Biking Safety

[Larabeth]

Exciting times are coming: We are in the process of closing on a house 1.7 miles from my work!!!  It is also close to the Publix (it's a little further down 52) and the library  (in the other direction)!!!

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/115-Hidden-Creek-Pkwy-Pelham-AL-35124/55780026_zpid/

However, I am on edge about walking/biking due to a couple of things..
here's the map:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/115+Hidden+Creek+Pkwy,+Pelham,+AL+35124/1004+County+Services+Dr,+Pelham,+AL+35124/@33.2837292,-86.8027811,16.25z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x888924151d83e953:0x707292ed0e64eeaf!2m2!1d-86.803658!2d33.288009!1m5!1m1!1s0x8889244250d4dd03:0x872d2fc2c6166381!2m2!1d-86.794731!2d33.2827358

The County Road 52 is actually a 5 lane highway, it crosses over the interstate, and people in Alabama have NO IDEA how to handle bikes on the road (I used to bike in the downtown area a lot and one of my close friends almost died from a hit and run accident one time).

If I was to get hit on the stretch of road that is over the interstate and it caused me to fall off, I would most certainly be dead.

I'm more than slightly terrified of attempting to bike this path.  Does anyone have any experience with biking on larger roads.  I feel like if I was better prepared for the situation, my anxiety would probably subside!!! 

If nothing else, I will walk it the first few times.

[spokey doke]

Personally I hate biking with cars at all (that is why I mostly mountainbike)...but I'm not sure walking the same route is going to be that much safer (and it would make any unpleasant and dangerous stretch longer, time-wise, exposing you to more cars - I'd rather get the trafficy part over quickly, and biking would do that).

[HenryDavid]

Safety first! You don't get a 2nd chance if you get run over.
I would avoid biking on a 5 lane highway at almost all costs. Are you sure there's absolutely no alternate route?
Or some combo of bus/drive/bike that would be a decent compromise?
Us bike riders often end up going a few miles further in order to enjoy safer roads. Totally worth it.
Go the looooong way around if you need to do it to preserve life and limb.


If you MUST bike on this highway, walking it first is a good thought.
Then wear that horrible lime green safety vest all over yourself. Keep all the way to the right of course. Visualize your escape route if something goes wrong--even if that means flinging yourself in a ditch. (I've done this, and it hurt. Also got very dirty. Better than being taken out by a bus though.)
Sometimes there just is no safe way to bike . . . .

[HenryDavid]

OK, looking at your map I would go north on 33 and south on Oak Mountain, if those roads are quieter and safer. They look like they might be.
Further and safer is nice--you get to bike more, and enjoy it more!

Also, on any route, you can always walk the bike through the danger zones.
On and off-ramps are always danger zones: you need your head on a swivel to get across 'em.

[big_slacker]

I hit google earth and looked at it. Not the safest commute for sure. I'd ride a mountain bike and stay on that dirt/shoulder as much as possible. Make sure you have a BRIGHT AS HELL blinking tail light (I use the blitzu one from amazon) and brightly colored reflective clothing.

Head on a swivel as mentioned when you're crossing those on/offramps.

[acroy]

ack!
Scary commute
Looks like some of CR52 of it has a nice wide shoulder, and some does not. Commit to riding on the dirt shoulder and wearing a track in it :) Takes about 2 weeks.

The on/off ramp areas are DANGEROUS. Drivers are not looking for you.... It'll take some time and experience to read traffic, figure out the best place to cross, and avoid peak times (if possible).

Personally I'd avoid the longer route (33 / oak mountain) as those are 2-lane, windy, no shoulder roads. Bike death traps.

Good rear-view mirror to prepare for crossings will be important.

For instance, see attachment, here I'd get up pretty close to the intersection on the shoulder, do a traffic check, then jam across into no-mans-land before the light. Drivers are usually pretty respectful of paint, they stay off it. I have a couple similar crossings on my commute and have had good luck with this.

Lights and safety vest, or at least a red backpack!!

Good luck!!

[frompa]

Take a bike safety course, such as Cycle Savy or the ones offered by the League of American Cyclists.  There may be others offered in your area.  Barring those being available to you, find some die-hard cyclists in your area, take them out for a beer or an ice tea, and ask them every question you can think of.  Any qualified instructors can help you figure out if you can ride safely on given streets, and your information/skill and confidence level will all rise deservedly at the same time.  Best of luck  This sounds like an exciting change for you!

