[BHV] maps of favorite routes

Tue Sep 25 10:52:43 EDT 2007

Kent,

I think that one thing the responses on the BHV listserve show is  
that there are substantial web resources out there right now.

It may be that the quickest way to solving the immediate problem is  
to post pages that link to these resources.  One important source of  
high quality maps is the county highway department.  With a good set  
of county maps, it's not terribly difficult to develop good bike  
routes around here.  NYSDOT and PA's counterpart provide county maps,  
or addresses for securing county maps.  5 minutes of intelligent  
googling will get you to the sites.  Cost for the maps is quite  
reasonable.

In the meantime that leaves the our 3-county regional cycling map  
question begging.

Our initial draft maps are, last I knew, in Jay's possession.  They  
are enlarged copies of the Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler county  
highway maps, with our markings on them.  He was kind enough to  
provide me copies, which I have referred to frequently in developing  
new routes or variations on old ones.

As I recall our discussion, it was pretty much agreed that maps were  
a good way to go, and that actually we have a pretty good model in  
the rare 1970's bike NY route map of the entire central NY finger  
lakes region.  Jay has what is probably the only extant original.   I  
have a copy in my office, which I'll be glad to show you.  That map  
demonstrates how to provide the information you're suggesting, plus  
more, in a compact, transportable, and easily digestible form.  The  
issue we left a little up in the air was the size and detail of the  
map.  There are always trade-offs between transportability and ease  
of use and information content.

The advantage of the paper map is that it is transportable--riders  
can take the maps with them--so variations are easily developed by  
riders en route.  Another is that, whatever the advantages of the  
web, a large sheet of paper can hold more information in a far more  
usable and accessible form than any number of screen views.   For  
instance, a high quality map that shows more than just the route, but  
also highways and roads of the surrounding region, allows cyclists to  
find their way around an obstruction, such as when a road is blocked  
by storm damage or bridge construction (fairly frequent occurrences  
around here).   Since the map is a tool for active route design, as  
well as a guide to routes designed by the mapmaker(s), it allows  
riders to develop routes according to their own preferences as far as  
length, grade, scenery, restaurants and wineries, etc.

I also recall that part of our concern as we discussed the map  
project was to see how we could make use of the NYSDOT's surveys and  
digital information systems in putting the map together.  One issue  
that we wanted to take into consideration as we approach a map-making  
goal is the fact that map technology is in a huge growth phase right  
now, and we want to push the project when we have a good handle on  
what is practically and economically achievable.

In the meantime an important source of high quality maps are the  
county highway departments.  With a good set of county maps,  it's  
not terribly difficult to develop good bike routes around here; and  
developing routes in the comfort of your living room and then  
checking them by car is not a bad winter pastime.  NYSDOT and PA's  
counterpart provide county maps,  or addresses for securing county  
maps.  5 minutes of intelligent googling will get you to the sites.   
Cost for the maps is quite reasonable.

Bill

On Sep 25, 2007, at 8:49 AM, Kent Goben wrote:

Bill,
Do you have any idea where some of those maps are that were done in the
past?
We discussed going to the internet initially instead of doing the hard
copies because:
1.  MOre people go to the internet now days than in the past to find
information.  Having these maps on the internet (with a hit counter)  
will
probably be a more efficient way for people to find them.
2.  If we set it up in a way that you can see each route seperately, and
combined, on the internet, we may be able to put a much larger  
variety of
routes than just on paper.
3.  I personally would like to see where you can pull up each route
individually and get the route, elevation, and other information  
about the
route than we could probably put onto the paper.
4.  This will be a goal for the 2007-2008 committee.
5.  Our goal is to also link to a larger variety of web sites  
(chamber of
commerce, tourism groups, bed and breakfast groups, etc.) and end up
promoting to them that we could create the maps (someway in  
contradiction
to what I just said) in a hard copy form or a variety of hard copy forms
(maps for hiking, map for cross country skiing, map for cycling,  
etc.) and
have them provide the funding to do it.

We should also have the expertise of Mike at ECTC to create the
maps/website to some extent, but would also probably need some volunteer
web casters to extend this.
This may not be perfect, but at the least it is a step in the right
direction to get it started.
It would be great if we already have some of the maps that our riders
already have, and the maps that your committee already has developed.
.

To: "Big Horn Velo Cycling Club, Elmira, NY" <bhv at icycle.org>
From: William Lodico <wlodico at stny.rr.com>
Sent by: bhv-bounces at icycle.org
Date: 09/24/2007 08:09PM
Subject: Re: [BHV] maps of favorite routes

Kent,

At BACPAC*'S predecessor, there was talk of putting together maps for
the Schuyler, Chemung, Steuben a couple of years ago.  A fairly
large, well informed group of us spent several hours   marking up
some large county maps, and we actually got a pretty fair start on
the project although there was clearly quite a lot more work to do.

When we saw the amount of volunteer work that was going to be
involved, we asked for a commitment from government transportation
liaisons that there would be money and other resources available so
that we could publish a high quality map.  I believe that I broached
the topic at least once during last year's BACPAC meetings.  Although
there was assurance that that sort of commitment could be obtained,
to the best of my knowledge it has not yet been obtained.

I frankly think we get should strive to get that commitment, not just
in money but in expertise with assurances that what we will wind up
with will be worth the effort, before committing the necessary
volunteer time and effort toward the worthy goal you suggest.

Bill

*for those wondering, BACPAC is our acronym for the Chemung/Schuyler/
Steuben Bicycle Advisory Committee/Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  If
you are interested in joining Kent and me as BHV representatives on
this committee, let me know.

On Sep 24, 2007, at 9:20 AM, Kent Goben wrote:

I was at the BACPAC meeting last Friday.  It was a very interesting
meeting.  One of the points that was made is that there does not seem
to be
a way to find some of the best bicycle routes (road and trail, hiking,
etc.) for visitors, new riders, someone wanting to try something
new.  One
person said that he frequently took his bike up to Rochester because
he had
maps on where to ride.  His comment was that there goes the money that I
could be spending in the Southern Tier instead.
So, to make a long story short, we started a new sub committee.  We are
going to try and develop a web page that will list routes,
elevations, etc.
for the average and higher rider.
So, those of you that have the computers that would be able to send
us some
of the maps in our area, this would be a start.  We have a meeting
scheduled for October 19 to start organizing ideas.
If there is anyone else that would like to be a part of this group, we
would surely appreciate the expertise.Kent

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