Introducing the Arlington County Bicycle Comfort Level Map

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 123178 wrote:

Similar to KLizzotte, my suggestion was to outline the currently white roads in blue, so they’ll stick out more. At the very least, the legend should make clear that all/most of the white roads are comfortable/easy/blue

Is there an issue because white routes have not actually been checked for bike friendliness by county engineers? I thought that was generally an issue for unmarked local streets on govt bike maps. We all know they are generally the safest place to bike, but can people be officially told that if no one has actually checked it?

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 123171 wrote:

Probably not. As you suspected, the map would be way too cluttered, and the white lines are intended to be “easy” but don’t need to be called out since they aren’t important connections. If you identify white lines that you think should go blue let us know and we’ll take a look.

I didn’t realize the white roads were considered “easy”; I just thought that they hadn’t been evaluated yet since the map’s legend doesn’t mention the white roads. Please amend the legend for the next printing since that is important!

[Tim Kelley]

@scoot 123179 wrote:

I think they stand out because they’re long, direct, and continuous. Not really because of the color scheme.

The fact is that one usually has to use circuitous routes and add mileage to find comfortable routes for utility cycling. Which illustrates just how far we still need to go before we have a transportation network that is truly accommodating to people who would like to get around by bicycle.

Exactly.

[Tim Kelley]

@lordofthemark 123180 wrote:

Is there an issue because white routes have not actually been checked for bike friendliness by county engineers? I thought that was generally an issue for unmarked local streets on govt bike maps. We all know they are generally the safest place to bike, but can people be officially told that if no one has actually checked it?

I know what you mean–DC uses the term “Local Street (not evaluated)” but no, that’s not an issue for this map. We can make it more clear in future revisions–white roads are quiet neighborhood streets but don’t make for important connections. (They only apply to the few people who live on that block)

[Anonymous]

@Tim Kelley 123163 wrote:

And what about all the red-green color blind folks?

Maybe the not comfortable routes could be black or gray instead of red? That would make all the “comfortable and useful” biking routes stand out in color, and the less useful (white neighborhood streets) or not comfortable to use (black busy roads) in black and white.

[dasgeh]

@scoot 123179 wrote:

I think they stand out because they’re long, direct, and continuous. Not really because of the color scheme.

The fact is that one usually has to use circuitous routes and add mileage to find comfortable routes for utility cycling. Which illustrates just how far we still need to go before we have a transportation network that is truly accommodating to people who would like to get around by bicycle.

But I-66 is long, direct and continuous, and doesn’t stand out. It is the color scheme. I think something between gray (to be used for areas cyclists can’t use – rivers, property, I-66, etc) and red would be best.

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 123189 wrote:

white roads are quiet neighborhood streets but don’t make for important connections. (They only apply to the few people who live on that block)

I wouldn’t go that far. They are often important connections for people who don’t live right there. They’re just not the most used.

For example, I see the lots of folks bike right in front of our house, which is white on the map. Many do it every day. They don’t live near us. But our street isn’t used enough to be made blue.

[Tim Kelley]

@dasgeh 123194 wrote:

But our street isn’t used enough to be made blue.

So you get my point.

[scoot]

@dasgeh 123193 wrote:

But I-66 is long, direct and continuous, and doesn’t stand out. It is the color scheme. I think something between gray (to be used for areas cyclists can’t use – rivers, property, I-66, etc) and red would be best.

True. For fully saturated colors I don’t think the hue matters much. But you could take the same hue and reduce the saturation (i.e. dilute it by mixing with gray). You’ll want to retain enough of the color so that these routes are still visible within the network and are distinguishable from the freeways where bicycling is illegal.

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 123195 wrote:

So you get my point.

Totally, just making sure “unimportant” doesn’t end up on any map

@scoot 123197 wrote:

True. For fully saturated colors I don’t think the hue matters much. But you could take the same hue and reduce the saturation (i.e. dilute it by mixing with gray). You’ll want to retain enough of the color so that these routes are still visible within the network and are distinguishable from the freeways where bicycling is illegal.

Exactly. I’m hoping that red/gray achieves what I’ve been envisioning. I took 10 minutes to try to figure out how to change colors through pixlr, but without success. I did realize that red/gray ends up looking like grayish pink, but I figure that’ll make Dirt proud.

