RoadTire 

I'm planning this year's commute experiment, this time on the west half, using Google Maps Street View. Seeing a car captured driving half on the shoulder doesn't give me a any nice fuzzy feelings...

PatrickGSR94

That's why it's best to not use the shoulder unless absolutely necessary.

cobrabyte

I'm sure they will hit you and you should avoid riding your bike to work at all costs.

noglider 

Why was the driver driving that way?

cobrabyte

probably staring out their rear view mirror at the crazy Google car with a giant camera on the roof behind them lol

ThermionicScott 

Cutting the inside of a sharp corner in case cars in the outside lane are doing the same thing? Looks like they had enough visibility to know that the shoulder was clear.

noglider 

We can only guess why the driver was doing that. We will never know. But we already know drivers do that. Don't they do it everywhere? So this is a poor reason to decide it's not a good to commute along this route, unless you are looking to reinforce a decision you've already made.

rumrunn6

wow, great photo, and great insight into this roadway. nice wide shoulder tho

Darth Lefty 

Ducking the Eye of Mordor

RoadTire 

Naw, still scoping the route(s) on that end. If all goes well and I get enough hours on the bike, I will try the 30 mile each way commute by early summer. This picture, along with a couple new threads about near misses, lights, and clothing colors is giving me food for thought about better be-seen rear lights and a bright orange backpack during the day.

CliffordK

Some drivers cut corners (bikes will do that too).

Some drivers drive a bit to the right. That doesn't mean they're not vigilant. -

Where do you propose riding? On the white line (smack in the middle of where the car is driving)?
In the middle of the lane where 99% of the other cars are driving?
On the yellow line... and just hope for the best?

That looks like a nice wide shoulder, minimal debris, perfect for cycling.

RoadTire 

I'm starting to drive that route on my way to work at 3 PM and back at 1 AM so that I get an idea of traffic patterns and choke points. Google street view is helping also. This western half of my route is mostly roads, not the bike path, and a couple areas where there is higher traffic by freeway access. There are 1 or 2 busy 4-lane intersections in those access areas, with only stop signs that concern me. Not only that, I found out part of the road is closed until August and will detour but that may not be all bad either.

LesterOfPuppets

They were definitely trippin' cuz they saw the streetview car. Might even have been pulling a yewie so they could follow it!

kickstart

Are you seriously suggesting that sound logic should be used in place of irrational ideology in the real world?

loky1179

I'm guessing the driver was posting to bikeforums from his smartphone, and inadvertently swerved onto the shoulder. This website can be deadly.

Papa Tom

That was my very first thought, too. I've never seen the Google Maps street view van, but my guess is that it's a sight to see with a camera strapped to the top, or whatever. I, too. might have pulled over to the side to let the van pass and get a clear view of the road without making the driver have to dodge my car for the next thirty miles worth of shots.

Also, motorists drive a little more vigilantly when they can see bicycles on the shoulder. He/she would not have done that if he/she had seen a cyclist in that lane prior to this photo. The big problem I see is what's coming around that corner.

LesterOfPuppets

The street view car in that still was going the opposite direction from the SUV in frame.
I've seen a Subaru street view and a couple of Prius street views. Still havent spotted a street view e-trike yet.

I've seen one parked in the same church parking lot in portland 3 different times. Then I noticed "parking spot" marker on the map in that lot. I wonder if more are marked on google maps like that.

RoadTire 

I was wrong about the 2 intersections - they are controlled by lights. Here's a picture of one. I think the left turn (car coming at us in the picture) has a green turn arrow also. On the far side is the Luce Line crushed limestone path. The cycling time on Mtka Blvd would be not more than 5 minutes but if I'm concerned I suppose I could take the path. (tires are MP4SC 25's) I'm going to make this western half part of my weekend rides for a bit until I'm fit enough for the whole commute.

Hmmm...all this planning might seem a little OCD....

Beth W

Not ideal, but no commute is. I ride in San Francisco, mostly on dedicated bike lanes next to the vehicle lanes, and have to move into the vehicle lane every few blocks to go around a delivery truck, car or some other obstacle (including pedestrians) hanging around in the bike lane. I've even seen cars use the bike lane (where it's separated by a line of pylon-like markers) on Market Street. Sometimes they even get trouble for it, but not often.

Daniel4

I'm guessing the driver was anticipating a sharp right turn and was hugging the right side to leave lots of room on the left in case he does swerve. His hugging the right side went a little too far.

When there's questionable road conditions I do that on a highway on ramps and some fast roads.

CliffordK

I snagged this photo off of Google Maps for another discussion showing the double white line that Portland is now using to delineate some of its bike paths. I don't remember the double line when I was up there so it may be a new feature. I do like the new green stripes across turn lanes (I always look for cars anyway... a big car always trumps the right-of-way).

Anyway, someone pointed out that I had inadvertently snagged a photo of someone cutting the corner. Fortunately only driving on the outer white line.

That is Beaverton Hillsdale HWY. 4 lanes + a turn lane (which varies in width). Part of Beaverton Hillsdale HWY has a bike path, part doesn't. I much prefer riding on the section with the bike path than without. It just has too many cars to not have a bike path.

That was also, however, one of the roads where I had one of my most extreme evasive actions with a car pulling in front of me, and my having to change course over about 2 lanes.

I will say the effect of the shade is pretty striking in the photo.

PatrickGSR94

And yet all too often motorists don't even see a cyclist on the shoulder where they get hit and killed.

CliffordK

True,
Perhaps there should be a nationwide campaign to encourage cars to stay to the left of the "Fog Line".

However, riding as far right as possible, one has much less exposure to the inattentive driver than when riding in the middle of the lane.

scroca

Around here there are NASCAR wannabes who take the inside -- onto the shoulder and across the center line -- to maintain their 70mph through the curves, even though the posted speed limit is 55mph.

It doesn't stop me from riding on the shoulder. If it did, I wouldn't have much of a commute left as most of my route is on a state highway.

I am hoping that someday, if need be, I will hear them on the rumble strip in time to bail out off to the side. If I don't or can't, I expect I won't be posting here to let you know about it.