Comments on: Just Ask Jack — High-Speed Roads?

By: Shante

Shante — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:25:56 +0000

I really appreciate all of the suggestions. I only ride between 10 am and 4pm . That way people can see me. I plan on getting a review before I ride that road again. I just really hate having to load up my bike to drive somewhere to ride it. Hopefully when I move it will be some place a lot easier to ride around town.

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:41:04 +0000

If people are regularly speeding, and passing you unsafely, ask for some enforcement from your local police. Long shot, I know …

By: Dominic Dougherty

Dominic Dougherty — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:51:56 +0000

On narrow roads, ride generally just inside the traffic lane, allowing room for a car to pass you by going partly over the far lane line.

Being hit from behind is one of the least common cycling accidents, usually caused by motorists that are already impaired by being drunk, sleepy or are already going too fast for the given conditions. In any case, there is nothing you can do about it other than making yourself as visible as possible and ride predictably!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:08:14 +0000

Shante, based on the map you provided (thanks!), there’s not a whole lot of route alternatives for you…bummer!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:05:53 +0000

Mike C, you’ve described the “Alabama Passing Lane”…a curious phenomenon on even shoulder-less roads.

Ragged Claws might be able to tell you a thing or two about his bike commute — folks in Alabama will get all the way onto the right-hand grass in order to pass someone turning left, and that is FRIGHTENING when you’re on a bicycle!

By: Mike C

Mike C — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:58:31 +0000

Be as visible as possible. Have and use a rear-view mirror on your bike, helmet, or glasses.

We have one high speed road that I use. It has a wide shoulder/breakdown lane and long sight-views. Posted 45mph, but people usually do 55-60. The alternate is a posted 40mph rd where people usually do about 45 that has no shoulder at all and is much narrower. I find the wider, faster road safer, but only because I’m riding the shoulder. If I had to take the lane because the road was as pictured above and the speed differential was that much greater, I’d opt for the other route.

On my fast road, the only thing that gets scary is when someone is turning across the other lane–drivers are accustomed to not slowing at all and veering into the shoulder to get around. There, I keep to the left of the shoulder to take the shoulder as a lane and it does worry me that some day a driver won’t “see me” and wipe me out in that particular situation, when they are passing a turning car on the left, where I ride.

By: Shante

Shante — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:28:54 +0000

The road I am talking about is GA- 30 in Port Wenworth, GA. The website link is to a google map of the route I road one day. The road has a pretty good shoulder for about 3 miles then it is just road.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=1236264536046501172,32.196836,-81.204525%3B84377849681980404,32.199811,-81.286845&saddr=32.196188,-81.204371&daddr=GA-30+%4032.199811,+-81.286845&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=16&sll=32.1941,-81.207933&sspn=0.007844,0.021522&ie=UTF8&ll=32.194971,-81.212869&spn=0.007844,0.021522&t=h&z=16

By: Carl

Carl — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:13:10 +0000

Here’s one way:

http://gizmodo.com/391602/the-75-mph-bicycle-thats-powered-by-a-jet-engine

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:38:01 +0000

I should mention that this is an “example” photo illustrating a high-speed road with no navigable shoulder. This isn’t the road that Shante is asking about.

By: Iron Man

Iron Man — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:26:40 +0000

Missouri has a lot of these in the farm country. I don’t mind them since the traffic is so light. Farm-land drivers around here are more accustomed to sharing the road with Amish buggies, farm tractors, etc. In fact they are generally super friendly and polite. But once I get closer to the “big city” I stay off roads with those speed limits. City drivers do not like sharing fast roads. If that photo shows an accurate portrayal of the traffic I wouldn’t mind being on it for a while. Just be visible and ride no closer than three feet from the white line.