[KLizotte]

Because I got my paper map over the weekend (wow, is it big!) I decided to go exploring unknown parts of Arlington while trying to remain on the blue routes as much as possible. Using RideWithGPS I plotted the route for my Garmin 800. Unfortunately I had to rely on its Google map feature to show me how to connect with N. Ohio from the W&OD (not clear from the map). I also used Google to show me the best roads when the blue routes disappeared. Wasn’t at all difficult but you can’t really plan a full route just from the map which may be a problem for complete newbies who are unaware of Google’s bike mapping feature. I was also unaware at the time that the white routes are considered easy/comfortable roads so was looking to avoid them just to see how the blue routes fared.

Overall, the blue routes were very easy to ride traffic wise though it should be noted that I was riding on a Sunday evening; I expect life may be a bit different during weekday rush hour. Some were hillier than I expected (not a problem on a roadbike but I wouldn’t want to do some of the hills on a Cabi). It did finally dawn on me that non-trail blue routes probably don’t have any convenience stores because they emphasize low volume auto roads. Keep that in mind when it is hot! Perhaps this should be noted on the map.

I did get lost at a few points but I blame my GPS which has a hard time navigating trails and user error (I was too busy looking at the neighborhoods). I expect to do a few more exploratory excursions like this with the help of the map. Good fun seeing new neighborhoods in AC but I’m rather bored of red brick everywhere!

P.S. I was able to get through Ft Myer at 8:00 PM without any difficulties using my federal ID. I’m pretty sure I could have just used my driver’s license; the guards seemed more interested in why I was riding there. They were professional and cool about my cutting through.

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9484&stc=1[/IMG]

[Tim Kelley]

@KLizotte 123214 wrote:

Unfortunately I had to rely on its Google map feature to show me how to connect with N. Ohio from the W&OD (not clear from the map).

I think adding in underpass/overpass symbols will make that a little more clear, (which we’ll likely do going forward) but it’s still such a large area to cover that certain details everywhere are difficult to cover.

Some were hillier than I expected (not a problem on a roadbike but I wouldn’t want to do some of the hills on a Cabi).

If you have some hills that need to be identified on the map please let us know. (And remember “comfort” is different than “difficult.” It’s comfortable to ride on a steep hill that has no cars on it, but it might be difficult at the same time.)

[dasgeh]

@KLizotte 123214 wrote:

P.S. I was able to get through Ft Myer at 8:00 PM without any difficulties using my federal ID. I’m pretty sure I could have just used by driver’s license; the guards seem more interested in why I was riding there. They were professional and cool about my cutting through.

The policy is supposed to be that those with federal IDs can get through any of the gates, whenever they’re open, for whatever reason. It’s just those without IDs who are screwed — either have to get an AIE or can only enter through the 2nd St Gate.

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 123222 wrote:

I think adding in underpass/overpass symbols will make that a little more clear, (which we’ll likely do going forward) but it’s still such a large area to cover that certain details everywhere are difficult to cover.

If you have some hills that need to be identified on the map please let us know. (And remember “comfort” is different than “difficult.” It’s comfortable to ride on a steep hill that has no cars on it, but it might be difficult at the same time.)

Regarding your first point, I think showing access points to the major trails is all that is needed so people can see what road they have to be on for access (I don’t have a good sense of how many “points” that would be though).

Thanks for the clarification on the second point. I wouldn’t change any of the blue routes I was on based on yesterday’s traffic. I may do it again tonight if I get out of work on time and see how weeknight traffic plays out.

[Tim Kelley]

@KLizotte 123227 wrote:

Regarding your first point, I think showing access points to the major trails is all that is needed so people can see what road they have to be on for access (I don’t have a good sense of how many “points” that would be though).

Right, in that instance showing that Ohio goes over the trail with an overpass symbol would make it more clear (like what is shown on the regular map).

Thanks for the clarification on the second point. I wouldn’t change any of the blue routes I was on based on yesterday’s traffic. I may do it again tonight if I get out of work on time and see how weeknight traffic plays out.

We wouldn’t be changing the route colors, but if there is a particularly steep hill we could add the “arrows point uphill” markings to certain sections to call them out.

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