Excerpts:
** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY** Currently, 948 of the total 4,224 miles of freeway in California are open to bicycles. Often, bicyclists need access to freeways to reach their destinations. Current Caltrans policy states, “when a suitable alternative route does not exist, a freeway shoulder may be considered for bicycle travel.” As a multimodal agency, Caltrans should make some modest efforts to accommodate bicycle travel on freeways in prudent circumstances. The purpose of this study is to attempt to clarify some of the issues pertaining to bicycles on freeways. Specifically, the goal of this project is to “develop policy recommendations, guidelines, and policies for bicycle and pedestrian
use of freeways, expressways, tunnels, and toll bridges in California.”
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to attempt to clarify some of the issues pertaining to bicycle on freeways. Specifically, the goal of this project is to develop policy recommendations and guidelines for bicycle and pedestrian use of freeway shoulders. Based on the literature and investigations done as part of this study, highway bicycle collision rates per mile of bicycle travel are an order of magnitude higher than collision rates for motor vehicle traffic. Bicycle collisions are no more frequent on bridges and in tunnels than on the approaches to the bridges and tunnels. Overall vehicle collision rates are no higher on freeways open to bicycles than they are on adjacent highways open to bicycles. Most freeway pedestrian collisions involve individuals who enter the freeway in a vehicle and leave the vehicle. A disproportionate share of these pedestrian collisions are related to installing and removing tire chains. The project recommendations include: enhanced efforts to inform drivers and passengers of the dangers related to exiting their vehicles on a freeway, a bicycle counting program to establish bicycle ridership and collision rates, a requirement to wear a helmet and possess a drivers license to operate a bicycle on the freeway, a minimum of eight foot paved shoulders on freeways that are open to bicycles, and restrictions relating to bicycles
crossing freeway ramps on the freeway side.
Many freeway sections in California are currently open to bicycle travel, and it is assumed that bicyclists riding these roadways are of a certain level of maturity. Rather than use age, which would be hard to enforce, **the possession of a driver’s license should be a requirement for using a bicycle on freeway shoulders. **Doing so would theoretically meet the following criteria: The user is at least 16 years of age and has a basic understanding of the movements of motor vehicles using freeways . Because of the higher-than-ordinary severity rate for collisions involving bicycles on freeways, cyclists should be required to wear helmets while riding on freeway shoulders. A vehicle code change would be necessary to
implement these recommendations.
Everytime I drive down the freeway I wonder this and think of all the places I could go if I could use the shoulder on the freeway. Sure the cars are going faster but I ride down 55 mph state hwy’s and people are going at least 65-75 down them. I think if they put rumble strips in the shoulders and cyclists rode to the right of the strips it would be great.
The problem really is at on ramps and off ramps. Imagine one of those double very long on ramps. The light turns green, and 15 cars start up the ramp hitting 60 MPH. Then just as the geet to the Freeway someone comes along on a bike crossing both lanes.
A few States have laws that allow bicycles on Interstates. Arizona allows cyclists on its intersate system. The exceptions are Interstates in very high traffic areas such as Phoenix.
There is an 80 mile loop I can do from home that includes about 15 miles of I-17.
Seems like a reasonable revision that has reasonable requirements, I guess. I wouldn’t know, though, because I rode on an open freeway for the first time in my life back in Feb. It was a tad unnerving.
Can’t do that 'round here, though: Bicycles (and any motor operated vehicles under 100cc) are forbidden on freeways (and some highways) in my particular neck of the woods. Wouldn’t want to anyway, the country roads are boring enough.
The exit and entrance ramps are a huge problem.
This is where you would see all of the accidents happen.
The stretches of highway in San Diego open to cyclist are ONLY between 2 roads so there is no crossing of any ramps.
In Austin on the 360 loop, it seems most bike related accidents occur by the main exits (2222, 2244) because cars are taking these exits at 55-65mph, and the last thing you want is someone crossing in front of car going that fast while the driver is probably looking for a chance to merge or trying to read the signs.
I took the I-70 from Cisco,Ut to Fruita,Co by myself on a mt bike with a bob trailer last year and it was fine, didnt really hit many exit ramps though. Most of the big trucks would move over in the left lane when they passed just to be cool even though I was five feet from the white line.
The TOSRV bike ride in Ohio, does almost 1 mile on the freeway when entering Columbus on Sunday afternoon. In the past almost 10,000 bikes (paid and bandits) did this ride, so it was lots of bike traffic.
When I have ridden on highways, to avoid nasty accidents like you described I would just ride back up the on ramp until there is either a crossing or a clear safe place to pass.
Its the wandering trucks with drivers falling asleep that scare me, but I guess that is no different anywhere we ride the outcome if hit is often the same at 30mph or 80mph.
I regularly ride the interstate from my house for about 5 miles to get to some good roads. The shoulder is probably 20’ feet wide and I feel safe. However, if you look at the cement barricade and all the paint and tire marks from cars hitting it, it makes me wonder what the hell am I thinking riding the interstate.
Probably not a good thing in heavy traffic areas. In CO they just passed a 3’ passing rule and if you read the comments on the local news website, you would never want to ride a bike again. Scary people. Here is the link but I’m sure the comments are the same across the country. http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=120746&catid=188
I can’t imagine the comments if they allowed bikes to ride on I-25 through Denver.
A few States have laws that allow bicycles on Interstates. Arizona allows cyclists on its intersate system. The exceptions are Interstates in very high traffic areas such as Phoenix.
There is an 80 mile loop I can do from home that includes about 15 miles of I-17.
Same in OR, bikes are only verboten in a few urban sections where the ramps become too numerous and close together. I’ve ridden a few of the more remote sections and it’s fine other than a bunch of debris that is too far over along the shoulder to get “swept” by the traffic flow. Yeah, the traffic is going by fast, but they’re usually going only slightly less fast on the secondary highways, and at least on the freeway there’s almost always a wide shoulder and good sight distance.
Because of the incredible speed differences between bikes and interstate vehicles, the bike riders shouldn’t bother to wear helmets. It just makes us suffer more overheating before being killed.
I think that, barring the ramps, interstates could be a great place to ride. They’ve just got to build pedestrian/bike walkways running over the ramps and we’re set.
Because it is freeking dangerous? I have ridden on plenty of rural freeways and they have nice shoulders and the traffic is pretty respectful. With that said urban freeways with double lane on and off ramps and cars going 50-65 mph posted speeds, a biker might last 10 minutes. Unless it is rush hour then the bike gets there faster and safe as no one is moving more than 5 mph.
Some things shouldn’t be questioned, others should. That ain’t one.
The Harvest Moon Triathlon had a portion of the bike course on Interstate 70. At the off / on ramps, the course exited the highway and then entered again. It was a fairly wide shoulder with rumble strips so it was relatively safe.
There are portions of the Boulder Turnpike (US-36) that allow cyclist. It’s the end nearer Boulder.
Because it is freeking dangerous? I have ridden on plenty of rural freeways and they have nice shoulders and the traffic is pretty respectful. With that said urban freeways with double lane on and off ramps and cars going 50-65 mph posted speeds, a biker might last 10 minutes. Unless it is rush hour then the bike gets there faster and safe as no one is moving more than 5 mph.
Some things shouldn’t be questioned, others should. That ain’t one.
During the Triple By Pass in CO - from Georgetown to the Loveland turn off - we are on I 70- the shoulder is very wide but I really dislike this section - very noisy - and so much crap on the hard shoulder.
