Fast Streets W/Bike Lane or Side Streets?

[Velocivixen]

I went for a ride yesterday using a city specific, bike specific map. I knew where I wanted to go, how to get there by car, and how to get there on main, high volume traffic roads that have dedicated bike lanes. The bike lanes are really nice and the routes are direct, but you really have to pay attention and be very focused because traffic is going at 45 in some places and occasionally there may be gravel in the bike lane. I rode my bike 'to' my destination on quiet, lower traffic through streets which did Not have dedicated bike lanes. It was nice because I could relax a little, look at people's yards and admire the neighborhoods. It also took me through neighborhoods that I've never been through before (I live in a suburb of Portland, OR where the population is about 85,000 or so). On the way home I took the high traffic/bike lane routes and got home in about half the time it took me to get to my original destination. Cars/trucks/buses were loud and fast. Not as pleasant, but I definitely got home quicker. I guess what roads I ride will depend on the reason for my ride. If it's an "adventure" ride where I'm exploring some new place, then the side streets could be better. When I was riding on the side streets I had to stop often to check the route since I'd never gone that way before. On the busy roads I already know the way.

So, how do you plan your ride? Do you trust drivers and yourself on big, 5 lane roads with dedicated bike lanes or do you take the quieter, scenic routes? How do you decide?
Thanks.

[ny biker]

I prefer quiet. It's more relaxing.

[KnottedYet]

I will go out of my way to get on the quiet side streets.

I feel safer riding in the road than in a bike lane, and much prefer sharrows on quiet streets to bike lanes on arterials.

But then, I live in a city that has pretty heavy bike traffic year 'round and many traffic calmed streets with bikes and busses given right of way.

[Eden]

I tend to be riding a bit on the faster side when I'm in the city as I'm usually riding to get somewhere and I prefer arterials (faster streets) with no bike lane, to side streets. I am not comfortable going faster than about 12-15mph on the side streets here - most of the intersections are uncontrolled, with either nothing or a small round about and visibility usually doesn't extend very far. That means cross traffic (which is often speeding....) doesn't have to stop so to be safe I have to be able to stop fast - so no riding very fast unless I want to risk being T-boned. (or worse yet hit head on by some bone head going around the traffic circle the wrong way.... this almost happened to me once)

If I'm out in the arterial I can go much faster - the lanes are wider, and there are more of them. There is also less curb side parking on arterials, which I think is inherently dangerous as it blocks your and entering drivers' views. Traffic entering from side streets always has to stop, either for a stop sign or a light and drivers have to be more alert because they know they have to expect traffic, so I don't have to worry as much about someone pulling out in front of me - and if they do I there is more space (more lanes) that could be a possible escape route. I think I get harassed less on multi lane streets too....

[OakLeaf]

City streets are one thing, but on highways with an actual speed of 55+, I feel safer when I don't have to share a lane with traffic. The highways aren't nearly as pleasant as the back roads, that's for sure (except for the shallower grades, which is definitely worth the traffic on a day when I'm sore), but IMO they're safer, and obviously they're quicker just by being direct.



I know the difference between 15 and 23 is enormous when you're on a bicycle, but when you're in a car doing 55, I don't think that difference between bicyclists is significant at all.

[Velocivixen]

@Oakleaf, the streets I'm talking about aren't "highways", but "arterials" where the speeds range fro 30-45 mph.

Overall I will try to take side streets, even if I have to get somewhere in a hurry. I feel safer on quiet side streets. Only problem is that some cars also feel "safer" and they don't always completely stop at stop signs, etc. My average speed around is typically 10-14 mph.
I think, in my case, it wouldn't have been so bad taking side streets if I hadn't gotten completely LOST! Seriously, I have NEVER gotten lost while using a street map. I have a natural ability with "directionality". It was cloudy and I couldn't get a clear idea of where the sun was. I seriously thought I was having a stroke or something because things weren't where they were supposed to be. I am going to DRIVE this route and figure out where I went wrong because I do want to be able to ride it without having to look at my map 20 times.