Winding Country Road or 50 mph Highway with Shoulder?
05-16-19, 03:51 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 4,530
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2112 Post(s)
Liked 663 Times
in
443 Posts
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less sucky by,
And that has made all the difference.
I dream a world where we don’t have to choose the less sucky road.
(Let alone where our peers critique our choices, where *I* wooda never taken that sucky road.)
-mr. bill
Last edited by mr_bill; 05-16-19 at 03:56 PM.
Likes For mr_bill:
05-16-19, 07:56 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,811
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,018 Times
in
571 Posts
I'm fortunate to have the opposite. I can leave my driveway and ride as far as I want on roads where I may get passed by a car every ten minutes. Occasionally, I have to ride for a few miles on roads where it may be a car every few minutes. Those roads are a bit busier at commute times, but not a whole lot busier. Of course, this only works when I'm going nowhere. Going into the city it's a beautiful 2 lane road with no shoulder, or a 65 mph 4 lane with a good shoulder. When I do ride into the city, I'll take the country road at off peak hours and the highway if it's busy. Hate holding up too much traffic on the smaller road.
05-17-19, 08:45 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
With apologies to Frost, but....
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less sucky by,
And that has made all the difference.
I dream a world where we don’t have to choose the less sucky road.
(Let alone where our peers critique our choices, where *I* wooda never taken that sucky road.)
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less sucky by,
And that has made all the difference.
I dream a world where we don’t have to choose the less sucky road.
(Let alone where our peers critique our choices, where *I* wooda never taken that sucky road.)
05-17-19, 12:24 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
Winding Country Road or 50 mph Highway with Shoulder?
Sometime ago, on a philosophical bent, I posted to make this comparison of free will to determinism; that on the Road, like in Life you freely choose a Destination, but then you’re constrained by the available Roads, some well-paved, and some torn up with potholes and heavy speeding speeding traffic. 
Yeah.
If you are going nowhere, sometimes you choose the roads.
If you are going somewhere, sometimes the roads choose you.
-mr. bill
If you are going nowhere, sometimes you choose the roads.
If you are going somewhere, sometimes the roads choose you.
-mr. bill
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-18-19 at 06:26 AM.
05-17-19, 04:53 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
˄ ˄ ˄ ˄
Winding Country Road or 50 mph Highway with Shoulder?
In a more pragmatic manner in reference to the OP than in my preceding post, I have posted on another A&S thread,
BTW, when coming out of a sharp curve behind you, I have posted:
Winding Country Road or 50 mph Highway with Shoulder?
I've become a creature of MUPs and similar who mostly avoids roads. However, one of my paths has a couple of miles explicitly placed on the at least half (and often full) lane wide shoulder of a state highway signed at 50 mph or so. Initially I hated this, but I've come to be reasonably comfortable there - speeds are fast, but someone would have be be negligently driving *fully* in the shoulder to put me in danger.
And because cyclists are never "in cars way" there seems to be very little driver frustration on display - where there are two travel lanes many will even change to the left lane....
When I went looking on Strava, it seems people take a winding, woods-edged country road instead. I don't think I'd be as comfortable riding that, as it requires drivers to recognize my presence, wait for an opening with good sight lines, and then pass with enough space...
But is my thinking reasonable, that faster traffic not normally in the "lane" I would be riding in, is perhaps less of a risk than somewhat slower traffic traveling in the same space I would be occupying? I realize there's a lot more energy in being hit at say 60 mph vs 40, but I feel like the probability is much lower.
And because cyclists are never "in cars way" there seems to be very little driver frustration on display - where there are two travel lanes many will even change to the left lane....
When I went looking on Strava, it seems people take a winding, woods-edged country road instead. I don't think I'd be as comfortable riding that, as it requires drivers to recognize my presence, wait for an opening with good sight lines, and then pass with enough space...
