how safe is it to ride in the US?

[onebikeoneworld]

I say stick to the ACA routes where people are used to cyclists coming thru and you needn't be worried 

I don't agree with this. The ACA routes are great for going to certain places and having lots of easily accessible route information, but there are plenty of places in the US that don't have an ACA route. The Gulfcoast through LA/AL/MS is fun but not on the ACA route. I've gone to plenty of places that are off the ACA route and had just as good drivers.

[John Nelson]

Although I would agree that the US is very safe both on and off the ACA routes, on the ACA routes you get a lot of "welcome--we're glad you're here" comments. Off ACA routes, the comments hint more of "what are you doing here exactly?" But it's not a big deal.

[mucknort]

Boston to Seattle on bikes w/o any incidents = safe.

[PeteJack]

Be particularly careful on roads that cross freeways. Typically you will be going straight a head but vehicles in the RH lane are accelerating to freeway speeds and turning right. The ACA route across San Diego crosses three freeways in a relatively short distance. By the third I found it so scary judging the speed of vehicles behind me using my mirror that I dismounted, waited for a gap in the traffic and walked across the lane. Mind you I suppose it's the same in Europe. So, granny let me show you how to suck eggs.

[mucknort]

... and the window rolled down and out came a hand with a cold beer for each of us!

We had a pick-up truck stop ahead of us and get and stand next to his truck waiting for us. We nervously rode up and were surprised by handfuls of fresh picked apples being offered to us.

I can't comment on sections of the US I haven't ridden, but I can say that 99% of the drivers between Boston,MA and Seattle,WA and Portland, OR and LA,CA have been courteous and friendly (or at least left me alone).

[FredHiltz]

Here's what happened the time I best remember feeling endangered. Our group left breakfast from a small town in western Virginia, not far from the TA. A beat-up, rattling pickup truck, complete with deer rifle in the rear window, squeezed by us on the narrow road and stopped up ahead. A huge man quickly got out and held up both arms to stop us. There was no way we would get by him and the truck. I thought, "He can't take us all on." "Can he?" We should have spread out, but of course we stopped in a tight bunch and waited. He boomed at us, "Brethren! I am Pastor Brown from the Baptist Church, and I just had to stop and bless you on your way. Y'all have a safe trip, now."

Fred

[Westinghouse]

You should be OK, and remember. There are no real guarantees in life. Just do it.


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