Routing question - what would you do?

I live in Speedway, IN. This is a very urbanized environment as the Town of Speedway is totally surrounded by the City of Indianapolis - though I am not far from good country roads. The problem is the congestion of the roads to GET there. As a beginner I don't feel it wise to make that attempt so I rack my bike and go somewhere.

I still would like to come up with a route that I can ride from home though, and I think I have found one. It does go along two very congested roads, but I can cut through parking lots to get to the road that goes by the former Girls School/current women's prison which will get me access to some neighborhood streets that will take me to the country roads I want to be on.

The problem is that the safest way to do this is to go the wrong way on a divided highway - but there is a good shoulder on which to do this. No problem with traffic separation (and I am going to double-check to make sure). This would be for about a third to half a mile.

Sure the shoulder exists on both sides, and I can cross twice - but this is a very congested road.... should I even be considering going the wrong way using the shoulder? Just because I see others doing it doesn't mean I should do it myself...Curious to hear the collective wisdom on this.

I need to drive this route and see if this is just too advanced a route for me at this time - it might be. It isn't much of a problem to put either bike on a rack and drive somewhere, but it would be nice if I didn't have to do that all of the time.

as a motorist, I am often terrified by the sudden sight of a cyclist going the wrong way down the side of the road. How far are you going to be from the active lanes?
if it's on the shoulder, where people have to pull over onto in an emergency; where does that leave you?

Do you have the option of getting out super early before the heavier traffic hits the road? I too, live in a high-traffic area...no such thing as quiet "country roads" around me...it is total suburban sprawl, so we have learned to just deal with it the best we can. We find that getting out early on the weekends (sometimes right as the sun comes up) is the best option for us to avoid traffic congestion on the roads we ride...at least for the first half of our ride. By the time we are starting to head back home (we like to get home by noon), traffic has picked up considerably and we are faced with congestion once again. My husband flat-out refuses to haul the bikes in the car, so we always ride from home. The only exception to that, was when we did an organized century ride that started 40 miles away from us. Aside from leaving at the crack of dawn, I don't have much else to offer in the way of suggestions for you. Good luck...and I hope you find a way to get to those coveted country roads. ;)

PLEASE don't ride the wrong way. Here's a good summary of the dangers.

Your best bet is probably finding tertiary roads, even if it means a longer ride. In places I ride, it's not unusual for a safe cycling route to be three to five miles longer, or more, than the most direct car route. (Usually hillier, too. :rolleyes:)

Sometimes urban bike clubs publish cycling maps. Have you checked whether there's anything of the sort in your area?

Is there a sidewalk? That's kind of a long way to walk on a "bike" commute, but maybe you could navigate a sidewalk by putting an outside foot on a pedal and using your bike as a "scooter" until you get back on the road.

ETA: Just glancing at a map, it looks like bridge crossings may be your biggest issue. I have one of those in my commute, too, but I just stay on that road for the shortest possible distance needed to get to the other side of the river or freeway.

Edit again: Google maps for cycling are still in beta, but they do indicate where roads have bike lanes, and I see several in your area, including freeway crossings at 34th and 10th... I'd use that for a jumping off point, then ask at your LBS and/or ask some of the experienced cyclists in your area how they would route it.

Thanks for the immediate advice! I didn't think it wise...there IS another route that I can try, but only at dawn on weekend mornings - don't think I want to try it any later than that. Also unsure on the trip home at this point.

We have no decent bike route maps (I am a regional transportation planner). Indianapolis has made some progress in bike lanes, but not in my part of town. Yet. The Town of Speedway is trying to get something going along an abandoned rail corridor, but that is still in the future.

So I guess I will keep packing my bike up to go to another county - and that is not a bad thing. As my skills advance I will consider trying this desired route :) There are few tertiary roads that gets me in the right direction, not in my part of town. There are a lot of isolated streets that do not connect/intersect with the major roads and thus do not get me to the coveted country roads. :cool:

once you get used to that bike you CAN ride on the streets you know. :D

There are some streets I would never, ever ride on in my areas, and having visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway a few times, I know there are streets in that area I would never, ever ride on, either (except as part of a large group such as a Critical Mass/Critical Manners/Ride of Silence demonstration, charity parade, or the like). I'm a staunch vehicular cyclist, but I value my life, too. :cool:

Have you taken the bicycle class, Traffic Skills 101, that the Bike League offers? Look at http://www.bikeleague.org to find classes offered in your area.

Knowing how to ride safely in traffic will expand your options. There will still be roads that you don't want to ride on, but having this knowledge, confidence and experience will open up so many roads to you. I know a guy who had biked in traffic for 20+ years, who said after he took that class that there were roads he used to avoid, which now he bikes on.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

There are some streets I would never, ever ride on in my areas, and having visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway a few times, I know there are streets in that area I would never, ever ride on, either (except as part of a large group such as a Critical Mass/Critical Manners/Ride of Silence demonstration, charity parade, or the like). I'm a staunch vehicular cyclist, but I value my life, too. :cool:

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Yep - then you know what I mean. I live less than a mile from the Motor Speedway and I can't get to the coveted country roads from my apartment without going down THOSE roads.

