. Glad I brought the bike.

mrejda

Provided the visability was good, I'd see no problem riding in the middle of the lane and then returning to the shoulder once you reached the bottom. Back when the toll was 50 cents each way, traffic was very slow in both directions on that bridge. Now there is only a toll leaving wildwood, so the lane from 109 moves a bit quicker. If you made it over the two narrow bridges before the toll/draw bridge then you should have been good. But it sounds like you had a better ride anyway, riding offshore and in west cape may would be more interesting than the wildwoods.

ks1g

Yes, West Cape May was more interesting, certainly a lot quieter. I found a cue online for a 45 mile loop out of Wildwood; it ran up to Sea Island City and Avalon but used the Rt 47 causeway to get to Wildwood.

The day I was out there, visibility wasn't so good until later in the day. Not knowing what was past the bridge, I decided discretion was in order and didn't try it. Thanks for the info.