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City streets are by far more risky here. Although the "border highway" here is a death trap as well. But its because of the drivers that use it, not the road. I'd take the interstate anyday... although I did have to use that highway for over a year to get to my college. Ick.

i prefer freeway. I like cruising at higher speeds.

Ian522 wrote:I dunno, I just have a terrible fear of cruising on the highway and having some idiot change lanes into me and send me hurdling into oblivion at 70mph. Maybe its silly, but its a fear that I cant seem to shake off. The highways in north jersey are pretty intense and not for the faint of heart, even in your cage sometimes.

Am I overreacting? Anyone else feel this way too? Thoughts, comments, flames, etc...

Generally, freeway is safer. Except for urban freeways during commuting rush hour. I'm in south Jersey, but I know what you mean about north Jersey freeways. I've been scared in a car on those roads, let alone a bike. I'm reluctant to be on I-295 on a bike between 5:00 - 6:00 pm for the very reason you said - high speed kamikaze lane changes. If it's raining, I absolutely won't ride on that road during rush hour - I'll wait until later.

I dunno, I just have a terrible fear of cruising on the highway and having some idiot change lanes into me and send me hurdling into oblivion at 70mph. Maybe its silly, but its a fear that I cant seem to shake off. The highways in north jersey are pretty intense and not for the faint of heart, even in your cage sometimes.

Your fear is definitely NOT silly. The more I ride the more I realize just how many of the cagers are out to get me! It took me awhile of scooting along behind the slower cars to get more comfy on the freeway...just recently I've graduated to the fast lane . I know it's not so safe staying in the slower traffic but you can only go as fast as you are comfortable with.

jonnythan wrote:No one has mentioned objects.

On the freeway, everyone is moving at roughly the same speed in the same direction and there's basically nothing to run into if you get dumped. There's normally grass or a concrete guardrail to stop you.

Of course, the freeway has objects too. The objects flying off the back of work trucks. The tires blowing out on 18-wheelers, etc. One of my big fears is getting clocked by a 2x4, flying at me at 60mph. yikes!

In my experiences motorways are far far safer... But would I happily take any excuse just to take all the backroads across the country if I thought I could get away with it? Damn straight I would, motorways are just plain dull

dr_bar wrote:Considering you can die in a cage doing 5mph if the circumstances go against you, 30mph in the city on a bike isn't any better. I think highway driving, whether it's a freeway or a secondary highway, is safer, (as well as more enjoyable,) than dodging bullets in the city...

Agree 100%. Highway / Freeway wins handsdown.

Yup - came up on a giant box spring mattress laying right in the middle of the lane I was in on a freeway once, couldn't see it for the cager in front of me until they moved over



Thank god no one was in the lane next to me.

green meenie wrote:Yup - came up on a giant box spring mattress laying right in the middle of the lane I was in on a freeway once, couldn't see it for the cager in front of me until they moved over



Thank god no one was in the lane next to me.

similar thing happened to me in a truck i used to own.

was tailgaiting this moron going too slow in the passing lane and they moved over a lane very quickly...i figured they finally realized they were being an "O Ring"...nope, turns out there was a huge shovel in the middle of the freeway...which i tried to straddle but ended up hitting just right...BAM took out my muffler.

luckily i wasn't on a bike...

so lets see here,
city streets= higher chances but lower speeds (generally)
highway= (generally) lower chances but higher speeds..

hmmm, seems to come down to a question indavidual choice, 'comfort level (confidence) ' and skill...

ooh, there's that 's' word again...how does one get 'skills'? by practicing, which means more riding that leads to higher confidence....so RIDE ON !!