roads in south carolina

[mszostek]

Hello~has anyone experience on riding the mapped roads in south carolina?? I plan on doing the Atlantic Route; I am now actually in south carolina, looking at the busyness and lack of shoulder on the state route roads----i'm very scared - can anyone attest to having ridden on the roads in the maps? It seems that the traffic will not be able to see a bike or slow down in time. i 've basically put myself into a position of necessity- of doing the atlantic coast route!! so, any advice or experience stories please= much appreciated! //thanks- mandy

[John Nettles]

While I am not familiar with SC (last rode in it almost 20 years ago), I am a bit confused as to what route you are talking about.  Are you talking about the ACA AC route or the state of SC's mapped routes.  If the latter, which ones?  Perhaps I may not be the only one a bit confused.  While it is probably too early in the year, the Blue Ridge Parkway would mostly cure the traffic problems if heading north.

[mszostek]

I am referring to the Atlantic Coast MAP  --NUMBER 5 - wilmington, nc to statesboro, ga.  and i've never tried to ride a bike on a state route rural road---it seems very dangerous, because the cars have no where to pull over, nor does a bike---so, if they dont see you--its like- death. i just really need someone on here to say-- yeah- its okay/i have never been in this state before;/i'm doing this solo. i'm staying at a friend's house in south carolina, looking at how cars drive on these state route roads---very daunting. if anyone has done the route , please say how it was! thank you, mandy

[mszostek]

Also, thank you for mentioning the blue ridge parkway; i am going to see what that is /look it up now ...

[mszostek]

i am in dorchester county, which is: Panel 59 ,on the atlantic coast number 5 MAP

[nthabiseng]

We rode the ACA Atlantic Coast route in 2012. (We are actually in Wilmington again right now, having only spent one night here on that trip. Now we are in a car but doing day rides.)

We rode from south to north through SC but did vary from the maps when we came into Charleston to visit family for a few days. And you are right, the roads in SC are as bad as they get. Of the 37 states I have ridden in I must say SC is the worst.

 It does sound like you may not have as much experience on busy roads as you will need. Once you get some, you won't feel like you are going to die, but you will be annoyed and angry, and scared at times.

If you want to read the experiences I had riding through the state, and the whole route (as far north as DC) check out my journal on CGOB at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/FA2012
Good luck!

[mszostek]

oh, thank you. no--- i have zero experience. i am riding with a cyclocross bike and a cart with my dog in it! quite an ensemble--i have lots of biking expereince, because i was a bike messenger, and also into mountain biking. but never have i rode on a route such as this, and i have been WALKING aside the state route rural roads- and it seems positively insane to ride a bike on them---there are curves, with very fast traffic, so- how could they even see us in time to slow  down?

i shall look at your link- thank you so much,--mandy

[mszostek]

anyone else ---?
 i would love to know of anyone's  experiences on this section of map route~

[John Nettles]

Mandy,

Hop on over to CrazyGuyonaBike.com and review some of the journals for the Atlantic Coast Route using this link http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/categories/?o=Sh&category_id=174&doctype=journal.  Or you can do a search on a larger town ON THE ROUTE near you to narrow down further.  If the others had the same problem, you might need to deviate.  However, if not, you "should" be fine.  Honestly, it is the trailer that will cause more aggrivation but that is bigger so maybe the drivers will give you more room.

Hope this helps, John

[mszostek]

i did view the blog --it was great! yes, i'll have to think of super-visible additions to the back of my bike cart

[hank kilker]

I live part time in Beaufort Co, SC and very few roads in SC have any shoulder at all.  You must be an experienced cyclist to not have constant fear of trucks and nit-wit drivers.  I have not used the AC map routes in the state but generally folks don't much care about cyclists at all.  The road surfaces are generally the worst of any state in the south so be prepared for bad surfaces on the sides of the road or shoulders  not cleared of debris.  The real problem is that there are not many alternate ways to go from A to B.  Some roads between Charleston and Savannah do have shoulders and they are rumble stripped which forces you to either stay on the shoulder no matter what or stay on the roadway.  A positive point is that generally, the roads are good for line of sight(long straight shots) so bright colors and rear/front lights will help. 

Near the coast, 15 miles or fewer inland, expect strong winds in the afternoon. Mornings are usually light breezes.   I would avoid August for the heat and humidity.

[mszostek]

thank you- i realize that i must get into the mindset of taking up a lane of traffic. this is what it is to be a road cyclist;  i was afraid of these roads because traffic is fast, and the roads curve-- and, there's no where to pull off to the side, even for  a break. i'm going to do it anyway. i have no chosice-- i put my resources into this atlantic coaast bike trip, inclusing south carolina.  what is strange is that locally i see cars driving in the center of the roads--i've never seen that before. it's rural--- i'm not used to it. thanks again. i got blinker lights for the rear of the dog cart--

[mszostek]

p.s. that rumble stipping sounds horrid!! thanks for the warning--

[litespeed]

The roads in South Carolina are pretty tough for cyclists. The main problems are US17 and Alt17 southeast of Charleston and Summerville. Really, really bad two lane blacktop with no shoulders and heavy, high speed traffic. This area has to be skirted to the northeast. After numerous trips up the east coast I finally worked out a fairly safe route through SC. Here it is going northward:

I cross the Savannah River from Georgia on the old GA25 bridge near Wentworth and continue to US17 and about 8 miles north to Hardeeville. This stretch of 17 is a shoulderless parkway but not too bad off-rush-hour. From Hardeeville (good, cheap motels) continue north on 17. There is little traffic as it parallels I95. After Ridgeland 17 becomes one with the interstate but the frontage road is off to the left just before the interchange. Follow this about 10 miles to the interchange where 17 goes east. Continue on 17 to Alt 17. Take this north to Walterboro. KOA at Yemassee. From Walterboro go a few miles east to Sidneys Road just past the airport. Go north on Sidneys Rd. to SC61.

Take 61 east to 17 near Charleston. It is somewhat congested as you approach 17 but cycleable. Then go east on 17. Pick your way through the city (mostly poor residential but not dangerous) to the Arthur Ravenal Bridge with its superb bike/hiker trail. At the end of the bridge turn right on 703/Alt17 to avoid the bad stretch of 17 through Mount Pleasant and go to Rifle Range Road on your left. Go NE on Rifle Range Rd. to Porcher's Bluff Road, turn left and go on to Morgan's Point Road. This goes right by a KOA and on a few miles, paralleling 17. Eventually you have to go left and onto 17 but by then there is cycleable shoulder. Just continue on 17 to Myrtle Beach and North Carolina.

[mszostek]

oh, my god, thank you.