Of course I have only been on real roads twice now with my bike - :p

Melalvai, there are several of those offered here this summer, and am certainly going to take one of them :D

Take a look at Map My Ride

http://www.mapmyride.com/

and search for bike routes in your area that others have posted and give them a try. No sense in trying to reinvent the wheel. You may find a good route there, or be able to merge a couple of those to give you a good routing around your problem area.

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Originally Posted by withm

Take a look at Map My Ride

http://www.mapmyride.com/

and search for bike routes in your area that others have posted and give them a try. No sense in trying to reinvent the wheel. You may find a good route there, or be able to merge a couple of those to give you a good routing around your problem area.

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I am a member, and it is a great site - I use it to keep track of my rides and spinning workouts. I have their cheapest membership so I can print maps. I've also already been there looking for this.... I DID find something that will work very early in the morning, so I am going to try it on a Saturday morning at dawn very soon :D

Too much traffic any other time though. The problem is that there are few roads that actually go that direction, but there is a LOT of development that direction so the roads that do head the right way are carrying far more traffic than they were originally designed for - and only have 1 narrow lane in both directions and absolutely no shoulder - and a heavy stream of traffic most of the time...

I am thinking about commuting to work one day a week just to get some more miles under my belt. With my current schedule it can only be one day a week - and at first it will only be one way (at least our buses have bike racks). We have a local bike club that I am going to send an email to and check with them on the safest route. Speedway is an interesting place to bike around - and as much as I like my apartment, am considering moving in November :)

The nice thing about my out-of-county riding loop is that a lot of other cyclists also use it :)

Im' so glad this was posted, thanks Catrin! I have a similar problem. In Monroe, where I live, we have the occasional bike lane here and there. This is NOT a bike-friendly town, and i hate it. But anyway...what do you do when there is only one lane on ONE side of the road? Do you ride in it ONLY in the direction following traffic, and on the way back, ride on the other side of the road, where there is no bike lane?

I agree that it's unsafe.

I always had a similar dilemma living downtown. Depending on the time of day, I had a lot of traffic to deal with. I did it, but I didn't like it. From there, I could ride up the Monon but that meant going through an area where there have been repeated safety issues. Plus, by the time I got anywhere decent to ride, I would have already ridden 10-15 miles. So, more often than not, I just drove to ride. It was a PITA for sure and not exactly green. With our new house, we can just ride straight from home. It feels like such a treat.

That said, I do think with some additional experience, you will find a route that you can navigate from Speedway. I'll look at a map when I have a chance. Are you hoping to head due west or northwest?

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Originally Posted by Catrin

The problem is that the safest way to do this is to go the wrong way on a divided highway - but there is a good shoulder on which to do this. No problem with traffic separation (and I am going to double-check to make sure). This would be for about a third to half a mile.

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I'm afraid in this case you will have to bite the bullet and NOT ride against traffic. Bicycles are considered legal traffic with automobiles and are required to obey all traffic laws.

That being said, what you can do it contact your local officials and make it known where bicycling is next to impossible given the road conditions. Be polite, assertive, and keep contacting them on a regular basis until you get a satisfactory reply.

Take photos of the roads in question and send to the media. Make some noise.

That doesn't help your commute right now though, and I sorry for that.

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Originally Posted by Juliegoddess

Im' so glad this was posted, thanks Catrin! I have a similar problem. In Monroe, where I live, we have the occasional bike lane here and there. This is NOT a bike-friendly town, and i hate it. But anyway...what do you do when there is only one lane on ONE side of the road? Do you ride in it ONLY in the direction following traffic, and on the way back, ride on the other side of the road, where there is no bike lane?

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Yes. Ride with traffic.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

I agree that it's unsafe.

I always had a similar dilemma living downtown. Depending on the time of day, I had a lot of traffic to deal with. I did it, but I didn't like it. From there, I could ride up the Monon but that meant going through an area where there have been repeated safety issues. Plus, by the time I got anywhere decent to ride, I would have already ridden 10-15 miles. So, more often than not, I just drove to ride. It was a PITA for sure and not exactly green. With our new house, we can just ride straight from home. It feels like such a treat.

That said, I do think with some additional experience, you will find a route that you can navigate from Speedway. I'll look at a map when I have a chance. Are you hoping to head due west or northwest?

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You lived downtown? Yes, that would have been a long ride to get someplace decent to ride.

I live around Cunningham and Crawfordsville road, and I would like to head due west to Hendricks County. From what I can tell, there is only one reasonable way to go NW and that is up High School Road which wouldn't be TOO bad depending on timing, but then I have to deal with 38th Street and cross the redesigned bridge over 465 - there again I think that if I time it right that it would be ok. No shame on walking my bike through a particularly scary bit if I must.

