I'm going to be moving soon, and need to come up with an alternate way to keep biking to work. I have a route in mind, but there's one part that I am a bit concerned with. I have to get over a clover leaf interchange that connects two 4 lane state highways that have a speed limit of 50 mph each. The shoulder is wide enough that I am okay riding along the road, so that's not the issue. It's just the thought of crossing over this interchange with cars merging on and off going 35-40 mph that's making me nervous. I don't really have any alternate routes other than crossing this interchange.

Am I nuts to take this route? Does anyone have any tips?

Am I nuts to take this route? Does anyone have any tips?

Wow, if I am picturing the scene correctly, that is a scary situation. If you time it right, there's no problem, but if you are crossing in front of a "leaf" as a car tries to exit or merge, it could be trouble. This is like the old problem of riding on the right side of the road when the right lane becomes an exit-only lane, and you are stuck trying to cut across the exit as drivers take the turn.
I have no tips, but maybe someone else does. The only crazy interchange I deal with regularly isn't a problem because traffic is always so congested that it moves slowly. Is it possible that traffic congestion on this route might slow traffic down enough for you to make it safe?
Good luck.

I do one of these, but without the generous shoulder. On the way in, I also have the "right lane becomes exit only cross over issue". No alternative except to be real careful, hammer, and be prepared to yield your right of way if you have to.

Good luck

- Chris

I'm going to be moving soon, and need to come up with an alternate way to keep biking to work. I have a route in mind, but there's one part that I am a bit concerned with. I have to get over a clover leaf interchange that connects two 4 lane state highways that have a speed limit of 50 mph each. The shoulder is wide enough that I am okay riding along the road, so that's not the issue. It's just the thought of crossing over this interchange with cars merging on and off going 35-40 mph that's making me nervous. I don't really have any alternate routes other than crossing this interchange.

Am I nuts to take this route? Does anyone have any tips?

It might be illegal. You may end up in a cop car....

Every interchange will be different so it's hard to offer advice. You'll get to know the traffic patterns quickly. Drivers will be looking all over the place for merging traffic so they probably won't see you till too late. Mix this with high speeds and it can be dangerous.

Ride very defensively and expect that drivers don't see you. Be assertive and use hand signals. Ride fast...hog the road...act like traffic!!!

I have a nightmarish cloverleaf that I deal with on a regular basis. Thankfully, it's not on my commute but I'll go through it a few times per week. This one happens to be on Route 1 near Princeton, NJ. (Forrestal Village for any locals). I often travel from the bottom to top in this picture. Two lanes merge into me and then exit one at a time. The blue shade indicates my path. Yes, I end up riding in the middle of 4 lanes of traffic. The two right lanes are "right turn only" so I take use the right hand portion of the first lane continuing straight. It can get ugly at times.

You have every right to the road as the cars do so don't worry about it being "illegal". It may not be safe but it's legal.

I have a nightmarish cloverleaf that I deal with on a regular basis. Thankfully, it's not on my commute but I'll go through it a few times per week. This one happens to be on Route 1 near Princeton, NJ. (Forrestal Village for any locals).
Well, that's just a huge coincidence. My interchange also crosses Route 1 -- it's the Ryders Lane crossing over Route 1 in North Brunswick.

Anyway, it seems that everyone's concerns are the same as mine -- the trouble spots will be the on/off ramps of the interchange. Nothing left to do but to give it a try.

However, any other tips would be welcomed.

I have a smaller junction I go through frequently (one lane joins then exits again).

I agree that the safest approach is to keep the lane. The best advice is to 'act like a car', which means staying in the lane where you want to go. Some drivers think it's wierd to see you there, but I believe they do see you.

I see other cyclists who shift to the right and then shift back left when the lane exits. I think it's way more dangerous. The onus is then on the cyclist to shoulder check and catch any cars going 50mph across two lanes. If there is something coming then you have to come to a complete stop (so you don't exit) and then start off from a stop across the (50mph) lane. Not good.

Well, that's just a huge coincidence. My interchange also crosses Route 1 -- it's the Ryders Lane crossing over Route 1 in North Brunswick.Yeah Ryders Lane is gonna have high traffic at high speeds no matter what time of day. Do your morning ride as early as possible. Good Luck!

I guess it could be worse. Imagine if you had to traverse the newly revamped Rt. 1 / Rt. 130 interchange. Now that would be bad.

I have a smaller junction I go through frequently (one lane joins then exits again).

I agree that the safest approach is to keep the lane. The best advice is to 'act like a car', which means staying in the lane where you want to go. Some drivers think it's wierd to see you there, but I believe they do see you.

I see other cyclists who shift to the right and then shift back left when the lane exits. I think it's way more dangerous. The onus is then on the cyclist to shoulder check and catch any cars going 50mph across two lanes. If there is something coming then you have to come to a complete stop (so you don't exit) and then start off from a stop across the (50mph) lane. Not good.

I'd also add - use obvious hand signals to let cars know what you're doing. People might be decent enough to let you change lanes if you don't suddenly dart over but throw your arm out in the direction you intend on moving and give them a chance to either speed up and pass you or slow down and let you over.

That is a pretty nasty route. It looks like you are taking the safest course by taking a lane that will get you all the way through, but it scares the hell out of me when cars pass me on the right or enter the road at freeway speed and try to merge left.

This concrete abomination is all the more reason to argue for fewer cars, not increased highway building.

Good luck out there and stay safe.

Just a quick followup: Today I talked to the owner of Highland Park Cyclery -- really nice guy -- and it turns out he commutes over the same Ryders Lane/Route 1 cloverleaf. He basically said to be careful, to use the rightmost lane, and to get through it as quickly as possible.

I guess this also means I should start looking for a road bike to commute with as opposed to the mountain bike I've been using.