Topics

1

Routes / Google's bicycle directions

« on: July 25, 2012, 03:02:34 pm »

I am wondering if the bicycle directions given by Google maps use the ACA designated bicycle routes.  I have noticed that none of the roads given as bicycle directions include the bike route designation as one of their names so I wonder if Google even knows these roads are designated as bike routes.

2

General Discussion / Method for Bond-Funding Bike Roads

« on: March 14, 2012, 02:13:34 pm »

The problem with funding bike roads seems to be that no one wants to build them purely for the goodness of doing so, which is the best reason imo.  However, it seems like municipal bonds could be used to get funding if there was some source of revenue planned to repay the bond.  Could it be organized so that each, say, 20-mile stretch of bike road along a planned route could be funded by businesses that would start up as "rest stops" at the end of the 20 miles?  So, for example, if you were a business investor who wanted to set up a restaurant, truck-stop type facility, campground, etc., you could agree to a certain level of sales-tax until the bonds for the road-work had been paid off.  That way, each 20-mile stretch could be planned and funded in itself and there would be travel-oriented facilities along the route.  I think 20 miles is a distance that is short enough to promote traveling with children, who are the main people in need of separated bike roads anyway.  What do you think?  Would people be willing to invest in such bonds and businesses along the routes?  Or aren't there enough families with children willing to travel in this way to make it pay off?

3

General Discussion / Affordable/free camping idea

« on: March 05, 2012, 04:21:30 pm »

Warmshowers.com is a great idea but it has the drawback of having to trust strangers.  What if instead of lawn-sharing, there was a non-profit corporation that would buy up small parcels of land for use as cyclist camping.  The parcels could be relatively small because no (car) parking would be needed, only bathrooms and showers.  Users could clean and maintain the facilities as a means of funding their membership.  Granted, there are a lot of affordable campgrounds around but how many are geared exclusively to cyclists who just need a place to sleep before leaving early in the morning?  Plenty of motels cater to auto travel in this way.  Walmart and other businesses allow RVs to park for free overnight.  Shouldn't there be something comparable for bicycle travel to make longer trips affordable?

4

General Discussion / overnighting en route

« on: August 20, 2011, 07:27:02 pm »

I have been trying to think of convenient and affordable ways to do weekend cycling trips but the best I can come up with is to find campgrounds and bring a pup tent to sleep in.  Has anyone ever heard of initiatives to allow free camping along bike routes or build lean-to structures, such as those found on the appalachian trail and elsewhere?