I am curious if anyone has been through this process and if so, what was your experience? By way of background, the general rule is that bikes aren't permitted on freeways. However there's a process that allows cyclists to apply for an exception when say alternative routes are unsafe, too long, ect.). (see this document for an overview of the process). If no one's done this, maybe we should, in an organized manner, start a couple of applications. Personally, I'd like to see PA Turnpike-43 made an exception as it has a giant berm and relatively low traffic. Also, I'm an attorney and could possibly do a couple of these pro bono if anyone else is interested.
Last I checked, you can legally bike on highway 113 from Davis, CA to Woodland, CA. I did it once, because I could, but I wouldn't do it again. Something about biking next to 90 MPH traffic (US 80 dumps onto 113), even with a huge shoulder, makes me a bit nervous.
@dryrun -- Interesting you bring this up. I'm involved with both the Butler-Freeprot Trail group and the Butler(PA)City Bike Commission. A long range goal is to run a route from the BFT trailhead here in Butler, through town on a bike route system, and then out of town to points west using in part Route 422 towards New Castle and Ohio.
The section I'm looking at is the far west end of the 422 bypass around Butler -- the 1/2 mile or so west from the 356 interchange to the end of the limited access roadway.
I think I/we can get them to do it. From personal experience in dealing with PennDOT when we wanted to sharrow state roads in the city, you need to remember at least two things in dealing with PennDOT:
1. You have to talk PennDOT's language, which in literally one word is safety.
2. To the extent that the local district has any say in the matter, you need to have their support.
I'd been wondering about the procedure to do this. At the very least, thanks for dredging this up and posting it. You made my life a little easier.
If you want to discuss this further, please feel free to PM me. We can exchange contact info and chat. By the way, I'm also an attorney.
I learned something today. I thought biking on a freeway was an absolute no-no. Sounds scary.
I also just wanted to say BOB LAW. Not everyone will get that reference.
@stefb -- It depends on the state you're in. In PA it is unless you use this process, PennDOT agrees with you and grants an exception. As has been noted a couple of other times on this board, some states out west put little or no restrictions on riding on an interstate.
@stefb - i would get the reference if you had instead said something about bob loblaw. or his law blog.
Riding bikes on freeways reminds me of this:
http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2012/02/28/adding-insult-to-injury/
After fining Norton a token $50, the judge turned his attention toward what he felt was the real problem in his courtroom. “Mrs. Morgan,” he lectured, “you should not have been riding your bike on the road.” According to Judge Taggart, people who ride bikes are assuming the risk of being injured; as he explained, “the highways weren’t designed for bikes.”
I wouldn't do it by choice.
The only bikes-on-freeways section I know of around here is the stretch of I-79 over Neville Island. Are there others?
The posted PDF says PennDOT maintains a map showing all the bikes-allowed areas, available on request. If it's not on PennDOT's web site, maybe somebody should request it and put it on the net.
There is the possibility that you would be safer on a wide divided highway, with a wide shoulder, posted at 55 mph with traffic going 65-70, than you would on a twisty back road posted at 45 mph with traffic going 65-70.
Y'know I was considering PA 43 recently. I've heard a few motorists saying that it's silly they haven't finished it to Pittsburgh.
Here, and in my South Central Oakland neighborhood, opposition seems universal.
IF they included a separated lanes for bikes on it? Even just those plastic uprights maybe 3 feet from the edge of the shoulder?
I would totally support that otherwise unnecessary, expensive, environmentally unsound boondoggle. Even campaign for it.
@hiddem variable- duh. How can I forget. I was thinking of "don law" from The State and mixed the names together. I do love bob loblaw's law blog though. Sorry. I made a huge mistake.
There's something spooky about non-cars on a highway. It creeps me out to drive near them in my car, and the few times I've been the non-car, it was creepier.
Up north of the border, the bike lane on a highway that I drool over is separated via Jersey barriers. But it's also got cliffs on either side of it, and sometimes traffic all just slows down because of the gorgeous views. Its one of the few places that it's hard to find a place to pull over at sunset, cause they're all full of gawkers.
I'm not sure I'd bike along a highway with anything shy of a Jersey barrier to segregate me. Then again, I bike along ARB and Washington Blvd all the time, so I guess it's not much different.
People screamed bloody murder about $400 million for the North Shore Connector. Finishing PA43 into the city would be $4,000 million. Rough numbers, but close enough.
Bikes on that? MOST. EXPENSIVE. BIKE. TRAIL. EVAR.
When I was in Denver last summer, I saw a lot of markings for bike access on the main route to the Denver Airport. It's essentially a freeway.
The day I was there, I didn't see any bikes on the road. It looked pretty scary, as noted by others here.
I found this blog where the writer confirms my suspicion that it would be a very high-stress affair: http://pirateontwowheels.blogspot.com/2009/09/bike-airport-bike-world.html
whether the car that hits you is doing 45 or 90 probably doesn't matter as far as how dead you're going to be. wouldn't bug me much to ride on there, although i'm not sure when i'd have occasion to do it.
But, I think the "no reasonable alternate route exists part" is likely to be an issue. Then again, the bridge on 79 is "only" 3 miles from the sewickley bridge.
Last year on recreational Bicycle the Tour of Colorado there were over 1000 of us on a stretch of I-70 for 20-30 miles. There was a trail that was the alternative route, but a running event was already using this corridor. The event organizers had the cyclists exit at every off ramp and then re-enter the highway to avoid cross over traffic at the exits.
I used to take 2-79 from the North Shore to Perry Highway. The only downside was that one time an 80 dollar jersey fell out of my pannier and I couldn't find it again on subsequent trips.
It was great though. I agree with Salty. If somebody isn't paying attention, either way, I'm dead. At least on the freeway I have the protection of rumble strips to wake somebody up.
I suspect cars have passed me going at least 45 (if not more) on Second Avenue.
I know cars have passed me going 45+ on Beeler, Forbes, Ellsworth, Beechwood, Boundary, Shady, and a depressing number of other 25mph streets.
I'd say 45 is slow for 2nd ave, people treat it like a highway.
I do believe that people have passed me on Forbes through Frick at speeds that exceed 70.
It would be such a comfort if Pgh Police enforced traffic laws, that I would gladly stop at signs myself and refrain from going through red lights.
"It would be such a comfort if Pgh Police enforced traffic laws, that I would gladly stop at signs myself, refrain from going through red lights, [or asking people for sexual favors in return for leniency]". Fixed.
@edmonds59 "It would be such a comfort if Pgh Police enforced traffic laws, that I would gladly stop at signs myself, refrain from going through red lights, [or asking people for sexual favors in return for leniency]". Fixed.
I always offer leniency in return for sexual favors. One of the (many) reasons I'm not a cop.
Want some leniency? Gimme a call.
you guys never fail to make me laugh at inappropriate jokes. 
As opposed to Rush, who now says he was joking? I did not notice him or anyone else laughing.
