Bike Riding

It would be great if STX were more bike friendly. Except for certain difficult climbs, it is not too steep, however the roads are narrow and full of potholes. The drivers for the most part are not 'bike aware', so do not seem to look for riders. There is a group of serious road bikers here, so if that is for you then you might want to bring your bikes. If you are a sometime. ride in the country biker, you might not enjoy it or be as safe.

St Croix could become a casual bikers paradise. Wouldn't it be great if you could get around on your short trips on a bicycle? I don't think that will ever happen.

Thanks!!!! Bikes will not make the trip!

It has little to do with drivers not being bike aware but rather the fact that the roads are windy, curvy and very narrow. How is one suppose to prepare for a bicyclist when they can't see them around a blind curve? It's impossible. If you ride a bike here you're playing the lottery with your life. The roads here are simply not wide enough for bikes and that has nothing to do with drivers.

It has little to do with drivers not being bike aware but rather the fact that the roads are windy, curvy and very narrow. How is one suppose to prepare for a bicyclist when they can't see them around a blind curve? It's impossible. If you ride a bike here you're playing the lottery with your life. The roads here are simply not wide enough for bikes and that has nothing to do with drivers.

I disagree with your comments. We both agree that the roads are not bike friendly. The problem with drivers is that some of them drive full out 'like they own the road'. This discussion takes place in communities all over the world. On one side are the "roads are for cars" people and on the other the 'share the road' people. I doubt there will ever be a meeting of the minds. Bike riders do well in Europe and other islands as well as several communities in the states. It is all about acknowledging that riding a bike is a good thing, healthy for the rider and the planet. Ingrained attitudes will prevent that from happening here. I know many people, myself included, who keep an eye out for bike riders and try to help protect them.

You might wonder on an island where most of the windy roads have a speed limit of 25mph or less why we have this problem.

I would absolutely love it if our roads were wider. I would be over the moon if we had sidewalks on most of the major roads. But we do not. I'm not against bikers at all. Never had a problem with them stateside. I've always been a walker/runner and stateside I always did it outside. I don't do it here though because I like living.

I've live in bike friendly states and cities and even there it's always a risk but a very reasonable one, when you have things like bike lanes or wide roads that don't have blind curve after blind curve. And in an emergency a biker can always use a sidewalk.

Even going 25 miles a hour, if I come around a blind curve and hit you, there's a very good chance you will be dead. So bikers are not only risking their lives but mine. I don't see how that's fair.

Bikers have the right to ride their bikes here, I'm not saying they don't. I'm saying it's not smart. And I would suggest get a good life insurance policy for your family. I'm also saying it's not the drivers fault. I almost never see reckless driving here. People usually drive slow and are courteous at least on stx. You hear people on this message board stay that again and again. In most areas it's unreasonable to expect people to drive 25. The police don't.

Usually people are driving 30 to 45. It's completely unrealistic do expect everyone to slow down. So again I question biker's reasoning skills. They have the right to do it but it is no small risk. But survival of the fittest and all that.

The problem is bikers thinking that they own the road.

Many times I have come around a corner to see bikers riding next to each other (either racing or talking). they take up the whole lane to where cars have to be hitting brush on the opposite side of the road to give ample room.

There used to be ten or more idiots who would all ride together on South Shore taking up the whole road like this. They used to have a car or truck following them causing a huge line up of cars behind them. Makes you want to keep a handful of tacks in your car.

Ride tandem!!

Hasn't there been a bike trail approved along the south shore?
http://www.greenways.com/stcroix.html

If you're staying long term, I'd bring 'em if you enjoy bike riding.

Hasn't there been a bike trail approved along the south shore?
http://www.greenways.com/stcroix.html

If you're staying long term, I'd bring 'em if you enjoy bike riding.

If this actually happens, I will kiss the pavement when I go for a run on it! (tu)

Bring your bikes if you want to ride. You just have to figure out what works for you. No attitude against bikers! I have never seen that. The roads here are just small. We hardly have sidewalks. It is a risk to walk to road in itself.