Bike Route Team,
After riding most of the bike route, I must say that for an experienced vehicular cyclist that isn't intimidated by motor traffic or averse to climbing hills or riding over gravel, it is quite a pleasant adventure with segments ranging from 5-lane traffic such as the Mileground to delightful little secret passageways such as the link connecting Lawnview Dr. with Congress Av.
For other cyclists, I think it is imperative that we indicate high traffic speed or volume, steep hills and gravel. If we don't, the first novice that ventures from the rail trail up Collins Ferry will trash the map and tell all his or her friends and our work will be for naught.
Some suggestions: red line: heavy motor traffic and/or high speed motor traffic chevrons pointing up steep hills: 1 chevron: 5-10% grade; 2 chevrons: 10-15% grade; 3 chevrons: >15% grade broken line: gravel I'm practically ignorant of GIS technology so I must ask you if we can do that and how.
I've put in DropBox and shared with you a scan of the map marked up from our ride and subsequent rides. It's a bit hard to read so following, I explain the marks. The explanations proceed from the top of the map to the bottom. Collins Ferry from rail trail to near the top of the hill: indicate gravel, e.g. broken line. (Maybe some chevrons.) Riddle, Bishop, Winona coming from West Run: indicate steep hills, 3 chevrons. (I didn't ride up St. Clair Hill Rd. from West Run to Bakers Ridge but I think 3 chevrons pointing from West Run up to Bakers Ridge would be appropriate.) Remove the segment of Winona from Hickory to Charles. Remove Charles to Perry. Add Hickory from Winona to Perry. Add Perry to Charles and keep Charles to RIddle. From Pineview Dr. add Ellen Ln., Heritage Point, Maple Dr., Research Park Rd. to WV 705. Rt. 705 from Pineview to Willowdale: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. Add Aspen between Collins Ferry Rd. and Eastern Av. Stafford from Industrial Av. to Congress Av.: indicate steep hill, 3 chevrons. Boyers Av., Mon Blvd., Star City Bridge, Rt. 19 to Osage turnoff: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. University Av. from Koontz to Evansdale Dr.: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. Remove Medical Center Drive from University Av. to Elmer Prince Dr. Add crosswalk from Elmer Prince Dr. to parking lot by new Erikson Alumni Center, through parking lot to Oakland St. extension that goes under the PRT and into the parking lot. Add Oakland St. from Country Club Dr. to Riverview Dr. Add Country Club Dr. from Oakland St. to Law School Dr. Add Law School Dr. Add Riverview Dr. Add Evansdale Dr. Mileground Rd. from Charles Av. to Airport Blvd.: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. Beechurst Av. / Mon Blvd. from 6th St. to Evansdale Dr. Remove segment of University Av. (Stadium loop) from Falling Run Rd. to Stewart St. Remove segment of Stewart St. from University Av. to Yoke St. Add Falling Run Rd. from University Av. to Yoke St. Add Yoke St. In Westover, Fairmont Rd. (Rt. 19) from Savannah St. to Mountain Line station: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. Fairmont Rd. (Rt. 19) from Dents Run Blvd. to Lawless Rd.: indicate high traffic volume and speed, e.g. red line. Deckers Creek Trail from Valley Crossing to Forest Av.: indicate gravel, e.g. broken line and indicate steep slope, 2 chevrons? (I didn't measure grade but it's pretty steep at both ends. Anybody know the grade?) School Bus Dr.: indicate gravel, e.g. broken line. (I think the "Learning Trail" above this "road" is better for a road bike than the road and would recommend replacing School Bus Dr. with the trail. If we agreed to do that, I'd also propose to replace VoTech Dr. with East Parkway Rd. and Hite St. up to the place where the nice smooth relatively gently sloped trail intersects Hite. I can't see that on the map.)
These are just suggested changes. I would like to discuss whether they are feasible and reach consensus on them before anybody does a lot of work to implement them. Please let me know what you think.
Frank