Louisiana didn't seem to have the best state-funded infrastructure because their roads, even those near more affluent cities, were in need of much repair. This could have also been a result of annual hurricane and tropical storm problems.
Alternatively and not entirely logically, the roads that we took in Oklahoma looked practically new. Maybe tornadoes have destroyed roadways and necessitated their replacement? Or maybe Oklahoma is just better organized to handle road maintenance issues.
Though they were few and far between, the drivers in New Mexico were fantastic. They gave bicyclists an excess of 3 feet when passing, they waved at the members of our group and they were mindful of our safety.
Here in California, the roadways are much larger with generally well-maintained shoulders. This is likely because there are fewer roadways bridging the gaps between two cities but these less-frequent roadways get used more often.
Additionally, these roadways are not only more heavily travelled, but the sheer number of semi-trucks that pass our SUS14 team each day here in Cali likely requires that the highways and roads be more durable and well-maintained. Regarding these semi-trucks, the presence of transport vehicles is a sign of this state's massive industry.
In Texas you could smell the livestock vehicles before we even saw them, a pattern that shouldn't come as a shock considering Texas's affinity for cattle and meat production.
My teammate who has lived in California, Katie, assures me that as we make our way closer and closer to the west coast, we will likely see an increasing number of "green" vehicles because of the tax incentives and the overall social atmosphere surrounding environmental conscientiousness.
All in all, Bike & Build teaches participants a lot but it's nuances of the program like these that riders don't anticipate learning.
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