[Larabeth]

OK, looking at your map I would go north on 33 and south on Oak Mountain, if those roads are quieter and safer. They look like they might be.
Further and safer is nice--you get to bike more, and enjoy it more!

HenryDavid, I would almost agree with you here, but if you look at the map, there's another spot that goes over the interstate and it is two lane with no shoulder so it becomes more perilous.  Though there aren't any on/off ramps, so that is better.  I think acroy is right on the 33 route being a bit too dangerous.

I may just be glad my commute is a lot shorter and leave it at that. 

[tobitonic]

I would drive.

[Larabeth]

I've also wondered if an Electric bike would help/hurt.  An E bike boost would help me keep up with speeds (especially over that hill), but then it might be harder to stop?

[FreeWheel]

Take a bike safety course, such as Cycle Savy or the ones offered by the League of American Cyclists.  There may be others offered in your area.  Barring those being available to you, find some die-hard cyclists in your area, take them out for a beer or an ice tea, and ask them every question you can think of.  Any qualified instructors can help you figure out if you can ride safely on given streets, and your information/skill and confidence level will all rise deservedly at the same time.  Best of luck  This sounds like an exciting change for you!

This is wise advice.

In order to cycle this route safely, there will be times you'll need to "take the lane". Basically any time the shoulder is not wide or safe enough for you to ride. This seems counterintuitive to non-cyclists, but being assertive gets you seen and drivers will take more care.

Safety vest and bright flashing taillight aids in being seen much earlier, which gives drivers more time to slow and/or change lanes. A mirror will help give you confidence, because you'll be able to more easily monitor overtaking traffic and see that they are safely taking you into account. Do a few practice runs during off peak hours, when traffic is light.

My experience is that even routes that seem dangerous, are quite manageable once you've done them a number of times. Plus, when we commute at the same times every day, the commuting drivers get used to dealing with us.

http://cyclingsavvy.org/hows-my-driving/

[Larabeth]

FreeWheel, I am going to watch for a class in the area!!

[msilenus]

Why do you want to bike this?  If you will still own a car, it's too short to save you much money.  It's also too short to be a good workout.  Those are fine if the route is safe, but it sounds like it's unsafe.  This smells like some kind of false economy.

If it's too long for walking, what about biking the first part (if it's safe enough) then locking up the bike and hoofing the rest of it?

I suspect it's not actually too long for walking though.  1.75 miles sounds like ~30 minutes each way.  That's a fine use of time, considering the fitness benefits you'd be getting out of your commute.

[Larabeth]

msilenius, It isn't particularly safe either way, but my initial plan is to walk it a bit until I can get a better feel for it all.  I work 12 hour shifts already and I would like to cut the time spent on the commute down from walking to biking eventually though.

And you're right, it is a short distance and I'll be saving tons of money from my current commute even if I drive all the time.

My grocery store is also that direction, so I would like to get comfortable biking it eventually.

[Jack]

• Call up ALDOT, your local politicians, and your local cyclist advocacy group and complain that the roads in question are unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians. (On that note, I don't think it's much safer to walk than to bike on that particular route.)
• Take the lane. Take the lane. Take the lane! Even if cars are lined up behind you and honking because you're slowing them down, well, at least that means they know you're there!
• Light yourself up like the love-child of a police car and a disco ball. Literally, to the point that people a mile away exclaim "what the hell is that?!" If the local 911 dispatcher starts noticing an uptick in people reporting UFOs, you're doing it right. (This applies even in the daytime.)
• Just from the map I like the 33/Oak Mountain Trail route better (taking the lane along the whole bridge crossing the freeway, of course). However, it depends a lot on what the speed limits and levels of traffic on those two-lane roads are -- if it's 45 MPH (which means actual traffic does 55), I might prefer CR 52.
• Sometimes heavy traffic is actually better than light traffic, if it keeps the speeds down. That area's pretty rural though, so I doubt it gets congested enough to help you.
• LIGHTS! (Repeated for emphasis.)

[GuitarStv]

Part of the route that I commute on is very similar to that (on/off ramps to a busy highway, three lanes each direction, lots of traffic.  I have to get across three lanes to make a left hand turn each morning too . . . but the traffic is usually moving more slowly during rush hour because it gets backed up, which works in my favor).

