ACA Discontinuing some Paper Maps

[staehpj1]

Some friends and I were originally planning to do the Pacific Coast this past summer (COVID casualty) and we found the weather and daylight hours info helpful for planning. Of course, this data is available elsewhere, but the ACA maps makes it more convenient.

Using the app I am sure some (most?  all?) of the same info is available.  Can someone who has used the app with the digital maps comment on what the app omits that the paper maps provide?

If you can operate in airplane mode to save battery and have all the info available it might not be as bad as i have imagined.  I'd still much prefer to have paper available though.

[jrobertson]

John and others here, thank you for your posts and concern about ACA transitioning a few of our routes to digital-only offerings. It was not a decision that we took lightly. We targeted the slowest selling routes in order to minimize the impact on our members and the cycling community at large. At this time we do not anticipate transitioning any of our other map sections to digital-only releases. We are experiencing hard times right now, and with over 100 printed maps to maintain, we simply had to focus our limited time and resources to make sure we could stay on top of the other maps that are more popular and need attention. We strive to provide the most accurate maps that we can, and we see reducing the shelf time of a given map printing as an important aspect of that goal. Creating print maps is a time intensive and expensive endeavor and unfortunately printing very small quantities is not cost effective. While offering a PDF version of a map seems like it would be the ideal compromise, getting to the point of having the PDF of the quality we all know and love requires all of the work that a paper map would, and at that point it would make sense to print the map after putting in that much effort. We also believe it would be a disservice to provide PDF's of the outdated maps as things have changed so much since they were printed that we can't stand behind that routing in perpetuity.

Finally, to your point about reroutes, we have already implemented route changes on the the digital-only sections that would have required a major overhaul on the paper maps, so this compromise allows us to provide the best routing while not incurring the additional time and overhead it would have taken to implement such a change for a route that is only utilized by a few cyclists every year.

This is new territory for Adventure Cycling. I can assure you that we are all print map lovers here in the department and will work to maintain them. We encourage your feedback, understanding, and patience as we navigate this change in our department.

[jrobertson]

Some friends and I were originally planning to do the Pacific Coast this past summer (COVID casualty) and we found the weather and daylight hours info helpful for planning. Of course, this data is available elsewhere, but the ACA maps makes it more convenient.

Using the app I am sure some (most?  all?) of the same info is available.  Can someone who has used the app with the digital maps comment on what the app omits that the paper maps provide?

If you can operate in airplane mode to save battery and have all the info available it might not be as bad as i have imagined.  I'd still much prefer to have paper available though.

The Bicycle Route Navigator (BRN) app does have an active weather and NOAA hazards layer which gives point forecasts and current weather for stations in close proximity to the route. The BRN app also has the critical riding conditions that appear on the paper maps. All of the same service information is also included within the BRN app sections. The main omissions are the narrative turn-by-turn directions and the field notes. We are working to include these features in future releases of the BRN app as time and resources allow. Turning off your cell radio (airplane mode) is a great way to conserve your battery while still allowing your GPS radio in your phone to function.

[John Nettles]

Finally, to your point about reroutes, we have already implemented route changes on the the digital-only sections that would have required a major overhaul on the paper maps, so this compromise allows us to provide the best routing while not incurring the additional time and overhead it would have taken to implement such a change for a route that is only utilized by a few cyclists every year.

So you are saying that every map you can getting rid of has had route changes?  If so, how is this any different than doing the addendum used before the map is reprinted?  Additionally, I thought that ACA starting to use GIS was going to make changes easily so this very excuse would not occur.

If there are changes, why not use the aforementioned "trusted users" to do the actual work for ACA?  Again, at least two highly experienced users have suggested and volunteered to do it but only crickets have responded. 

If there are NO changes, why not do a pdf? Surely, there is very little cost to convert to a pdf.  Or for that matter, what costs are there to keep a map?  As others have mentioned, if the cost exceeds the income, just increase the cost of the map to the user?

ACA over the past several years has steadily drifted away from its primary purpose, i.e. you were primarily a bicycle route creator.  All this other stuff that has been added onto over the years has eroded the true purpose of ACA. 

Sincerely, John

[jrobertson]

Finally, to your point about reroutes, we have already implemented route changes on the the digital-only sections that would have required a major overhaul on the paper maps, so this compromise allows us to provide the best routing while not incurring the additional time and overhead it would have taken to implement such a change for a route that is only utilized by a few cyclists every year.

So you are saying that every map you can getting rid of has had route changes?  If so, how is this any different than doing the addendum used before the map is reprinted?  Additionally, I thought that ACA starting to use GIS was going to make changes easily so this very excuse would not occur.