But is my thinking reasonable, that faster traffic not normally in the "lane" I would be riding in, is perhaps less of a risk than somewhat slower traffic traveling in the same space I would be occupying? I realize there's a lot more energy in being hit at say 60 mph vs 40, but I feel like the probability is much lower.
As a bicyclist, I have posted my warning about approaching sharp curves after seeing this thread:"Head-on collision between group cyclists and car (video)"
In all fairness, I don't think there's anyone who's been riding for a long time, who hasn't at some time (or many times) ridden in that zone where the only thing separating us from disaster is favorable alignment of the stars. (Note the "us" rather than "him")
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is"organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
We all take chances and make mistakes, but fortunately life is"organized" with plenty of forgiveness. In my experience the difference between disaster and "whew, that was close" is millimeters and microseconds, and not anything we can take credit for.
I try to keep safe with certain aphorisms (link) in my head that come to mind to alert me when I encounter a situation where unseen dangers may lurk, such as “Like a weapon, assume every stopped car is loaded, with an occupant ready to exit from either side.” or“Don’t ride over an area (such as puddles or leaves) when you can’t see the road surface.”
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
After seeing this video, I’m adding “When approaching a curve with no forward sight lines, hug the curb…’tight to the right’ .“
Tight to the Right
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever
not bad-sorta rhymes
Of course the motorist is at fault-
but the riders would be "dead right"-great for their heirs-not so good for them
Cars routinely cut curves and corners-
it should never be a surprise for an adult-riding or driving
Probably not so good for heirs-5 dead riders-$ 50,000 policy -dead young person worth $2,000,000 or so
Like Jim said
Tight to the Right- love that-I will steal it-forever
I use both left and right rearview mirrors, in my case Take-a-Look eyeglass mounted ones. I got the idea from a cycling companion who used only a right hand mirror.
The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful [including]:
The additional right hand mirror affords a pretty good rearward view, but is particularly useful [including]:
- ...
- On a curved road to the right
- ...
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-17-19 at 05:30 PM.
05-18-19, 05:22 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340
Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times
in
299 Posts
[QUOTE=rumrunn6;20934348]nice. when you come to a fork, take it. wonder who said that?
That was the title of a book written by that great American philosopher Yogi Berra. I had read that one but he has written at least one other.
I always prefer the winding country road for the scenery and less traffic but there is quite a lot that goes into the calculation including time of day. Generally, state roads, unless there is a good shoulder, are avoided.
That was the title of a book written by that great American philosopher Yogi Berra. I had read that one but he has written at least one other.
I always prefer the winding country road for the scenery and less traffic but there is quite a lot that goes into the calculation including time of day. Generally, state roads, unless there is a good shoulder, are avoided.
Likes For berner:
05-18-19, 10:03 AM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: 36" Unicycle, winter knock-around hybrid bike
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 393 Times
in
282 Posts
Yes, the shoulder is the only thing that made me even consider it. And even that, only because my rail trail gets officially directed onto such a shoulder of a similar road in the same area for a couple of miles which provided experience with the idea.
05-18-19, 01:23 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,599
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 699 Times
in
436 Posts
I was just thinking of starting a similar thread when I saw this one. The road, and the only one that leads to our development, which is a large one, is a 2-lane (one in each direction)-virtually no shoulder, tree lined and shaded, country road with a 50mph speed limit (many are doing faster than that). KY does NOT have a law against hand-held phones while driving. I see cyclists on it, but I will not be one of them. Not on a road such as this. I've had to move my car way over toward the no-shoulder side to avoid being hit, and it is equipped with auto-running lights, so I know I'm seen. Be a shame for one of the cyclists to encounter similar, if they didn't see me, I know they won't see a cyclist!
05-19-19, 03:02 PM
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: 36" Unicycle, winter knock-around hybrid bike
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 393 Times
in
282 Posts
Turns out this wasn't theoretical at all.
Went and rode a stretch of the Bronx River Parkway which they close for cycling on Sundays, and after the out and back on the roadway decided to go north again on a shady bike trail I could see meandering along the side. It was great for a while.
