Big Bad Bay Bridge

[duqette]

I've been working a job over in Berkeley last week and this weekend, which means I've been riding across the Bay Bridge more often in the past week than in the past ... oh ... two years.

How do you regular commuters do it? ! Without, you know  :bang

Seriously, any tips or advice would be much appreciated. Is there a lane or approach that's better than another? What's your regular route, what do you especially look out for, etc.?

[remy]

My commute is on the 880 now but when I took the Bay Bridge and 101 I used to try and offset my commute by an hour or so (go in an hour late, come home an hour late). If your work will allow this, it could make a big difference in the amount of congestion you deal with.
Also, make sure you're warm enough and comfortable on your bike so you don't feel like you have to rush. If you have the option to split behind another rider, that can take some of the stress out of splitting because they sort of clear out the stray/wobbly cars.
Good luck!

[mattb]

I've been working a job over in Berkeley last week and this weekend, which means I've been riding across the Bay Bridge more often in the past week than in the past ... oh ... two years.

How do you regular commuters do it? ! Without, you know  :bang

Seriously, any tips or advice would be much appreciated. Is there a lane or approach that's better than another? What's your regular route, what do you especially look out for, etc.?

I only use one wheel; half the wheels = half the hassle  ;:|

m

[somegirl]

From San Mateo to Berkeley I like to take the San Mateo Bridge and 880N; coming back I prefer the Bay Bridge and 101S, both for traffic reasons.

[duqette]

Thanks! Yesterday traffic was pretty light (there seems to be no rhyme or reason) except for the interchange after the bridge. E 80 was a parking lot. What is it with people and their cars? Really!

At any rate, I ended up sharing behind a ... er ... less confident splitter who went nice and slow and did "open" up the path for me. 

I work in theater, so my call time is 100% inflexible. The show must go on blah blah etc etc.

I feel so slow on the bridge itself! I'm keeping up with (and passing) the cars, but other motorcyclists are just zipping by me.

Tonight is going to be" interesting." I'll be heading home just after KaBoom ends.

[desmoquattro]

I feel so slow on the bridge itself! I'm keeping up with (and passing) the cars, but other motorcyclists are just zipping by me.

Just keep it to a pace you're comfortable with. Going beyond that is a key factor in crashes.

...and don't take it literally when they say "break a leg" 

[somegirl]

Just keep it to a pace you're comfortable with. Going beyond that is a key factor in crashes.

+1

[Michael Moore]

And be happy it isn't windy right now. The bridges around here can truly suck when there are big gusts.

[duqette]

And be happy it isn't windy right now. The bridges around here can truly suck when there are big gusts.

You mean that stuff last night wasn't wind?! Holy crap.

Last night I just took it easy, stayed out of the way of all the other more confident splitters on the bridge and made it there and back relaxed and in fine form, in spite of all the Giants fans and KaBoomers. Today I'm in the cage, last show, so I'm done. For now.

I still think the approaches to the bridge (on both ends) are some of the hairiest riding areas in the Bay Area. Kudos to those who do it regularly!

[MendoDave]

If its possible for you,  take BART. It costs $2.65 to go from West Oakland to Embarcadero. And the ride under the bay is something like 3 1/2 minutes, much of it at 80MPH.

[enzo]

I guess it's what you're used to, but I find the BB to be pretty tame compared to 101.  There are enough bikes on the bridge during the week that regular commuters seem to be used to it.  The weekend is a totally diferent story, however.  I can't stand crossing the bridge on Fri. and Sat. night.  Seems like every speed racer guido can't get to Broadway fast enough.  But maybe it's a different story in the reverse direction.

[m0t0g0th]

i thought of this before, but didn't pipe up- it's more on splitting than the bridge.. but the last times i used this was the stoppage up-to and the extremely slow back-up getting off of the bridge.

anywhoo- when splitting stopped or extremely slow traffic i kick on the emergency blinkers.  cars see them and i feel i get a bit more cooperative lane space.  i wouldn't do this in my usual split up to the front of a normal traffic light, but for a good long duration highway split it's a pretty good trick.

and *i* don't think i'm impersonating an officer.  nope.  not one bit.

[duqette]

i thought of this before, but didn't pipe up- it's more on splitting than the bridge.. but the last times i used this was the stoppage up-to and the extremely slow back-up getting off of the bridge.

anywhoo- when splitting stopped or extremely slow traffic i kick on the emergency blinkers.  cars see them and i feel i get a bit more cooperative lane space.  i wouldn't do this in my usual split up to the front of a normal traffic light, but for a good long duration highway split it's a pretty good trick.

and *i* don't think i'm impersonating an officer.  nope.  not one bit.

It's a good idea, if I had such a thing.... I keep my high beam on and just assume that no one in a car is checking their mirrors in stop and go traffic. I'm pretty slow, but I figure the goal is to arrive at my destination, without any detours through SF General. I tried that once, and it actually took longer!

Although, those firemen and EMTs sure are cute....