If there are changes, why not use the aforementioned "trusted users" to do the actual work for ACA?  Again, at least two highly experienced users have suggested and volunteered to do it but only crickets have responded. 

If there are NO changes, why not do a pdf? Surely, there is very little cost to convert to a pdf.  Or for that matter, what costs are there to keep a map?  As others have mentioned, if the cost exceeds the income, just increase the cost of the map to the user?

ACA over the past several years has steadily drifted away from its primary purpose, i.e. you were primarily a bicycle route creator.  All this other stuff that has been added onto over the years has eroded the true purpose of ACA. 

Sincerely, John

John, thank you for your comments. The map sections that we have converted to digital-only so far have had significant route changes. I'm not sure about all of them as they are due for updates in the coming year. The addenda we provide does work to provide updates to changes is services, closures, and very small route changes, but it becomes far more complicated when we actually update a map section. Often the geography itself is a limiting factor when we are updating a print map. A map sheet is 19x25" on many of our routes, map panels are 3.5x6" @ 1:250,000, and they all have to link together with overlaps. If a proposed reroute requires extra panels, we have to determine what can be cut to make room for those panels and how it will all be laid out on the sheet. Sometimes this just isn't possible without creating an additional map section all together. We are pretty good at squeezing things in and making reroutes work, but sometimes the geography itself makes it impossible without creating an entirely new map section. And unless there are 12-15 new panels, then it doesn't make sense to add an entire section.

Creating maps with GIS-driven data is definitely a productivity boost, but going from the data itself to the carefully crafted map panels that you expect on our maps is still a lot of time consuming work. I'm sure you've seen your share of poor maps that have been 'spit out' of a GIS, and how different they are from our route maps. Increasing the cost for the map sections could help, but we commonly get feedback that the current cost is a barrier for some people, so that is a balance we need to reach as well. The real limiting factor is actual staff time. X cartographers x 115 map sections x 52 weeks a year means that we can only address a certain number of map sections in a given year. At this time, those limited hours simply have to be focused on map sections used heavily that are in need of attention. I wish we could implement all of the fantastic routing suggestions that we receive from our members, and we surely do for many of them. I'm sorry that you didn't get feedback about your offer of volunteer work, please reach out to me directly at jrobertson at adventurecycling.org. I'd like to talk with you about that.

Your concern over the direction of ACA is well taken. We do believe that it is important to work comprehensively to improve cycling conditions and to inspire people from all walks of life to experience the transformational power of bicycle travel while still holding true to our commitment to provide maps and routing resources that drive those experiences. I can assure you that this change is limited in scope and we will continue to maintain our maps and routes, both paper and digital, going forward.

Sincerely,
Jamie Robertson

[TCS]

Maybe I should buy my paper maps now.

Perhaps too late.  The ones I checked are already showing 'Out of Stock'.  Gone gone gone.




The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there – Gandalf

[TCS]

"...our lowest-selling map sections. These are...the Underground Railroad...

This surprises me.  This has always appealed to me as a great shoulder season route, chasing the season change north in the spring or south in the fall; trans-USA dipping wheels in the Great Lakes and Gulf.  Of course, it was never marketed that way.

Anyhoo, I see the Section 4 map is sold out so the (paper) mapped route is epic no longer.

[John Nettles]

Jamie,
I get that ACA can only do so many updates per year and that certain routes are put on the back burner due to priorities.

I also totally understand how maps are limited to the paper sheet size.  I am amazed how you cram in so much info on such a small place.  I applaud you on that.

One way to reconcile needing more panels due to re-routes for the less popular maps (or any for that matter) is to offer the individual panels as a pdf instead of one big sheet.  Then it does matter if you zig and zag all over God's creation since you are not confined by paper.  Then ACA would not have to spend as  much resources re-creating the entire map sheet; people could print out the revised route maps; and you don't loose maps. 

My frustration is that since the routes are not updated other than the addendum, why not offer them as a pdf of the existing map.  For instance the ROUTE (not services) addendum for the Allegheny Mountains has not been updated since 2018; Utah Cliffs, since 2017; Pittsburgh Spur does appear to have any changes; etc.  If there have been re-routes, why not put them in the addendum?  My point is if the ROUTE has not changed, why not just reproduce the maps or offer them as a pdf until they actually are updated?  Services are never totally up to date due to openings, closings, name changes, etc.

I guess the biggest obstacle for me is to loose the written portions, i.e. the "cue sheet" and the services.  You can get a wide variety of "maps" as you say and the only real time you need them is when transiting a city and you have lots of turns.

Anyway, I have reached out to you as you requested regarding the volunteer work.

John

edit due to typos

[staehpj1]

ACA over the past several years has steadily drifted away from its primary purpose, i.e. you were primarily a bicycle route creator.  All this other stuff that has been added onto over the years has eroded the true purpose of ACA. 

