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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19753
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The highway was not designed for a "pasttime" (?) or sport!
It was designed for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
You may not have been old enough to remember these...
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Yep, that sign says you should slow down! See words in lower right.
Slow down, share the road, the biker spends money in Baja just like the Tacoma drivers! How is you trip to shell island a better economic benefit
than a biker traveling the peninsula?
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LancairDriver
Super Nomad
Posts: 1601
Registered: 2-22-2008
Location: On the Road
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The highway was not designed for a "pasttime" (?) or sport!
It was designed for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
You may not have been old enough to remember these...
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Yep, that sign says you should slow down! See words in lower right.
Slow down, share the road, the biker spends money in Baja just like the Tacoma drivers! How is you trip to shell island a better economic benefit
than a biker traveling the peninsula? |
The Tacoma supports Pemex. Pemex supports the highway. The bikes ride free. Their tacos don't cover much highway construction or maintenance.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65250
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The highway was not designed for a "pasttime" (?) or sport!
It was designed for ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
You may not have been old enough to remember these...
|
Yep, that sign says you should slow down! See words in lower right.
Slow down, share the road, the biker spends money in Baja just like the Tacoma drivers! How is you trip to shell island a better economic benefit
than a biker traveling the peninsula? |
Goat, I never said a word about a right or need for high speed...
in the photo posted of Mex. 1 south of San Quintin (boat trailer southbound, semi tractor truck northbound), just where does a bicycle fit??? It is
simple physics, two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time!
Now, imagine the same two vehicles on the hills south of El Rosario (that have not yet been widened)... You could be going 10 mph, and still come
around a curve to find some bikes and if there is a semi (or any other vehicle) in the other lane, you either choose a head-on and die, and mess up
the other vehicle driver's life or you hit the bike riders... either way it is not good for anybody.
The bikes should not ride on the sections of Hwy. 1 that have not been widened, to save lives. No group should have the right to cause death by a
voluntary choice in transportation.
Also, there is no cell phone coverage in central Baja and using a cell in Mexico while driving IS illegal, if there was.
The newer, wider Hwy. 1 is long overdue. It was promised to be done soon after the highway was opened, as the narrow width and lack of shoulders was
an economic necessity to get the entire highway done. But, it was seen as very dangerous back in 1973 and 40 years later they have finally been active
at widening the narrow highway.
Save a life, ride on the shoulders and not in the car lanes... If no shoulder, than truck the bike to where there are shoulders.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Hm... no, I'm gonna disagree there. You can't ride effectively on a shoulder, especially not an unpaved one, no matter how thick your tires are. Too
much road debris blown off the side.
You are actually safest riding right down the middle of the lane. The rules in California are that if you don't have room for a car to pass safely,
you can take the full lane. (This peees off car drivers.)
I commute to work on my bicycle in the warmer months and while I'm not going to be a jack-donkey and ride down the middle, I'm not going to fling
myself in the gutter either.
In Baja, though, I see these guys just grinding up the road from La Misión at a snail's pace (can't blame them, it's steep!) but it's perfectly
possible to be going a reasonably modest speed and come around a corner and see a bicyclist too late.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65250
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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The new wider 2 lane sections have a bike lane size paved shoulder... perfect for the sport and for living longer!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19753
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Dk:
Slow down, share the road, pass slower moving vehicles only when safe to do so.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Good to see you and meet your amigo at Cowboy.
We passed the same two bikers a few minutes behind you Lee and I said out loud..boy I'm glad there isnt a vehicle coming the other way as there was no
way the bikes could have gone onto the shoulder there....but...I do think that if you thought they were cows, perhaps you should have slowed down
more...always best to err on the side of caution and knowing Tony was behind you too, it would have been better to put your caution lights on and go
very slow.
I agree that bikes on this highway are very dangerous but one must drive defensively in baja...they may have been cows too...always slow down, put
your caution lights on to warn others as well is useful...hopefully Tony will have learned a valuable lesson here about talking on the phone and
tailgating that may save his life next time...glad everyone is OK.
what doesnt kill ya makes you stronger and hopefully smarter right?
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ligui
Senior Nomad
Posts: 873
Registered: 2-9-2008
Location: Fraser co.
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Mood: love Baja !
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If you want to ride your bike on hwy 1 , i would make sure i have all my affairs in order so it will be less stressful for your family when they have
to make arrangements to put you under ground.
Cars and bikes don't mix well . Wonder who would come out ahead in a crash?
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3872
Registered: 2-9-2004
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"The rules in California are that if you don't have room for a car to pass safely, you can take the full lane."
Actually, that is not a correct interpretation of the law in California. The law states that if there is a substandard lane width - meaning that there
is insufficient room for a vehicle and a bicycle to commute safely, then the cyclist does not have to stay to the right curb as close as practicable.
BUT MEX. 1 IS NOT IN CALIFORNIA.
California law also states that bicycles can be prohibited on freeways. Mex. 1 is a freeway, built for cars. There are no design provisions for
non-motorized vehicles on Mex. 1. Bicyclists are a hazard - same as a cow. Same intellect it seems too.
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honda tom
Nomad
Posts: 493
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: middle calif
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| Quote: | The bike should not get off the road, the car behind should wait until safe to pass.
How are you harmed by slowing down until it is safe to pass? |
Too many variables and what-ifs.... my slowing down may make all 3 meet at the same time, what about the semi behind me.... is the oncoming car
slowing down now too.
first thing I always do is lift off the throttle to see whats going on, but the safest thing would be for the guy on the bike to pull off when cars
are oncoming. maybe not so convienient... but safest.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
"The rules in California are that if you don't have room for a car to pass safely, you can take the full lane."
