Cycling Forums - View Single Post - Sierra Club -- cycling is scary

01-09-2005, 01:06 PM

Conniebiker wrote:
> Bill Baka Wrote:
>
>>Dennis Ferguson wrote:
>>
>>>Bill Baka <bbaka@syix.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>A strange thing just happened, I agree with you. It is just too bad
>>
>>that
>>
>>>>California never opened up to bicyclists or travelers. All freeways
>>
>>are
>>
>>>>forbidden to bicycles
>>>
>>>[...]
>>>
>>>
>>>>that somehow got a badge and a motorcycle. I wish California would
>>
>>open
>>
>>>>up some of the freeways to bicycles but hell hasn't frozen over yet.
>>>
>>>
>>>I'd say it is about 1/4 frozen already.
>>>
>>> http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/faq/faq67.htm
>>>
>>>Dennis Ferguson
>>
>>Dennis,
>>I went to the posted sight and it is just legal bull****. My rides are
>>rural and the one highway/freeway I ride on occasion says very
>>specifically when the road is turning into a freeway, limited access
>>and
>>get your bicycle butt off the road. I can send pictures of some rural
>>freeways with these signs in the picture. If you live in a different
>>California than I do please send me pictures of yours. Ever since the
>>60s when I got a ticket for "Pedestrian on freeway", walking to get
>>gas
>>for my car it had been illegal to be on a freeway with anything that
>>won't go an absolute minimum of 40 MPH. I did that with a car once and
>>was told that I should be going at least 50-55 MPH because I was
>>slowing
>>down traffic on a 3 lane freeway. Show me the roads. I want proof,
>>because I have been all over this state and have never seen an area
>>where it even hints a non-powered vehicles being allowed.
>>Bill Baka
>
>
> I dunno about CA but over here in PA and NJ the few real big roads,
> like the turnpikes and interstates are restricted access. But there is
> a loophold in which you can get an authorized permit from DMV to go on
> these roads if you meet certain criterium and have a true need to do
> so.
>
>
I have never heard of this in California. The freeways here are limited
access and the drivers in a 65 zone generally do 75-80 although the
highway patrol is stepping up enforcement. Still not a safe or sane
place to ride. Every entrance ramp I have ever seen in California has
said that Pedestrians, bicycles, and motor powered cycles are
prohibited. The last refers to those little battery or 49cc powered
bikes that can only do 25 with a tailwind. I wish there were a better
situation but law breaking bicyclist that I am, I would still not want
to ride with cars going past me at 65+ MPH. I like to be safe to some
extent when I ride and that just isn't safe in California.
Cheers,
Bill Baka

01-09-2005, 01:06 PM	#110 (permalink)
Bill Baka Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Sierra Club -- cycling is scary Conniebiker wrote: > Bill Baka Wrote: > >>Dennis Ferguson wrote: >> >>>Bill Baka <bbaka@syix.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>>>A strange thing just happened, I agree with you. It is just too bad >> >>that >> >>>>California never opened up to bicyclists or travelers. All freeways >> >>are >> >>>>forbidden to bicycles >>> >>>[...] >>> >>> >>>>that somehow got a badge and a motorcycle. I wish California would >> >>open >> >>>>up some of the freeways to bicycles but hell hasn't frozen over yet. >>> >>> >>>I'd say it is about 1/4 frozen already. >>> >>> http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/faq/faq67.htm >>> >>>Dennis Ferguson >> >>Dennis, >>I went to the posted sight and it is just legal bull****. My rides are >>rural and the one highway/freeway I ride on occasion says very >>specifically when the road is turning into a freeway, limited access >>and >>get your bicycle butt off the road. I can send pictures of some rural >>freeways with these signs in the picture. If you live in a different >>California than I do please send me pictures of yours. Ever since the >>60s when I got a ticket for "Pedestrian on freeway", walking to get >>gas >>for my car it had been illegal to be on a freeway with anything that >>won't go an absolute minimum of 40 MPH. I did that with a car once and >>was told that I should be going at least 50-55 MPH because I was >>slowing >>down traffic on a 3 lane freeway. Show me the roads. I want proof, >>because I have been all over this state and have never seen an area >>where it even hints a non-powered vehicles being allowed. >>Bill Baka > > > I dunno about CA but over here in PA and NJ the few real big roads, > like the turnpikes and interstates are restricted access. But there is > a loophold in which you can get an authorized permit from DMV to go on > these roads if you meet certain criterium and have a true need to do > so. > > I have never heard of this in California. The freeways here are limited access and the drivers in a 65 zone generally do 75-80 although the highway patrol is stepping up enforcement. Still not a safe or sane place to ride. Every entrance ramp I have ever seen in California has said that Pedestrians, bicycles, and motor powered cycles are prohibited. The last refers to those little battery or 49cc powered bikes that can only do 25 with a tailwind. I wish there were a better situation but law breaking bicyclist that I am, I would still not want to ride with cars going past me at 65+ MPH. I like to be safe to some extent when I ride and that just isn't safe in California. Cheers, Bill Baka