I biked on a highway yesterday

[KLizotte]

Yesterday I decided to try out one of Bicycle Space’s City Explorers rides for the first time. Well, guess what. We were led down South Capitol Street from Anacostia to Oxon Hill Farm. IMHO it was a really, really stupid idea. The leader (I don’t recall his name but he is an owner of the shop) asked for anyone with a working blinky light to take up the rear as if a car traveling at 60 mph is gonna notice a blinky in the middle of the day (or expect to see cyclists on a three lane highway). Pic of where we traversed below. It should also be noted that there was no breakdown lane. I’m peeved because there are perfectly acceptable roads nearby that wouldn’t have put us in mortal danger. I’d never been to Oxon hill so was unaware of what we were in for.

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Strava download here.

Also, our fearless leader also encouraged riding through red lights while in the city and doing a rather charitable version of an Idaho stop.

While I really liked the other people on the ride and having an opportunity to chat with them I’m really on the fence on whether I’ll do one of these rides again because of the poor behavior of the group in general (riding 2-3 abreast while in traffic for instance) and our leader.

Anyone else have anything to add about these rides? Am I being a kill-joy?

Topic

[americancyclo]

@americancyclo 60890 wrote:

I don’t think that’s a thing.

@ShawnoftheDread 60893 wrote:

?

@americancyclo 60890 wrote:

I don’t think [being able to ride one’s bicycle on the Virginia Interstate 66] is [something that can be done legally].

I cannot think of any point in VA between DC and Front Royal where there is a bridge that cyclists may use the interstate. I am dubious of the reliability of a website called bicyclinginfo.org and cannot find any info to substantiate it on the VDOT website nor in the Virgina State Code.

[lordofthemark]

@americancyclo 60898 wrote:

I cannot think of any point in VA between DC and Front Royal where there is a bridge that cyclists may use the interstate. I am dubious of the reliability of a website called bicyclinginfo.org and cannot find any info to substantiate it on the VDOT website nor in the Virgina State Code.

http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/about/more-information.cfm

I would wager they were referring to the TR bridge, but never checked that the river belongs to DC. That’s a not uncommon mistake.

or maybe this?

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-laws.asp#Where

“Bicyclists are not permitted to ride on interstate and certain controlled access highways, unless the operation is limited to bicycle or pedestrian facilities that are barrier separated from the roadway and automobile traffic. The restricted sections of the highways are marked with conspicuous signs.”

I think thats a reference to places like the Marta Custis trail. Not to the TR bridge so much.

[Terpfan]

@ShawnoftheDread 60870 wrote:

Which bridge for I-66?

In my attempt to find this, I did uncover some places I didn’t think we were allowed http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/Non-Interstate_Facilities_Designated_Limited_Access_Not_Prohibited_to_Bicycles.pdf

One of them is the Rt 7 exit ramp to 495 oddly enough. Although I suspect that’s changed given all the recent construction.

Here’s the list for non-insterstate non-designated limited access: http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/Facilities_Not_Designated_Limited_Access_Not_Prohibited_to_Bicycles.pdf

(Couldn’t find the interstate list).

One interesting one is we’re not allowed on a section of Rt 1 in Prince William County, yet the state always claims the historic Rt 1 bikeway. :confused: (http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/resources/Non-Interstate_Facilities_Designated_Limited_Access_Prohibited_to_Bicycles.pdf)

[fuzzy]

Not to rehash old posts, just wanted to point out the person who led our sane ride ( Mr. Kugler ) … Maybe you could point out the person who some may want to avoid riding with

ttp://www.bicyclespacedc.com/meet-our-staff/

[Author]

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