Noob Question about Bike Lanes
01-10-20, 03:01 PM
#51
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situations differ, but on the section of road in the OP’s 1st post, taking a full lane is unnecessary. If you ever went for a ride on that section of Dove Valley Rd, you’d probably see that. I don’t hug the curb in that area, but ride about 3’ to the left of the white line.
01-10-20, 03:03 PM
#52
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01-10-20, 03:08 PM
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01-10-20, 03:45 PM
#55
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01-10-20, 04:25 PM
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01-10-20, 05:29 PM
#58
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So, I'm planning my ride for the weekend, and there's this pretty sweet 20 mile loop near my house that has a bike lane for almost all of it. There's a .5 mile stretch that doesn't.
Being a noob who so far has only stuck to riding in my neighborhood, I'm a bit anxious about riding on a road with no bike lane (I stay conservative on where I ride given my experience level). The speed limit here is 45 MPH.
My question is, would you guys ride on the shoulder here?
Do you take the speed limit of the road into consideration?
I notice there's a bigger shoulder on the opposite side (should I ride wrong way there?).
Or am I being a wuss and should I just shut up and ride on the shoulder?
Just wondering as I don't know anyone who cycles unfortunately.
FWIW, there's a double yellow, so technically, a car wouldn't be able to pass me.
Being a noob who so far has only stuck to riding in my neighborhood, I'm a bit anxious about riding on a road with no bike lane (I stay conservative on where I ride given my experience level). The speed limit here is 45 MPH.
My question is, would you guys ride on the shoulder here?
Do you take the speed limit of the road into consideration?
I notice there's a bigger shoulder on the opposite side (should I ride wrong way there?).
Or am I being a wuss and should I just shut up and ride on the shoulder?
Just wondering as I don't know anyone who cycles unfortunately.
FWIW, there's a double yellow, so technically, a car wouldn't be able to pass me.
Always maintain a steady course and when you can't stand the traffic anymore Phoenix has a lot of bike trails in the washes. The problems with bike trails is that pedestrians offer almost as much irritation as drivers so you trade one problem for another. You can ride on dirt roads with street tires by just remembering to keep your wheels under you and not cornering hard as you can but most people don't on the road.
Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Wheel and if you stick at it you can retain your flexibility and strength well into your 80's before your balance starts giving you problems. Though some people do not ever get that problem. A speed record was recently set by a 105 year old man.
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01-10-20, 05:38 PM
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Bike lanes are mostly to make bicyclists feel that they have the rights that they have without bike lanes. Especially in Phoenix where most of the roads do not have bike lanes and drivers are fairly polite if you are polite to them. You try to stay as far to the right as is safe FOR YOU. And if you're on a narrow road you try not to impede traffic as much as possible. I can't remember the laws in Arizona but most states allow cars and trucks to pass bicycles over the double yellow lines. It will make you nervous that about one percent of the drivers do not give you what you would consider to be sufficient space but just remember that a miss is as good as a mile.
Always maintain a steady course and when you can't stand the traffic anymore Phoenix has a lot of bike trails in the washes. The problems with bike trails is that pedestrians offer almost as much irritation as drivers so you trade one problem for another. You can ride on dirt roads with street tires by just remembering to keep your wheels under you and not cornering hard as you can but most people don't on the road.
Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Wheel and if you stick at it you can retain your flexibility and strength well into your 80's before your balance starts giving you problems. Though some people do not ever get that problem. A speed record was recently set by a 105 year old man.
Always maintain a steady course and when you can't stand the traffic anymore Phoenix has a lot of bike trails in the washes. The problems with bike trails is that pedestrians offer almost as much irritation as drivers so you trade one problem for another. You can ride on dirt roads with street tires by just remembering to keep your wheels under you and not cornering hard as you can but most people don't on the road.
Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Wheel and if you stick at it you can retain your flexibility and strength well into your 80's before your balance starts giving you problems. Though some people do not ever get that problem. A speed record was recently set by a 105 year old man.
01-10-20, 08:06 PM
#60
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Sorry, I did not read all the other responses. Probably the first 15 or so. So, if this was covered, I apologise.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
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01-10-20, 08:26 PM
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I'm with bbbean on this. If you hug the side around here cars just scrape by even if the opposite lane is completely empty. I always ride the middle and stay there if oncoming traffic is approaching. (preventing a close pass) if no oncoming traffic I will fade to the right to assist the pass. Also I am not riding busy roads only occasional traffic.
It's completely an auto culture. I might as well be a space alien.
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01-10-20, 08:40 PM
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Sorry, I did not read all the other responses. Probably the first 15 or so. So, if this was covered, I apologise.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
01-10-20, 08:59 PM
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Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Wheel and if you stick at it you can retain your flexibility and strength well into your 80's before your balance starts giving you problems. Though some people do not ever get that problem. A speed record was recently set by a 105 year old man.
01-10-20, 09:02 PM
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01-10-20, 09:17 PM
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Sorry, I did not read all the other responses. Probably the first 15 or so. So, if this was covered, I apologise.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
I strongly recommend you take some time reviewing good biking techniques and the AZ regulations. You can find the bicycling regulations by googling them.
As for getting some tips about bike position and proper techniques, the League of American Bicyclists offers about 15 1 minute videos that I think would be worth your while. It would be good to watch them with an experienced road rider but if that person is not available, just watch by yourself. Here is the link to their offering. https://www.bikeleague.org/ridesmart
BTW, in the posts I read, I think you received some good advice about not hugging the curb and not riding too far in the center of the lane. Knowing there is little traffic is good too. I would not rush through a half mile distance. I would be deliberate and confident so motorists feel comfortable passing you. I would also approach my city council and request they put a sign in each direction (likely $35 per sign, before installation which can be done by city staff) that says 'watch for bikes'. Ths is especially needed when a bike lane stops and a very narrow road begins.
Interesting point about the sign. I think I'll look into that.
01-11-20, 08:45 AM
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Recently there seems to be a lot of bike lanes popping up which is good. Of course it depends on where you live (I just moved to my neighborhood a couple of years ago and am realizing how lucky I am). I also found the bike lane overlay in google maps and was surprised at how many bike lanes Phoenix has now...
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01-11-20, 08:48 AM
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01-11-20, 01:44 PM
#69
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I was in Phoenix a couple of years ago riding with people native to the area and I saw very few bike lanes. In many more traveled routes there were wide shoulders but these are not bike lanes
01-11-20, 01:50 PM
#70
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Also when you come to a four way stop and the other people do not take their proper right-of-way because I'm balancing on the bike instead of putting a foot down. I presently had a ding on my shin because I had to put a foot down when I stopped and then missed the pedal when I took off.
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01-11-20, 01:51 PM
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01-11-20, 03:40 PM
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01-11-20, 04:09 PM
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01-11-20, 04:55 PM
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Sorry you couldn’t find them.