To mostly reiterate what has already been said . . .
- You need to be very confident at handling your bike (no problems starting/stopping, able to get up to speed quickly, have good control of your bike in wind/buffeting from close traffic).
- You should have very bright fluorescent clothing (for low light) with lots of reflective patches (for night), get a decent headlight and at least two bright tail lights for your bike (one light steady - this helps drivers determine where you are, one light blinking - this grabs drivers attention.  A good combo for this is the cygolight hotshot on steady because it's hella bright and the planet bike superflash turbo on blink because it is also bright and has a good attention grabbing blink pattern).
-  You need to learn to take the lane.  This is particularly important along that path, you don't want to be in the right hand turn lane to get on the highway . . . cycle just like you're a car, that means in the through lane not the turn lane.  When you go by the turn lane you want to make sure that you are close to the center of your through lane to avoid people trying to squeeze by you and cut into the turn lane.  (By staying in the center you encourage them to make the right turn on your right, the way that they should.)
- All the above said, if it's less busy or a safer route to go around further to the north, do it.  1.7 miles sucks for a bike commute anyway . . . you don't even get warmed up by the time you're there.
- If you plan on biking on the shoulder of the road, remember that you will not be seen by any car making a turn onto or off of an onramp or intersection.  You will have to somehow navigate those turn lanes.  This may actually increase the danger on your ride than staying in the road.

Like others, I'm not sure that walking would be any safer on that route.

[msilenus]

msilenius, It isn't particularly safe either way, but my initial plan is to walk it a bit until I can get a better feel for it all.  I work 12 hour shifts already and I would like to cut the time spent on the commute down from walking to biking eventually though.

And you're right, it is a short distance and I'll be saving tons of money from my current commute even if I drive all the time.

My grocery store is also that direction, so I would like to get comfortable biking it eventually.

You're not going to save much money, or improve your health much, by biking to the grocery store either.  My advice is to take a hard look at how much personal benefit you really expect to derive from this, and how likely it is to injure you.  Travel in a car isn't particularly safe, and bikes sharing space with cars are way riskier.  You can ride perfectly, but you can't make drivers drive perfectly.  (Or even just attentively and sober.)  I don't think most people, especially around here, appreciate how dramatically the risks of being on the road change when you aren't seat-belted into a crash-tested vehicle with an airbag.  Fender benders become potentially life-and-death situations.  Fender benders are really common!

It can still make a lot of sense to take the risk.  Some factors in influencing overall risk of a route are:
   * Trails and other segregated routes.
   * The availability of low-speed, low-traffic streets to use.
   * Bike lane availability and quality.
   * Road quality.  (Ruts and debris can contribute to falls.)
   * Driver quality, including how familiar they are with cyclists.

I'm lucky enough to have a very favorable mix of factors.  There's one intersection my way to work when I have to cross a lane and share space with cars.  (I took a spill in that one spot last year, but the driver behind me wasn't texting or anything so I'm still alive.)  Your commute looks about as bad as mine looks good.  It is possible that biking would, on average, be bad for your health and finances.

Congratulations on the move, and good luck no matter which way you decide to go.

[darkadams00]

Not much good for OP but saying it for anyone reading this thread. "Close enough to bike" doesn't just mean raw distance. I might only be 10 feet away from an accident, but if that 10' means I'm upstairs and an accident happens on the floor 10' below me, I'm not exactly an eyewitness. You might be < 2 miles away from town/work, but you're in the process of buying a house on the "wrong side of the tracks" with respect to I-65. A 4-mile ride on the other side of the hwy might be a much better ride even though it's more than twice as far. Folks here talk about "moving so you can enjoy the life you want." I'm not a fan of just taking a financial hit for the sake of moving to a more bikeable location. But when you're moving and know you want to walk/bike places, that should be a key factor in the decision.

Now to the OP--It sounds like you are not an experienced cyclist. If that's the case, drive during the week for a while. Bike around town and on that stretch on the weekends. Get some miles under your wheels in traffic situations. You will get more confident, I'm certain. It took some time, but my sense of adventure and wanting to ride to the next town made me eventually try a similar busy stretch. Now I don't even think about it. But my somewhat less experienced and less adventurous wife won't ride that section without me. So take it easy. Ride where you feel safe. Eventually you will want to extend your limits.

And there are several threads on this forum about general bike safety in various riding conditions. That info and/or a bike safety class will also help.

[Larabeth]

you're in the process of buying a house on the "wrong side of the tracks" with respect to I-65. A 4-mile ride on the other side of the hwy might be a much better ride even though it's more than twice as far. Folks here talk about "moving so you can enjoy the life you want." I'm not a fan of just taking a financial hit for the sake of moving to a more bikeable location.

