Biking on interstate shoulders?

Trying to figure out whether the patches of interstate that allow biking on the shoulder are in the minority or the majority in the U.S.

According to this Wikipedia page  (if you believe Wikipedia):

"Most U.S. States with low population densities commonly permit bicycle use on interstate freeways outside urban areas.

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah[5]
  • Washington[6]
  • Wyoming

Additionally, the following states permit bicycle use on at least some interstate routes specially designated to accommodate bikes:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • North Carolina
  • Oklahoma"

My question is numerical: Do bike-accessible stretches constitute the minority or the majority of all interstate roadway?

I need to know for research I'm doing. Thanks if you can help.

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Permalink Reply by Elwood Gruschow on August 5, 2018 at 7:39pm

I do not know of a source comparing all the US interstate length to all of it that is bike able.  

I used to bike on the interstate in Utah from South Ogden to Morgan through Weber Canyon.  It was a nice ride compared to trying to stay alive on the narrow shoulder-less road through Ogden Canyon.   

Look at the middle map on this link for Utah.

 https://bikeutah.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BikeSuitabilityMap-...

The middle map has a tan background.  Blue is accessible interstate to bicycles.  Red is no bicycles  I guess that about 3/4 of Utah interstates are bicycle-able on the shoulders. 

 Using my 3/4 guesstimate for Utah and applying it to all 12 states in your first list, l estimate bicycle miles are a minority of the 48 thousand miles of interstates.   Most of the states east on the Rocky Mountains are not listed and those states have a higher density of interstates.  

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 6, 2018 at 5:33am

Many good points made. If it can be avoided, probably best to find alternatives.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on August 6, 2018 at 3:40am

I guess I learned something in this thread. I would've told you that cycling is forbidden on all interstate highways.

Looks like it is mostly the western states that allow it. I haven't spent much time in those states so I guess that's why I didn't know.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on August 6, 2018 at 4:22am

Here is a list of states with interstate miles.

https://www.interstate-guide.com/state-index.html 

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on August 6, 2018 at 8:07am

There's a section of I76 in northeastern Colorado that has signs for bikes to keep far right on the ample shoulder (which makes sense as the speed limit's 75 and a lot of people go around 90). Otherwise I've never seen a bike sign on the highway.

Permalink Reply by David on August 7, 2018 at 7:46am

Thanks, all.

I rode on them in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas en route from San Diego to Miami. Agreed that it can be unpleasant with trucks rumbling by you, but I actually found that some of them will switch to the next lane to give you a wider berth. That was nice.

Permalink Reply by David on August 7, 2018 at 9:38am

:-)

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