But then the paving stopped, and for a minute it was rollable fun, then too technical and I used the excuse of a guy walking his dog to hop down and walk myself. And then the path ended entirely at a hole in the guard rail of a 40 mph no shoulder country road!
So I rode it. In the moment it felt fine, traffic was light, people went by noticeably under the speed limit in all but one case, and usually fully in the opposing lane. So it worked out.
But it's not the kind of thing I like to do, and would not have done it by plan.
Was kinda funny as I started contemplating asking directions back to the parkway - but found a commuter train station with an overpass that got me back on the right side of the tracks, then walked down an off ramp and resumed the parkway closure ride. Saw the path alongside again, so need to research where it really goes...
A little post-ride research shows that it wasn't a wrong turn, the path is actually missing in that section and there is misleading stub that leads into the missing part, which I'd followed. But what you are probably supposed to do is go up a switchback, go over a block and then ride up a residential street. At least that is bordered by people's lawns, and not guard rails.
Went and rode a stretch of the Bronx River Parkway which they close for cycling on Sundays, and after the out and back on the roadway decided to go north again on a shady bike trail I could see meandering along the side. It was great for a while.
But then the paving stopped, and for a minute it was rollable fun, then too technical and I used the excuse of a guy walking his dog to hop down and walk myself. And then the path ended entirely at a hole in the guard rail of a 40 mph no shoulder country road!
So I rode it. In the moment it felt fine, traffic was light, people went by noticeably under the speed limit in all but one case, and usually fully in the opposing lane. So it worked out.
But it's not the kind of thing I like to do, and would not have done it by plan.
Was kinda funny as I started contemplating asking directions back to the parkway - but found a commuter train station with an overpass that got me back on the right side of the tracks, then walked down an off ramp and resumed the parkway closure ride. Saw the path alongside again, so need to research where it really goes...
A little post-ride research shows that it wasn't a wrong turn, the path is actually missing in that section and there is misleading stub that leads into the missing part, which I'd followed. But what you are probably supposed to do is go up a switchback, go over a block and then ride up a residential street. At least that is bordered by people's lawns, and not guard rails.
Last edited by UniChris; 05-19-19 at 08:05 PM.
05-19-19, 05:45 PM
#36
Cycleway town
Our winding country roads are typically too narrow for trucks to pass one another, and are typically 60mph limited. They're dangerous enough in a car..
05-28-19, 08:00 AM
#38
Banned
The local cyclists prefer our one stretch of highly enforced 50 mph speed limit highway with a 10 foot shoulder to the winding lightly enforced 45 mph with a 5 foot shoulder.
05-28-19, 10:18 AM
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Northampton, MA
Posts: 1,909
Bikes: 36" Unicycle, winter knock-around hybrid bike
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 393 Times
in
282 Posts
Was surprised on Monday's holiday to see a number of family groups with very small children riding (on independent bikes) the signed wide-shoulder state highway gap of our MUP. I guess in a way, safety there is almost entirely on drivers staying in the travel lane, so except at the rare intersections it doesn't really matter how old or experienced the cyclist is, but it just felt odd. Maybe it shouldn't, and the sight of younger cyclists there should be a norm, but I'd only previously seen such groups on the sheltered stretches.
Still, I don't think any of these groups started out their own front doors from car-free households, and if driving to the trail even for myself, I'd not personally pick a section that involved the road gap unless I wanted (as I usually do) to do a total length of ride that would require transiting it. There's also no shade out there.
Still, I don't think any of these groups started out their own front doors from car-free households, and if driving to the trail even for myself, I'd not personally pick a section that involved the road gap unless I wanted (as I usually do) to do a total length of ride that would require transiting it. There's also no shade out there.
Last edited by UniChris; 05-28-19 at 10:33 AM.
05-28-19, 10:29 AM
#40
Banned
The winding section of highway, US 30, East of Here is also the part without a shoulder .. just 2 lanes..