Actually, that is not a correct interpretation of the law in California. The law states that if there is a substandard lane width - meaning that there
is insufficient room for a vehicle and a bicycle to commute safely, then the cyclist does not have to stay to the right curb as close as practicable.
BUT MEX. 1 IS NOT IN CALIFORNIA.
California law also states that bicycles can be prohibited on freeways. Mex. 1 is a freeway, built for cars. There are no design provisions for
non-motorized vehicles on Mex. 1. Bicyclists are a hazard - same as a cow. Same intellect it seems too. |
You need to check the new law, which was signed into law a few months ago by Gov. Brown—three feet clearance required to pass, which makes nearly ANY
non-freeway standard-width lane not suitable for simultaneous occupation by a car and a bicycle.
I only added the California rule because most long-distance bicyclists I see on the northern part of Mex. 1 seem to be estadounidenses (followed by
US-plated cars, wearing jerseys from US companies, etc.).
Mex. 1 isn't a freeway—and bicycles are not technically allowed on Mex. 1-D, which is the freeway portion from Playas de Tijuana to San Miguel (never
mind that bicycles are constantly on it). Designed for bicycles or not, there's no safe way to ride a bicycle on its shoulders, which means you need
to be out in the lane—and if you're out in the lane, you need to be far enough out (a third of the way from the right to the centre line) so that cars
can see you.
All hope is lost on windy hills, though. There's a reason I don't bike in Mexico.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
... on Mex. 1. Bicyclists are a hazard - same as a cow. Same intellect it seems too. |
..and if you hit a cow on the highway the Mexico law says that the owner of the cow has to pay for damages to your vehicle.
Maybe if that applied equally to bicycles, instead of the opposite, there would be fewer on the highways.
Bob Durrell
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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I have encountered far too many cyclists who INSIST on riding parallel and not inline. One gave me the finger when I had to wait to pass until the
crest of a hill. I gave him a toot of the horn and the SOB stood up on the pedals and gave me the bird again as I passed, they were still riding
parallel.
It should be a traffic law enforceable with a citation that ALL cycles be equipped with a 2 meter tall staff mounted atop the fender flying a bright
fluorescent green or orange pennant. A good size pennant. AND FURTHERMORE. Twin rear view mirrors should be required by law. Not button-size toys but
real mirrors.
If cyclists want to chatter, let them spend the tiny amount of money for headsets so they can communicate and not be tempted to occupy ten feet width
of roadway, riding parallel.
Personally I applaud cyclists who display common sense. But I will be damned if I will settle going to jail for creaming a blazing idiot who begs to
ride a fender in his selfishness.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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| Quote: | There is a reason that so many Freeways in the USA do NOT allow bicycles
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In Ca., at least, bicycles CAN use the Freeway if there is
no alternative route. I can't remember seeing any signs
along Hwy 1 in Baja that prohibit bicycles, perhaps the
Toll Rd, TJ/Ensenada, so it seems the slower moving
bicycles have the right of way, safe? of course not,
I would not call riders selfish, they are within the regs
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LancairDriver
Super Nomad
Posts: 1601
Registered: 2-22-2008
Location: On the Road
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This picture is from Mexico
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Interesting. Why is the car on the incorrect side of the road? It's obviously not a one-way road since there's a backwards-facing street sign in the
upper left.
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1074
Registered: 8-28-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by SC2BAJA
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajadogs
I believe if you are not skilled enough to pass a bicyclist on the Baja road you are not prepared for the many other hazards.
Would I ride a bicycle on that road? Probably not. Too many marooonic drivers on their cell phones blindly staring into the sun going full speed
ahead. |
Best post so far! Driving the Mex 1 requires 100% attention and knowledge of the ins and outs. We have all had close calls, be it cows, horses,
bicyclists, road workers filling pot holes with no flags or cones out, broke down big rigs, can collectors, ect. Keep your eyes peeled. There are
hundreds of hazards that can ruin your day at any moment. |
Thank you! Seriously!!!! What if Joe Shmuck accelerated blindly into the sun while on a cell phone into a new wash out, or a construction zone, cattle
crossing, goat crossing, broken down RV, broken down Toyota, rolled Ford Exploder, boat on a trailer with burned out bearings, a simple farmer with a
flat tire, or his daughter riding her bicycle to school?
The road was not built for you. Stop being so selfish.
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1074
Registered: 8-28-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LancairDriver
This picture is from Mexico |
The problem is obviously the car, not the bikes. Right?
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bajadogs
Super Nomad
Posts: 1074
Registered: 8-28-2006
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I'd rather like to know WHY someone is talking on a cell phone while driving south of El Rosario. This person is a bigger hazard than a person on a
bicycle.
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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Seems like a lot of people want to argue in favor of bikes having equal access to all portions of Hwy 1 from a theoretical perspective, and some argue
against the same from a practical one.
I don't see anyone being selfish, or that calling on motorized vehicles to slow down and share the road is applicable in this discussion.
I'm sure that even the most avid bicycling enthusiast, when in their car or truck, drives the highway at the average speed of other traffic. It really
doesn't matter how fast you're driving if, upon rounding an uphill corner you are confronted by a semi that is 1/3 of the way into your lane on your
left, and a couple of bicycles towing trailers on your right. If you can't stop, and have no other choices, you are going to hit SOMETHING! Who will
it be?
It wasn't your lifestyle choice that brought you to this point, it was the lifestyle choice of the bicyclers.
I can only think that if I was on a bike on hwy 1, I would either find a way to truck me and my gear past the narrow bits (as DavidK reasonably
suggested) or be so tuned into the sound of vehicles coming from my 6 that I would be standing 2' from the road in the dirt holding my bike before the
uphill vehicle in my scenario passed me by.
Riding side by side and taking an attitude that provokes flipping off frustrated drivers is not something that is appropriate on hwy 1.
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