Riding interstate highways out west?
08-06-21, 08:11 AM
#26
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08-09-21, 11:22 AM
#27
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In California it's no bikes on the freeway unless there is no alternative route. It then becomes a question of what roads are called "freeways". Some roads go from freeway to not freeway and back depending on if there is cross traffic, etc.
Pacific Coast Highway is fine in some places and horrible in others.
Some of the mountain roads here are great to ride on.
Like most places, a big factor is how many cars there are and how those drivers behave.
I've traveled on interstate 5 in Oregon and drivers were fine.
Pacific Coast Highway is fine in some places and horrible in others.
Some of the mountain roads here are great to ride on.
Like most places, a big factor is how many cars there are and how those drivers behave.
I've traveled on interstate 5 in Oregon and drivers were fine.
08-09-21, 11:31 AM
#28
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I 10 West Texas. This was Fun. Not Interstate
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08-09-21, 11:56 AM
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Sometime
s the trucks don't play nice ..... interesting what the draft off a truck does to a bike a few feet away ....
The worst problem is radial-tire reinforcing wire. We got tons of flats. On- and off-ramps are scary, but far less frequent.
s the trucks don't play nice ..... interesting what the draft off a truck does to a bike a few feet away ....
The worst problem is radial-tire reinforcing wire. We got tons of flats. On- and off-ramps are scary, but far less frequent.
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08-09-21, 12:06 PM
#30
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Not out west, but, many years ago (early 80s) I recall riding across the Connecticut River on the emergency lane of I-95 / the Connecticut Turnpike / Route1. Definitely a "yikes" moment.
Last edited by pfaustus; 08-09-21 at 12:16 PM.
08-09-21, 01:02 PM
#31
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People routinely travel 80-85 mph here in the suburbs. What's worse, they do it while being aggressive idiots.
08-09-21, 01:41 PM
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This was from a year ago.
NYT: 5 cyclists killed near Las Vegas
It has never been clear where all the individuals were on the road. There were cyclists both in front of and behind the SAG wagon.
With the rumble strips, it would have been difficult for the SAG wagon to drive on the shoulder, and there is some indication the car may have been driving in one of the traffic lanes.
I don't like riding on freeways myself, but I do feel that riding on the right side of the shoulder does provide a fair amount of insulation from traffic. That is as long as the shoulder remains wide.
NYT: 5 cyclists killed near Las Vegas
It has never been clear where all the individuals were on the road. There were cyclists both in front of and behind the SAG wagon.
With the rumble strips, it would have been difficult for the SAG wagon to drive on the shoulder, and there is some indication the car may have been driving in one of the traffic lanes.
Truck driver gets 16 years in crash that killed five bicyclists
Jordan Alexander Barson was driving under the influence of methamphetamine when he plowed into a group of bicyclists on a Nevada highway last December.I don't like riding on freeways myself, but I do feel that riding on the right side of the shoulder does provide a fair amount of insulation from traffic. That is as long as the shoulder remains wide.
08-09-21, 02:21 PM
#33
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Most of the PCH that I've ridden (Malibu/Oxnard/Ventura) has a wide shoulder. Around here, many roads count as a "highway", but it's the ones labeled "freeway" you want to avoid if possible.
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08-09-21, 02:37 PM
#34
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I don't live in the mountains but love to go there been many years. Do cyclist ride on interstate highways much out west. I know some states allow it an frankly the speed of cars coming up behind me would be unnerving but it could be the only way to get to some places. I know they ride the pacific coast highways up and down but that to me would also seem pretty deadly or at least nerve racking.
08-09-21, 05:02 PM
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Interstates aren't the only place where one runs the risk of encountering drunk and distracted drivers, though the high velocities certainly up the risk, perhaps more than the decreased risk from wide shoulders and generally better sight lines.
As previously noted, there are some places where there are no other choices.
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08-09-21, 05:11 PM
#36
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uh huh. Debris is a serious hazard. This one also from Australia. It's totally normal to ride on freewway shoulders there, as you can see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV9_i9MEnMg
He was unharmed btw. Landed on his rear end.
Edit: The best part of this clip may be watching the great response of the guy behind. It's not even clear that he was paying attention at the critical moment, but his reflexive act was perfect.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV9_i9MEnMg
He was unharmed btw. Landed on his rear end.
Edit: The best part of this clip may be watching the great response of the guy behind. It's not even clear that he was paying attention at the critical moment, but his reflexive act was perfect.)
His buddies were spot on - spectacular reaction time
08-09-21, 05:57 PM
#37
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During a cross country bike ride in 2014 that started in Oceanside, CA on May 10, we rode long stretches on I-10 in California; on I-40 in Arizona and New Mexico; and I-25 in New Mexico.
