Bikes on freeways?

[Jim Baross]

Yes as Peter found out below, though through something of a convoluted history, bicycling on Calif. freeways is not prohibited by default. Caltrans must evaluate what alternative routes are or are not available for bicycling and if none are available they are to post the standard sign that normally prohibits Pedestrians, Bicycles, Motor Driver Cycles, etc. but that leaves whited out the term "Bicycles". (Ask me about how the term Motor Driven Cycles will confuse people using eBikes that are allowed.)

Most people, even many Caltrans staff have the mistaken belief that bicycling is prohibited on all Calif freeways. Actually on approx. 1000 miles of Calif freeways bicycling is not prohibited though exiting at offramps and re-entering at the next onramp, where not prohibited, is usually required.

So where bicycle use is not prohibited bicycling may lawfully occur.

 I have been trying for many years to get Caltrans to adopt and use a more appropriate sign such as " Bicycles Allowed" but I have failed so far.

The situation you describe with the " Bike Route" sign is one example of at least some appropriate info being provided.

And, Çaktrans contracted studies failed to find reason - crashes or injuries - to ban bicycling on freeways.

On Mon, Mar 4, 2024, 2:29 PM PeterS... wrote:

Hi Jim,

I had always thought that bicycle riding on a freeway was forbidden, but I was informed otherwise by Caltrans District 5 just last week.  Here's the email I sent to them:

Hello,

At the intersection of Highway 1 southbound and 17 Mile Drive/Aguajito/Hwy 68 there is a series of traffic circles to direct traffic.  

I rode my bike from Aguajito Road then onto the Highway overcrossing into the series of traffic circles, passing the Highway 68 off-ramp and on-ramp, then passing the 17 Mile Entrance Gates, to then enter onto "Cabrillo Highway" which is Highway 1 southbound toward the Carmel River/Carmel Crossroads Shopping Center/Big Sur. 

At the highway's entrance at the aforementioned 17 Mile Entrance Gates there is a sign posted at the on-ramp "FREEWAY ENTRANCE"

Yet, midway along the stretch of Cabrillo Highway between the17 Mile on-ramp and the Carpenter Street exit and stoplight, there is signage posted "BICYCLE ROUTE".

The stretch of Cabrillo Highway in question is the ONLY public access to get directly from Monterey to Carmel without taking a long, long detour along the coast.  (I think that's why Caltrans built a bike path parallel to the highway extending uphill from Viejo Road to Aguajito Road).

Okay, here's the question:  Everyone knows it illegal to ride a bike on a freeway.  But, why would there be a BIKE ROUTE sign posted along this stretch of highway if the roadway was indeed a freeway?

The resolution of this issue is either to take down the BIKE ROUTE sign along southbound Cabillo Highway between 17 Mile Drive and Carpenter Road OR, take down the FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign a the onramp of Cabrillo Highway at 17 Mile Drive, OR add another sign at the highway's onramp "BICYCLES PERMITTED" directly adjacent to the FREEWAY ENTRANCE sign.

(Likewise, the signage from Carpenter Street to Aguajito Road northbound along this same stretch of the Cabrillo Highway needs similar correct signage.)

Please take a look at this issue and tell me whether bicyclists are permitted to ride along this stretch of Cabrillo Highway so that I can share this information with my bike club (Santa Cruz County Cycling Club) and neighboring bike clubs (Monterey Velo and Almaden Cycling and Touring Club).

Thank you,

Peter S...

The District 5 officer gave me this link that clarifies that you CAN ride your bike there:
 ArcGIS Web Application

ArcGIS Web Application

[Ralf Pilgrim]

In the Good old days, the only way I could cycle from RB to Escondido was on freeway 395. is it still so?
Ralf, Karlsruhe, Germany
Ex Poway resident

Gesendet mit der Telekom Mail App

-----Original-Nachricht----- Von: Jim Baross <jimb...@cox.net> Betreff: [San-Diego-Bicyclist-Forum] Bikes on freeways? Datum: 05.03.2024, 01:05 Uhr An: Cabo Forum <cabo...@googlegroups.com> CC: San Diego Bike Forum <San-Diego-Bi...@googlegroups.com>

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "San Diego Bicyclist Forum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to San-Diego-Bicyclis...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/San-Diego-Bicyclist-Forum/CAG28zXd_JACyJ1L4cKC7BNVRw2WtjaQUHU8K-gXvQ6E7by0nbw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Serge Issakov]

Since I grew up in Monterey I know that area well and rode my bike often on that short freeway segment (the freeway ends in Carmel) every time I rode to Carmel, Carmel Valley, or to Big Sur. Ah the 1970s! It hasn’t changed in 50 years. 

I’m surprised the presence of the Bike Route sign was insufficient to dispel him of his impression that bikes are prohibited on all freeways. 

Serge 

[Jim Baross]

I am not surprised; remember, too many people don't think bicycling should be on "their"/roads. Of course, they'd think that freeways are exclusively for cars. That fallacy is likely what's keeping Caltrans from considering adopting a more inviting sign where bicycling is not prohibited.

Jim Baross

Board Member, League of American Bicyclists

President, Calif. Assoc. of Bicycling Organizations

Board Member, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

Sender notified by Mailtrack

03/05/24, 11:06:11 AM