Riding NW would have me riding quite a distance to get to decent roads though, which is why I am focusing on finding some good route to get to Hendricks County. 21st west from Cunningham is the most direct, but that is the narrow 1-lane both ways with no shoulder/lots of traffic route. Unsure if this would be any better than US 136 west... There is always dawn if nothing else :p Or pre-dawn with a REALLY good light/tail light!

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Originally Posted by Juliegoddess

Im' so glad this was posted, thanks Catrin! I have a similar problem. In Monroe, where I live, we have the occasional bike lane here and there. This is NOT a bike-friendly town, and i hate it. But anyway...what do you do when there is only one lane on ONE side of the road? Do you ride in it ONLY in the direction following traffic, and on the way back, ride on the other side of the road, where there is no bike lane?

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Yes, ABSOLUTELY ride with traffic at all times. I ride many roads in my area, that are only 1 lane in each direction with no bike lane and very little (if any) shoulder. We just stay as far right as reasonably possible and let car traffic pass us. We don't have much choice in my area...it's either ride these roads or be forced to ride on the MUP...which is actually more dangerous with all the walkers, runners, dogs, kids, etc.

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Originally Posted by nscrbug

Yes, ABSOLUTELY ride with traffic at all times. I ride many roads in my area, that are only 1 lane in each direction with no bike lane and very little (if any) shoulder. We just stay as far right as reasonably possible and let car traffic pass us. We don't have much choice in my area...it's either ride these roads or be forced to ride on the MUP...which is actually more dangerous with all the walkers, runners, dogs, kids, etc.

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Do not stay too far to the right if the lane is not wide enough for a motor vehicle to pass you with several feet of clearance. If the lane is not wide enough, take the lane. Make them cross the yellow line in order to pass you.

I've learned this the hard way -- hug the right side of the road and you get side mirrors within inches of you because drivers think they can pass while staying to the right of the yellow line. Move a foot or two to the left and cars partially cross the yellow line and give you enough room to pass safely.

See page 15 of this document:

http://www.bikearlington.com/tasks/s..._Bicycling.pdf

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Do not stay too far to the right if the lane is not wide enough for a motor vehicle to pass you with several feet of clearance. If the lane is not wide enough, take the lane. Make them cross the yellow line in order to pass you.

I've learned this the hard way -- hug the right side of the road and you get side mirrors within inches of you because drivers think they can pass while staying to the right of the yellow line. Move a foot or two to the left and cars partially cross the yellow line and give you enough room to pass safely.

See page 15 of this document:

http://www.bikearlington.com/tasks/s..._Bicycling.pdf

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Yes, exactly...hence why I said "as far to the right as reasonably possible". I never, ever hug the edge of the roads I ride...simply because many of them have anywhere from a slight to a moderate drop-off at the edge and I could easily wind up in a ditch. I always choose to force a car to wait until it's clear to pass me. My apologies for not clarifying that in my post. ;)

I don't know why this wasn't tweeted until the end of the day yesterday...

http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/...nd-ray-lahood/

but you might still have a great opportunity to point out to officials the lack of safe routes in your part of town.

Also, if the bike lanes on 34th and 10th aren't actually usable, or don't actually exist, it would be good to report that to Google. I'm doing my best to contribute to the Google bike routes in my area.

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...29es0SEMv0CdlA

You may want to drive your routes, both ways, on several days of the week, and at various times of day to check the traffic patterns. Then Practice on the bike you are most comfortable with before you try the new bike.

Cross roads and driveways are areas that require special attention. Watch for approaching vehicles, not just the ones at the intersection. Always make eye contact with the driver to insure that they know you are there. It is always best to exchange a wave or nod with the driver. We even do this on our country roads when we pass a driver getting ready to pull out. We never assume that we have been seen.

I have Blackburn Fleas on my bike. Front and back. I keep them in the flashing mode. They are extremely bright LEDs that charge by USB.
http://www.blackburndesign.com/lights.html

I am blessed to live on a country road but I have toured around a lot of cities sightseeing and I know it can be intimidating.

Since Catrin's a relatively new rider, I just want to reiterate.

MommyBird, I know you've posted several times with the advice to "make eye contact," but you should never rely on this.

It doesn't hurt to do it - if only because it means devoting the attention required to size up the situation and gain cues as to what they might be about to do from their body language and head and eye movements - but as I said before, I can't tell you how many times someone has looked me square in the eye and then pulled right out in front of me, on both the bici and the moto. Most experienced motorcyclists will tell you the same thing. Honestly, I so rarely see this trope posted on bicycling sites that I think it's already been discarded by most bicyclists.

A cycling friend of ours learnt that eye contact w a driver DOES not mean anything.

He was on his way home & came to a roundabout:looked at the driver & she acknowledged him. What happened next is something I don't wish on anyone-She hit him, then panicked and hit the gas pedal. This then threw him into a ditch & he ended up with a leg broken in 3 places, broken arm, etc. He's back riding but can't run. Total bummer for someone that did adventure races & 1/2 im's.

Don't assume..!!!!