If this was the only factor, I would agree with you.  Instead, this is more of a bonus feature.  Everything on the "other side of the tracks" is three times as much/twice as big and we're trying to make sure we stay in an economical situation.  We're not taking a financial hit to move.  I'm just trying to explorewhat options I have as far as commute.

I have experience biking: in a downtown environment where cars expect it more often than not.  My concern with this is the lack of awareness of the vehicles in this area.  I'm looking at an Electric bike as an alternative to be able to keep a faster speed.  The downside to that is the inability to stop as fast.
Though the combination of electric bike and the 33/Oak Mountain roads might work a lot better... I need to become familiar with them before making that decision.

[sam]

I may have missed something here but is there a longer alternative route you could take?

I recently moved a few miles from work and happened to write my car off, I hadn’t considered cycling before but purchased a bike and have been cycling in every day along the river.

It’s a lovely way to start the day (even if the first day it was -5c!). I’ve also saved enough in fuel, tax ect that the bike has paid for itself.

Sam

[Jacks flunky]

As a long-time bike commuter, I agree with a lot that has been said upthread, especially with respect to taking the lane at the appropriate places and plastering yourself with lights, reflective trim, and bright clothing, including from the side (since drivers merge on your route).

If biking to work allows you to go from a 2-car to 1-car household, then I would imagine (based on my experienced and projected mileage costs) that it is not false economy as one poster suggested, though it is very hard to put numbers on your particular risk on this stretch of road; there just isn't that resolution of bike crash data, to my knowledge.

If you decide that you can drop a car, then an e-bike (or motor scooter) becomes a viable option. With respect to stopping distance, yes, it becomes greater with speed (it quadruples as speed doubles). However, good brakes coupled with weight distribution skills (getting back on the bike when braking hard so you don't go over the bars) will go a long way to reducing that risk. Plus, you don't always need to go fast. Perhaps kick up the speed when you take the lane, but enjoy travel under your own power when there is a nice wide berm (as in some places).

One last idea, since the hanging point is the stretch of 52E, is to probe along the interstate to see if there are any unofficial places to cross. I am thinking specifically of large culverts that are dry save for active storms. This could keep you on low-traffic roads more of your ride.

Good luck!

[Malum Prohibitum]

I see you are in Alabama.  That is the problem.  I live in the south, and the roads here are just terrible for biking.  I grew up out west, and the roads are so roomy that even as a child my parents let me bike anywhere I wanted, even on highways.  They have nice, large shoulders on the highways out west. 

Here in the south the white line is where the mud starts.  It's ridiculous.

[AZDude]

If its 1.7 miles, you could easily walk it instead of biking. That might be safe since you could walk farther from the road.

[tat96]

So my wife and I will be moving to Huntsville (back to Huntsville) in a year or two and we have discussed your problem at length.  We currently live in the Pacific NW and the biking is awesome.  In the south......not so much.  I have a Honda PCX 150 scooter which can easily do the MPH you are looking at on that road.  The maintenance is easy and I literally put about $1-2 of gas in it every 100 miles.  You will need a motorcycle license which is easy in Alabama (I just got it in Athens and all it requires is a few questions on computer.....you don't even have to ride a motorcycle!!!)  The PCX is automatic so the learning curve is virtually non-existant if you can already ride a bike.  You literally turn the throttle and move.  Plus it has integrated braking so no worries about flying over the handle bars when you hit the front brake! With a 1.7 mile commute, I think it is an option worth looking at if you do not have bike lanes or sidewalks.  Just remember to buy high visibility helmet and protective gear.  I ride my PCX at 35-40 MPH all the way down to 35-40 degrees F in the rain for 3-4 miles at a time and am fine (take that Harley guys who only ride in the summer!!:-).  I wouldn't do anything at freezing temps though as I have had issues riding on ice in the past.

It is a little bit of an investment but I have it insured at $75/year through Progressive and it is a nice alternative to biking when you are faced with roads like yours.  Alabama drivers are not as familiar with bicyclists as places like Seattle which have "Share the Road" signs everywhere and bicycling is very common. 

Lastly, always be aware of trucks in Alabama (the South).  I have been run-off the road several times driving a 4-door sedan because some guy in a lifted truck could not see me (was not looking?).  For whatever reason it is in vogue to drive a ridiculous clown truck with a 6" lift and expect everyone to just "move over".   I guess it is just another result of cheap gas.......