I agree.  A majority of the things they offer are not of much interest to me.  I do not know if they are good strategically for them or not, but they do not make the ACA more valuable to me.

[aggie]

ACA is apparently facing the financial headwinds many non-profits are facing in these most unusual times.  I'm hoping the decision was made only after a thorough analysis of the financial pressures they are facing.  I don't contribute annually as I made a donation for life membership awhile ago and generally not able to contribute additional funds. 

I only use paper maps when I tour and only check google maps at the end of the day to clarify the next days ride if necessary (towns, food, hotels/shelter).  I don't have nor intend to buy a mount for my phone.  Even in airplane mode every time you illuminate the screen to check location it uses power.  Enough times and the battery is good for only 1 day or less. 

I too will miss the paper maps.  I bought the Pittsburg Spur (paper) earlier this year to plan a trip I wanted to do this year.  It definitely helped my planning.  I just can't look at a digital version on my phone or tablet and visualize; either just a days ride or the whole route.  I wish ACA had maps for the other parts of the ride I planned to do.  I bought maps other organization offered of parts of the route but they aren't nearly as easy to use and carry while riding.  They were also more expensive.  I do know in the future I won't be doing a route that only has digital maps so a number of loops have been dropped from my bucket list. 

[John Nettles]

I bought maps other organization offered of parts of the route but they aren't nearly as easy to use and carry while riding.  They were also more expensive.

Out of curiosity, who offers maps of the ACA routes?  I would think there is a possible copyright infringement.  However, maybe they do/will offer maps of the discontinued maps.
John

[aggie]

I should have been clearer.  These weren't maps of ACA routes.  They were for the Ohio to Erie trail, Erie Canal, and the Hudson Valley.  Wish ACA offered maps for these routes.  I also bought the book on the Mississippi River Route a bit earlier as I plan on doing this route in the future.   These maps/books are NOT convenient to use while riding.

[John Nettles]

I spoke for quite a while with Jamie today who was quite pleasant and understanding.  Basically he implied it boiled down to there is not enough bodies to keep all the maps up to date since two of the six cartographers have moved on in the past year so something has to give unfortunately so it was the least used routes.

After talking with Jamie, while it is no guarantee, he said ACA would consider doing pdfs of the maps that do not need to be rerouted and not too much work is involved; again due to lack of personnel.  He seemed receptive to that aspect but would not guarantee it.  Certain map sections that require extensive rerouting, like the route UGRR Detroit Alternate, would not be done as other projects are more critical.

I asked him if ACA could produce a PDF of the the written text (cue sheet) and Service Listings that are currently on the maps so that information can be used in case the app/phone/GPS fails for some reason.  While it is also not guaranteed, Jamie seem to be willing to consider that suggestion.  To me, that would greatly alleviate the loss of an actual map as I can always print a map or ask a local if I have the directions which I could not do if my phone dies, lost, etc.  To me, the lack of a cue sheet is the most important aspect the discontinuation of the maps. I personally use a GPS as a back up to the cue sheet so as long as a cue sheet exists, I would be OK with that.  I just have had issues when the electronics have failed me so am extremely reluctant to reply solely on electronics.

We also spoke about the "trusted volunteers".  The reason it has always been the policy to have the data was to always match the maps.  Doesn't quite make sense to me that if you can update part of the package (data) why not do it, sort of like an addendum does, but there it is.  I emphasized there are several highly experienced volunteers who would help if just asked.  Why they do not take advantage of free labor so they can concentrate on more important things is a mystery to me.

Regardless, Jamie said that hopefully within the next year they would be introducing a new version of the ACA bicycle navigator app (or possibly a stand alone website, not sure I completely understood) that will possibly allow for user input of services (hotel permanently closed); comments (really bad dogs here); etc.  That would be nice but of course does not replace a paper map.

In summary, Jamie understands the frustration everybody has but could not promise anything at this time due to budgetary constraints.  He is at least considering doing the PDFs for the discontinued routes that do not have major re-routes going on.

If I have misunderstood any of this, I would encourage Jamie to correct me.  In closing, I firmly believe ACA maps are incredible and thank the ACA staff for their work over the year.

Tailwinds, John

[John Nettles]

These weren't maps of ACA routes.

Thanks for clearing that up.  I "guess" it would have been nice to have a backup map maker though.   

Tailwinds, John

[CMajernik]

Everyone who is interested:
We have received some paper copies of the Underground Railroad Route (sections 1-5) from a vendor. There is a limited number. If you want to buy paper copies go to https://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/search-results/?keywords=underground+rail+road+map

We hadn't realized earlier that this vendor still had the current copies.

Sincerely,