My new job is 5 miles from work around Winchester VA area. Route 11 is about 50% of the ride which mostly looks like this. Little to no shoulder. I was wondering if riding in the turning lane is a good idea? Or should I just drive to work? Trying to get more miles in during the week.
by Ok-Bandicoot-3750
30 Comments
Depends on traffic volume and speed limit I’d say. Don’t ride in the turn lane.
Forgot to add. Speed limit is 55
Everyone has different levels of risk tolerance.
I wouldn’t ride on busy road with no shoulder like this.
Absolutely do not ride in the turn lane. That is going to confuse drivers in a way that could be bad for your safety.
Some of the scariest riding I’ve done is the rural roads in that part of Va. High speed limits coupled with blind hills and corners and surprisingly inconsiderate drivers. I’d be hesitant.
How close can you stay to that white line? The right side of the road seems to have some shoulder but none on the left. I do ride my bike on some roads like that, and I tend to ride as much as possible on or right next to the white line just to be safe. I think generally your safety will depend on the car drivers’ attitude towards a bike, unfortunate as that is. Maybe try out the route on weekends to see how it goes and how you feel you’re being treated by cars. And I think absolutely make sure you have a daytime front light and, ideally, a radar rear light. Since I got a rear radar light, I feel like cars are more cautious around me since it goes nuts blinking on and off as they get near.
If you have Strava look at the global heatmaps and see if other cyclists use it frequently. Without knowing the traffic density your question is difficult to answer but I would look for streets that are adjacent to the highway to minimize my time on this road.
Depends on how busy it is. Rural road with few rivers and it’s fine. That doesn’t look like that kind of road, though
Since there’s no shoulder and the lane is fairly narrow, the safest way to ride here would be fully in the lane, in the direction of traffic, just to the left of where the street view has “US-11” overlayed,
Do NOT hug the white line in a lane that’s too narrow to share, like this one, as drivers will misjudge how much space you need and you will get dangerously close passes, possibly even sideswipes. The right place to be is just inside the left tire track.
When you get the opportunity to safely do so, pull off and let any backed up traffic clear, then retake your position controlling the lane once the lane’s clear again.
If you wear street clothes and not obvious kit you’ll be fine. Just don’t make yourself a target.
Absolutely not the turning lane.
Otherwise depends on driver attitude on that road.
No thanks.
Rural highway, no shoulder, high speed limit. That’s a lot of danger factors. If it was me I’d look around on Google maps for some county roads that take you to the same location even if it adds a little time or distance to your route. One farmer hauling hay or a livestock truck comes through there it’s going to put you on a real tight squeeze.
I wouldn’t do it with no shoulder especially if the speed limit exceeds 40mph. In my area, 40 on a road like this translates to cars flying at 60+.
No
Agree…turn lane is a bad idea. But because there is a turn lane, if you hug the right side there is still plenty of room for cars to go around you by using a bit of the turn lane. I’d give it a try and see how it goes. How fast is the traffic on that road? If it’s 50 mph, I might have to temper my advice. 30-35, I can handle that.
Never ride in a turn lane. Its not in accordance with driving law (and you are a “vehicle” in VA) and you’d be at risk from vehicles on both sides, rather than just one side. I used to live off of Rt 11 in PA. There are only a handful of stretches I would have risked riding on. Shoulders in PA are almost non-existent on anything other than an Interstate. VA and MD are better for that so you may be able to find another route. MD used to maintain roads better but the existing (deteriorating) infrastructure is still pretty good for riding in many places, including country roads, with wide shoulders. However Rt 11 across all these states is a popular alternate route, especially for trucks, and can be very busy so I would look elsewhere.
Yes, I do that weekly, 55mph country roads with no passing lane, they have to wait for clear headon. And occasional 4 lane hiway with no shoulder. I frequently bike on the shoulder of a major highway.
I wouldn’t want to do it daily rush hour but would if I had to because I’ve done it safely and see no data, no evidence of danger. A city planner tested that, cars had no problem seeing him about 100 yards away and moving over. They’ll see a bright flashing light even if on phone.
I was just riding in that area last weekend. My daughter in law bought a house there. There is plenty of good riding but 11 is a little crazy. I used a recommended Strava route and it had me riding on 522 for a couple miles. That was pretty hair raising.
I was just riding in that area last weekend. My daughter in law bought a house there. There is plenty of good riding but 11 is a little crazy. I used a recommended Strava route and it had me riding on 522 for a couple miles. That was pretty hair raising.
I was just riding in that area last weekend. My daughter in law bought a house there. There is plenty of good riding but 11 is a little crazy. I used a recommended Strava route and it had me riding on 522 for a couple miles. That was pretty hair raising.
I was just riding in that area last weekend. My daughter in law bought a house there. There is plenty of good riding but 11 is a little crazy. I used a recommended Strava route and it had me riding on 522 for a couple miles. That was pretty hair raising.
I’d drive it back and forth to get a feel for traffic and “behaviors”.
Regardless if it’s reasonable, ride it on a weekend first to see how comfortable you are with narrow breakdown paving that drops off to a soft shoulder.
Get a mirror for your left handlebar and check it regularly while you’re on that part of the ride.
Avoid the turn lane.
I have family in that part of VA and drove on that section of US-11 a bunch of times, and it is NOT bike-friendly. Any small mistake by you or someone driving will result in you being dead or severely injured.
OP – I understand your interest in commuting by bike to improve your fitness – but I think this is not a safe place to do that.
I can’t believe this needs to be said. Never ride in the center turn lane.
I like to hav mor shuldre but moast cuntrie rhodes r narro lyke this.
Try and find another way, if you want more miles might as well take a detour if you can
I’d have no issue riding that. The center turn lane gives drivers space to get around you without getting into oncoming traffic. Get a BRIGHT rear light (I have a Lezyne Strip Drive Pro that blinks 400 lumens and is like $50) and a good front light so you are visible from a ways out.
I was riding on this road on the outskirts of Bozeman a week ago. 70mph 2 lane road. Didn’t have a single issue with drivers.
https://preview.redd.it/x2z3uf8y3cuf1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6219d051dc4f0f3049be5ce202bc031c6534181
No, it is not.
That extra exercise won’t do you any good if you get hit by a car at 60mph.
Safe? I would say no, but my standards for safe are basically surrounded by trees on a dirt or gravel trail.
That looks like 55 mph and no shoulder.
I ride where most people won’t and I prob wouldn’t ride there. Are there side roads that are slower even if longer?