Riverside, Indio, and Blythe in CA; Flagstaff and Holbrook in AZ; and Albuquerque, Tucumcari, Gallup, and Grants in NM were cities I remember along the way.
The shoulder on those roads was so wide that it felt like a somewhat protected bike lane irrespective of the speed and size of the traffic approx. 8 feet to the side.
It was the constant noise and inescapable headwinds (that year anyway) that bothered me most, followed by the metal segments from steel belted tires responsible for many flats.
Also, some of the shoulders were maintained better than others. New asphalt/cement shoulders were heaven -- older shoulders with frequent damage like elevated transverse cracks or sunken seams were hell.
Our tour company's founder had talked to many truckers who said orange flags on the end of a flexible shaft were the best thing for ensuring bikes could be seen from a distance.
So those flags were a requirement each day, but we also used lights.
No one had any mishaps with the adjacent traffic.
Most truckers moved over a lane whenever possible.
Riverside, Indio, and Blythe in CA; Flagstaff and Holbrook in AZ; and Albuquerque, Tucumcari, Gallup, and Grants in NM were cities I remember along the way.
The shoulder on those roads was so wide that it felt like a somewhat protected bike lane irrespective of the speed and size of the traffic approx. 8 feet to the side.
It was the constant noise and inescapable headwinds (that year anyway) that bothered me most, followed by the metal segments from steel belted tires responsible for many flats.
Also, some of the shoulders were maintained better than others. New asphalt/cement shoulders were heaven -- older shoulders with frequent damage like elevated transverse cracks or sunken seams were hell.
Our tour company's founder had talked to many truckers who said orange flags on the end of a flexible shaft were the best thing for ensuring bikes could be seen from a distance.
So those flags were a requirement each day, but we also used lights.
No one had any mishaps with the adjacent traffic.
Most truckers moved over a lane whenever possible.
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Last edited by SpeedofLite; 08-09-21 at 10:40 PM.
08-09-21, 06:16 PM
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Got any statistics re: the danger of interstate riding vs. local roads?
08-09-21, 06:30 PM
#39
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In California, bicycle are prohibited from freeways (with a few exceptions). A simple characteristic of a freeway is that access to it is controlled. Generally you will find diamond interchanges and fencing. If you see a driveway, at grade intersections, etc, it is a highway. Since interstate freeway are freeway by defination, no bike is allowed. One exception by where I live. Bicycles are allowed on I80 to across the American River when the American River Parkway is flooded. Since 2005, I only saw one rider who exercised that exception during commute time when the traffic is slower than usual. I though he was crazy as slow is still over 60 mph (traffic generally speeds up just before this crossing) and my neighbors are generally not skilled drivers. I had to share an auxiliary lane on Highway 101 southbound just south of Highway 150 interchange near Rincon Point. Technically that reach of the road is a freeway but there are only means of getting across without getting on the freeway. It was not my favorite of the day especially after putting in more than 160 miles on the road over 11 hours. I waited and crossed in a small group.
Last edited by kcjc; 08-16-21 at 09:21 AM.
08-09-21, 09:39 PM
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I have only ridden State Highway 395 between Bishop, CA and the June Lake Loop. No issues, wide shoulders, panoramic views, two lanes each way, and little road debris. I would not ride on any Interstate Highways in CA even if legal.
I don't live in the mountains but love to go there been many years. Do cyclist ride on interstate highways much out west. I know some states allow it an frankly the speed of cars coming up behind me would be unnerving but it could be the only way to get to some places. I know they ride the pacific coast highways up and down but that to me would also seem pretty deadly or at least nerve racking.
08-10-21, 05:09 AM
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As mentioned above, the noise level on a fairly busy Interstate can be annoying. Best to ride at off hours if possible. Rode about 7 miles of I-94 east of Steele, ND early one morning. Got passed by maybe 5 cars. But that’s ND for you.
08-10-21, 10:22 PM
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I used to ride (illegally) on the CA 1 past Pt Mugu, but it was only from one onramp to the first offramp, then there was frontage road until the freeway ended. No worries there. Also legally on the 101 from Ventura end of bike path to Santa Barbara. This one had limited cross traffic. No problems there either, but I will say CA did a good job of maintaining the shoulders. Not like back east where there's nothing but chunks of truck tire.
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08-15-21, 07:41 PM
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You are less likely to be hit on the wide shoulder of a freeway that allows access to bicycles than that high speed boulevard with many cross roads. The places were you are allowed to use the freeway shoulder in California are allowed because there is no other direct route other than the freeway to go through those areas'.
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08-16-21, 10:35 AM
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08-16-21, 10:44 AM
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Last edited by 10 Wheels; 08-16-21 at 10:48 AM.
