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Advice please: how do you cross Central at Monte Vista/Girard and live to tell it?

Wishful thinking over the winter didn't turn out to be a successful diet plan, so Bike to Work is back for the warmer weather season. The first part of my trip will be no problem...Lomas & Turner down Lomas Channel bikepath, to Tramway bikepath south to I-40, bikepath on south side of I-40 to Los Altos bridge crossing I-40 to Lomas, then bike on bus rack to UNMH/UNM area.

I am not sure if there is a bike path through UNM, so I was considering getting off Lomas at Monte Vista to Silver to Buena Vista to CNM. This is where the problem is. At Monte Vista and Central, the bike path ends and there is no apparent way to cross the intersection there safely. Any advice on how to cross the street here, or is there another safer route from Lomas to CNM?

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by rf on April 23, 2009 at 4:05pm: What you should do is take Monte Vista from Lomas until you reach Campus Blvd. Then turn right (west) on Campus (has a nice bike lane), which will take you to UNM. I ride down Campus everyday- it's a nice way to go.

To get to CNM, you can take Campus to Redondo and then ride Redondo down to Yale. I ride to CNM twice a week from UNM and take Yale to Gold to Buena Vista and that works out fine. There is a weird pullout on Silver so it's really best to turn right on Gold, plus the added benefit is that you really only have to be on Yale to get through the Central light.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Benny the Icepick on April 23, 2009 at 4:06pm: As with any "narrow lane" situation, you move into an automobile lane and "take the lane." It's tough because you're climbing there right at the end, but usually you can time the lights right. Traffic on Monte Vista is not very heavy, so you can usually find a dead spot in which to move over.

Really, though, you're going WAY out of your way to go all the way south to I-40. Go north of Lomas to Constitution, which is a straight shot all the way to UNM's North Campus. Drop down Yale to cross Lomas, then go right through campus. Take the Silver Avenue Bike Boulevard to Buena Vista, and you're home free.

Also, shameless plug: Friday 15-May is Bike to Work Day.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave on April 23, 2009 at 4:50pm: I tried Constitution last year, and I found I actually like bike lanes on roads almost as much as separate-from-traffic bike paths, like the I-40 path. There is something about a striped separate lane that makes me feel safe, even though it is next to traffic. The problem for me, though, is the intersections.

I feel very insecure as most major intersections on Constitution, like Monte Vista and Central, the bike lane just disappears until you are through the intersection. It seems odd...there are the low, for bikes, buttons you push to change the traffic signal, like a pedestrial would, but you are sitting in a right turn lane (or straight through lane) and there is no space away from traffic for you...no bike lane, no break down lane, etc. Not often, but sometimes, drivers give you the attitude you shouldn't be there by getting a little too close to you. I guess I probably need more 'take the lane' practice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Benny the Icepick on April 23, 2009 at 5:23pm: //I found I actually like bike lanes on roads almost as much as separate-from-traffic bike paths//
I like them even better. Statistically, you are far more likely to crash on off-street facilities than on-street. Additionally, the #1 way to make bikes safe on the road is to have more of them, so by being on the road where cars can see you,you're making the streets safer for you and everyone else.

//the bike lane just disappears until you are through the intersection//
This can be a problem, but it's also a safety feature. Lanes that extend to an intersection are more likely to get you "right-hooked" by drivers who don't realize they need to yield to you (almost happened to me this morning, in fact). When it's YOUR responsibility to merge, you make a damn good job of doing it!

//there is no space away from traffic for you//
And this is where we repeat the mantra, "We ARE traffic." You have a right to the road, and every now and then that means riding in the center of a lane. If a car can't pass you with five feet of clearance without shifting into the next lane, you have the responsibility to take the lane, for your safety as well as theirs.

//drivers give you the attitude you shouldn't be there by getting a little too close to you.//
You'd be amazed how effective eye contact can be. You don't have to glare, but looking someone in the eye affirms that the two of you are aware of one another, and invokes just enough humanity that they have to recognize you as a fellow human being.

//I guess I probably need more 'take the lane' practice.//
It never hurts. And you should probably also look into taking a bicycle safety course provided by the City. It will provide you with a great deal of knowledge, and a bunch of techniques to add to your toolbox.

Best of luck, and keep the rubber side down.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phil_0 on April 23, 2009 at 4:50pm: Benny and RF both suggest good routes. You can also turn up the hill on Richmond, cross Central at the Richmond light, and get on Silver a block further south.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave on May 5, 2009 at 4:18pm: I practiced 'taking the lane' coming south on Carlisle at Lomas, continuing on to Monte Vista. It was Sunday noon-ish, traffic wasn't bad, I was with partner so there were actually 2 bikes in the lane. There was a city bus in the right turn lane and (I think) traffic in the left turn lane also. Once I was in the lane between cars waiting to go, it really seemed very natural. Light turned green, proceeded through intersection not much slower than traffic, we both just got into the bike lane once on Monte Vista. Traffic went by like it was no big deal. Cool!

I tried turning west onto Campus, nice route. I didn't know it was sort-of diagonal to Lomas and went down to UNMH, so I learned something new. That's one of my favorite things about riding the bike or taking the bus, you see things you would never notice if driving.

I didn't quite have my bearings so didn't know where to turn south, so just kept going through Yale until I got to the 'ring road' on the edge of campus just before University. This wasn't a bike route, but there was no Yale bus on Sunday and not much traffic, so no problem. I know I probably went too far, so will look at the bike map again and take another practice trip this weekend to figure out how to get to CNM.

Thanks for the advice. It was fun. Regular rides to work will start soon.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by rf on May 5, 2009 at 4:30pm: Cool! When you are on Campus, you pass through a light at Girard. Continue just a bit further and you will reach a stop sign. At the stop sign, make a left on Redondo (the 'ring road'). Riding Redondo will take you to Yale where you can continue on via the instructions I listed above..

Alternatively you can explore routes through the UNM campus as Benny suggested. I do this since I work on campus, but sometimes if I arrive right before classes begin or end, it isn't as enjoyable trying to navigate through students.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ayax on May 5, 2009 at 4:37pm: Dave, the way you make the left at Carlisle/Lomas is totally purist, but I'm too chicken. I continue on past the Walgreen's, stop and cross Lomas just before the park starts (corner with Amherst). I hardly ever have to wait for traffic. Well, mid mornings, that is.; ▶ Reply to This