Safety of Rte 66 in California?

[wallybeagle]

Makes sense. I do trust ACA routes and both intuitively Feel I should  and have been advised by other touring cyclists to stay on ACA routes.
I lived in Seattle for 15 years and found the bike routes fairly safe, although it’s not St. Louis.
My major concern now is collecting the right gear.

Thanks! Mitch

[Ty0604]

The new ACA route is nice! I stayed downtown near the arch on my 2018 ride and Lindell --> Clayton --> Clarkston was a nice ride. Busy but all 3 roads had either a bike lane or wide shoulder.

[wallybeagle]

Thanks, PNWRider92-
I have the sense, with common sense and vetted ACA routes, St Louis is a fun city to cycle through.
My original post was more of an inquiry about the overall safety or lack of  within the section of ACA rt 66 where the northern tier meets Route 66 at Odell Illinois, s to Marshfield MO where it meets the trans am trail.

[John Nelson]

My original post was more of an inquiry about the overall safety or lack of  within the section of ACA rt 66 where the northern tier meets Route 66 at Odell Illinois, s to Marshfield MO where it meets the trans am trail.

It’s hard to generalize about any 600 miles of a route. There are always going to be parts that are more safe and parts that are less safe. But I would say that the safety of that section is “average.”

[Ty0604]

The only time I ever felt unsafe on 66 was riding the interstate in Arizona. We had a bridge with no shoulder and had to ride the lane of traffic to cross. Wasn’t a long bridge but when traffic is going 80mph it was a little sketch.

The biggest danger ended up being the heat in the Mohave between Needles and Ludlow with the gas station in Fenner being the only building for 100 miles. Gotta make sure you leave early and avoid the heat of the day.

Side note: The gas station in Fenner is a rip. They charge like $4 for a Cup-O-Noodle there and they charge for hot water etc. AriZona iced teas were $5 I think.