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Old January 6th 17, 08:17 PM posted to rec.bicycles.misc
Stephen Harding[_3_]
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Default Age and Heart Rates

On 01/06/2017 12:32 PM, wrote:
On Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 12:40:54 PM UTC-8, Stephen Harding wrote:
On 01/04/2017 02:26 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:

I've biked many, many miles on limited access roads, and except in cities, I
don't think bikes should be generally prohibited. Data I've seen indicates no
real safety problem; and most cyclists willing to put up with the bad
aesthetics of those roads are probably dedicated enough to be reasonably
competent.

But I do think that when such a road is built, highway departments should
build (and later maintain) a separate bike path within that right of way, and
afterward maintain it properly. In rural areas, the crossing conflicts are
few, and those tend to be the big problem with most bike lanes, even
"protected" ones. And providing some extra separation from parallel traffic
would at least slightly reduce the noise level. The percentage increase of the
road construction project's costs would be small.


I've biked divided highways during some of my bike touring and while I always
felt safe on the roads, the noise was really annoying over a period of hours.

The breakdown lanes kept 70+ mph cars at a safe distance, but that constant
noise from tires especially really degraded any enjoyment of generally easy
riding.

Technically, on many of these Interstates and other divided highways that allow
bicycles (mostly in western states), riders are supposed to exit each off-ramp,
then return on the corresponding on-ramp.

While I understand the safety reasons for requiring that, I never actually did
that. But if I were on a heavily trafficked highway like I-95, etc., I think I'd
use the ramps.

I was always quite happy to return to regular roads after riding a divided
highway for a few hours or day!


On an overnighter we had to ride on a section of highway. The shoulder was very
wide but the majority of traffic was heavy trucks and after turning off of it
after 10 miles I was certainly happy to get onto farm roads despite their
meanderings. The next day we had rides the other way and then a left turn onto
another equal highway. So after 22 miles it felt like heaven to turn onto a road
where the only traffic was farm trucks.

This eventually led onto a mountain road where we did 30 miles and were passed by
ONE farm pickup truck. We got to the top of this long hill with a 10% grade for
the last quarter of a mile and at the top was this guy on a bike wearing a
complete Spiderman costume with the hood. Apparently you can see through the thin
material but it was hot enough that day to make you sweat in a bathing suit. I
assumed it was one of the local criminals hiding his identity.


Another problem with divided highways is summer heat. You're completely out in the
open with only overpasses providing shade for a good part of any day (unless of
course you're out on the prairie where there wouldn't be shade off the highway
either). The heat really builds up as the day progresses.

They also seem to have stronger winds, being more open.

I'll use the highways if I have to, but even meandering, quiet, shady roads represent
a real route upgrade to me!


SMH
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