Comments on: Cycling on the motorway

By: Bill Pierce

Bill Pierce — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:13:19 +0000

I spent nearly a year as a touring cyclist in Europe in 1985-86. I. too, found the motorways quite attractive as a cycling route, especially in Serbia, where the alternatives were terribly potholed and downright damaging to the bike (and rider). By comparison, the motorways were smooth and well-maintained, with wide shoulders. Traffic at that time was not that heavy. I did attract some strange looks when I rode through the toll booths with nothing but a wave. Only once was I stopped by the police, who seemed far more concerned that my passport was in order and my bags were tightly attached than whether I was violating the rules of the road. Perhaps the fact that I spoke no Serbo-Croatian worked to my advantage.

In other countries, I stayed off routes that were clearly posted as being forbidden to cyclists. I recall several times in Italy where I laboured up mountain switchbacks and hairpin turns on secondary roads while gazing longingly at the nearby autostrada with its cuts through the hills and sections on raised pylons across valleys that afforded far less steep grades.

There are areas in the US where freeway riding is legal. It depends on the availability of suitable alternate routes as to whether I would use them. In general I am not a fan of such riding, but neither do I favour spending additional hours in order to avoid them.

A related issue concerns river crossings. There were times I had to make considerable detours to find cycling routes. Having to take the Mersey ferry at Liverpool cost me several hours, while the Tyne Tunnel for cyclists was a godsend.

In North America, the US-Canadian border at Detroit-Windsor is a cycling bottleneck, forcing riders to go 80 km (50 miles) north to the ferry at Marine City-Sombra. And only in the past year has there been a bicycle crossing of the Missouri River between Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa.

By: Adam Edwards

Adam Edwards — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:37:15 +0000

If you want to try this out, in Hertfordshire the M10 is now the A414, but the hard shoulders are still in place. I’m not sure I’d want to, but it’s now legal.

Cheers

Adam

By: John Rawlins

John Rawlins — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:00:10 +0000

One of the nicest biking experiences I have had was cruising alone downhill on 15 miles of beautifully finished, but not yet opened, motorway near Valencia in Spain.

By: Darren Alff

Darren Alff — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:11:22 +0000

I’ve cycled on the freeways quite a bit over the years. While bicycle touring in California there are a few parts where you are forced to cycle on the freeway as there is no other way to go.

And this year while in Macedonia the police actually told me to ride my bike on the freeway. They said I could ride on the freeway all the way to Greece if I wanted (150+ miles). They just said I couldn’t be on the freeway at night.

I cycled for 30+ miles on the unfinished freeway in Albania this year as well. That was really fun!

Other than these rare occasions, I will often times jump on the freeway at one on ramp and them jump off at the next one. I just make sure to sprint as fast as I can while on the freeway. However, I only do this if there is no other (easier) way to go.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:28:41 +0000

Fantastic – as for junctions it would be the same route I take on A roads with turnpikes….follow the turnpike up and over. The advantage is that most stuff has to slow for the roundabout at the top so it is a lot safer than trying to cut across the turnoff and hoping no-one prangs you from behind.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:19:24 +0000

I guess the playing the dumb tourist doesn’t get you far in your own country?

By: Alastair Humphreys

Alastair Humphreys — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:11:52 +0000

I got caught by police on the M6 once. They were not amused.

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:39:42 +0000

I accidentally cycled along some French motorways on a tour in Brittany and it wasn’t pleasant.

When the lorries go past at speed the draught from them first pushes you towards the side or the road and then as they pass sucks you back into the road, which could potentially be very dangerous if you didn’t counter it and swung out into the path of the next one.
I also was doing it after dark, and the glare of the oncoming headlights draws you, and again has a tendency to pull you into the road

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:15:52 +0000

I wouldn’t suggest cycling along British motorways, but the thing about the Serbian ones is that the traffic is not that busy. In fact, it’s no busier than the other roads, but you can position yourself a good 10-feet from the traffic, so there’s virtually no turbulence and the road surface is smooth. Additionally, if you catch the trucks right, they can give you a pretty helpful boost as they thunder past!

Sam

By: Andreas

Andreas — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:04:59 +0000

I’ve noticed the same thing Phil doing going down A roads where the cars don’t slow down a little for you. When they pass at 70mph you get pushed side to side. It is a shame because cycling down an a road when it is quiet like at night is a great pleasure! Wide roads, plenty of chance to pickup speed.