This is of course an alternative to walking.  I don't know what your dress code is but I doubt a walk to work will get you any dirtier/muddier than a bike ride. 

[tetlee]

OK, looking at your map I would go north on 33 and south on Oak Mountain, if those roads are quieter and safer. They look like they might be.
Further and safer is nice--you get to bike more, and enjoy it more!

HenryDavid, I would almost agree with you here, but if you look at the map, there's another spot that goes over the interstate and it is two lane with no shoulder so it becomes more perilous.  Though there aren't any on/off ramps, so that is better.  I think acroy is right on the 33 route being a bit too dangerous.

I may just be glad my commute is a lot shorter and leave it at that.

That bridge is pretty bad, the barrier doesn't look very high :/
When you get to there you could take the lane, looks like it's down hill on the way home so wouldn't be too much of a problem - might annoy people on the way there though.

Shame that walking there you cant cut that corner around the plant at CR33/CR52.

[Larabeth]

So my wife and I will be moving to Huntsville (back to Huntsville) in a year or two and we have discussed your problem at length.  We currently live in the Pacific NW and the biking is awesome.  In the south......not so much.  I have a Honda PCX 150 scooter which can easily do the MPH you are looking at on that road.  The maintenance is easy and I literally put about $1-2 of gas in it every 100 miles.  You will need a motorcycle license which is easy in Alabama (I just got it in Athens and all it requires is a few questions on computer.....you don't even have to ride a motorcycle!!!)  The PCX is automatic so the learning curve is virtually non-existant if you can already ride a bike.  You literally turn the throttle and move.  Plus it has integrated braking so no worries about flying over the handle bars when you hit the front brake! With a 1.7 mile commute, I think it is an option worth looking at if you do not have bike lanes or sidewalks.  Just remember to buy high visibility helmet and protective gear.  I ride my PCX at 35-40 MPH all the way down to 35-40 degrees F in the rain for 3-4 miles at a time and am fine (take that Harley guys who only ride in the summer!!:-).  I wouldn't do anything at freezing temps though as I have had issues riding on ice in the past.

It is a little bit of an investment but I have it insured at $75/year through Progressive and it is a nice alternative to biking when you are faced with roads like yours.  Alabama drivers are not as familiar with bicyclists as places like Seattle which have "Share the Road" signs everywhere and bicycling is very common. 

Lastly, always be aware of trucks in Alabama (the South).  I have been run-off the road several times driving a 4-door sedan because some guy in a lifted truck could not see me (was not looking?).  For whatever reason it is in vogue to drive a ridiculous clown truck with a 6" lift and expect everyone to just "move over".   I guess it is just another result of cheap gas.......

This is of course an alternative to walking.  I don't know what your dress code is but I doubt a walk to work will get you any dirtier/muddier than a bike ride.

Yeah, I'm thinking about something like a scooter as an option.  I'm glad someone else understands my pain about how backwards this part of the country is!!! Hahaha.

[kendallf]

I don't want to make light of genuine concerns, but I have to say that some of the responses here crack me up!  It's 1.7 miles; less than 10 minutes at slow cycling speed.  Pulling up Google street view it looks like there's a great wide breakdown lane all the way across that interstate bridge.  The sections before and after look like a wide paved/gravel shoulder as well.  If you aren't comfortable riding to the right in the lane, use a mountain bike or something with a slightly wider tire and just ride in the grass or gravel on the shoulder.

[Larabeth]

I don't want to make light of genuine concerns, but I have to say that some of the responses here crack me up!  It's 1.7 miles; less than 10 minutes at slow cycling speed.  Pulling up Google street view it looks like there's a great wide breakdown lane all the way across that interstate bridge.  The sections before and after look like a wide paved/gravel shoulder as well.  If you aren't comfortable riding to the right in the lane, use a mountain bike or something with a slightly wider tire and just ride in the grass or gravel on the shoulder.

I seriously thought this would be everyone's response initially!!!  I think I'm going to walk it a few times just to get a feel and then consider my transportation options.  I used to ride my mountain bike in the city and that was the best thing I ever did.  It was harder, but harder was better.

I'm glad some people think it is doable.  I know better safe than sorry is important in some ways, but then part of the Mustachian lifestyle is accepting certain risks.

I also acknowledge that this short of a ride won't do me a ton of good, but it will be better than not doing it at all!!!