Why is bicycling on the highway illegal?

It is because it is a cultural thing. We have cycle lanes for bikes in New Zealand yet we can't take our bikes on the highway. If they can put cycle lanes on the roads around the city of Christchurch, where I live, then they can paint a white line on the side of the highway for cyclists. I save lots of money cycling everywhere in the cycle lane, and save lots of money in fuel costs. I have two carriers and boxes that I put all my groceries and other shopping in. You'd think they'd be encouraging cyclists instead of people using their cars on the road. I travel the same speed as a car through the city. In some cases I'm faster as I don't have to queue up behind lots of other slow drivers, as only cycles are permitted in the cycle lanes.
There is no such thing as getting stuck in a traffic jam in a cycle lane because only cycles are allowd in it.
 
Bicycles can't go as fast as vehicles on most highways do, so they would disrupt the traffic flow. People would be slowing down or trying to change lanes to avoid them which could cause an accident.
 
how are bicycles like cars? they don't have engines!
can you see how this poses a problem?? Cars can go 60, 70, 80+ mph and a bike goes maybe 15 to 25 depending how hard you try. And to think, what happens if a car accidentally hits the bicyclist at that speed? Obviously they'll die, or at least be seriously injured.

Safety! That's why it's illegal.
 
Bicycles are not like cars. They aren't moving as fast. Riding a bike on a freeway would be dangerous both for drivers and for the bicyclists. Bicyclists would obstruct the free flow of traffic. Motorists on the freeway would be forced to either commit vehicular homicide or swerve out of their way which might lead to their own death or serious injury.
 
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