Re: Urban Crossings

I ride mainly in Europe.  If there is a train line easily accessible
and not too far off my route, I will take that.  Otherwise I will find
a smaller road leading into the city.  If I see bike path signs that
look reasonable, I will follow them 27 well.

2011/2/11, dougP <[email protected]>:
> The answer depends on the size / scope / layout / location of interesting
> places in an urban area, and the ease of navigating options.  A useful tool
> is to quiz locals in groups such as this when making travel plans.
>
> I live in southern California and my recommendation is to catch the train
> somewhere in Ventura County and start riding again in Orange County.  If
> your travel plans call for stops in LA, the station is right downtown.
>
> Many cyclists want to ride every mile possible & stick to Highway 1 down the
> coast.  It gets pretty exciting around Santa Monica & continues like that
> for most of a days ride.  Some think it's a fun challenge & not to be
> missed.  Others are terrified by the traffic.
>
> dougP
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: touring-bounces+dougpnirv=cox.net-Wizm5X4GRk5g9hUCZPvPmw@public.gmane.org
> [mailto:touring-bounces+dougpnirv=cox.net-Wizm5X4GRk5g9hUCZPvPmw@public.gmane.org] On Behalf Of Steve
> Mohr
> Sent: Friday, February 11, 2011 7:11 AM
> To: Jon Meinecke; touring
> Subject: Re: Urban Crossings
>
> Excellent point Jon. I live just outside Washington, DC right in the heavily
>
> traveled metropolis. We had a cycle visitor thru warmshowers who didn't ask
> directions and road straight thru town. I'm amazed he made it much less felt
>
> comfortable. We have amazing cycling routes AND paths but he just didn't
> ask. We
> have a nice park, Rock Creek park, that closes most roads to motor vehicle
> traffic on the weekends. The park has tentacles thru a large portion of the
> city. Then we have hundreds of miles of trails and paths for the crosstown
> rider
> to avoid city traffic and arteries. Personally I ride the city arteries
> without
> hesitation, but enjoy the byways as well. In my city which includes many
> parts
> of Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland. We also have the beautiful trail that
> runs
> from Northern Virginia, thru DC, Maryland all the way to Pittsburg. There's
> another beautiful rail to trail from Baltimore to York, PA. But if I'm not
> asked
> it can be extremely difficult.
>
>
> Each of us has our style and experience/comfort level. I'm very much an
> urban
> cyclist. When I go to NYC I would expect to ride thru. It's hard to judge
> another cyclists abilities and capacities/interests in order to help them. I
>
> don't know their standards or experiences. What may seem like "a stroll in
> the
> park" to me may be a nightmarish heavily traveled highway to another. I
> don't
> keep statistics on hills either, so it's hard to tell someone how many feet
> of
> climbing there are without visiting some website. Someone from Florida may
> say
> my route is very hilly. Someone from Colorado may say it's like a pancake.
>
> I would probably avoid an urban route if I wasn't going to enjoy the fruits
> of
> that journey. I would have to have people or museums to visit or music to
> hear
> to make enduring the city traffic worthwhile. Otherwise I would skirt the
> urban
> area. It would be a significant decision.
>
> Steve
> http://www.mohrnet.com/commute.htm
> http://www.mohrnet.com/bikeIndex.htm
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jon Meinecke <[email protected]>
> To: touring <[email protected]>
> Sent: Fri, February 11, 2011 8:05:43 AM
> Subject: Urban Crossings
>
> As a counterpoint to the bike paths/lanes/tracks are safer-
> or-not threads, perhaps there is some interesting and useful
> group experience with "urban crossings".
>
> How do people deal with crossing through medium to to
> large to very large urban areas on long distance tours?
>
> Avoid them?
> Skirt them?
> Just follow the main route?
> Avoid the main route?
> Call a cab?
>
> I read a trip journal of a cross-country cyclist who rode
> through my not large, but not small city.  He commented
> on the traffic patterns and the comfort-level of the route
> he took in not entirely complementary terms.
>
> His route was basically the main drag and most direct
> route through town.  Though not unsafe,  it was not a
> route that many local cyclists would recommend.  And
> alternatives, not as direct, but lower traffic could be
> been derived from simple city street maps.  Even better,
> more scenic and bike friendly routes could have been
> used, but only with local cyclist input...
>
> Even smaller cities can pose similar obstacles to
> crossing.  The main drag coming into Lawton, OK
> from the east loses it's shoulder and gains curbs and
> heavy city traffic.  I rode well 'out of my way' just to
> get off that street as soon as I could.
>
> Major cities can pose even larger challenges.
>
> What is other people's experience?  Do you plan
> urban routes, or just wing it?
>
> Jon
> _______________________________________________
> Touring mailing list
> [email protected]
> Browse and search the archives: http://search.bikelist.org
> Unsubscribe or list settings:
> http://www.phred.org/mailman/options/touring
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Touring mailing list
> [email protected]
> Browse and search the archives: http://search.bikelist.org
> Unsubscribe or list settings:
> http://www.phred.org/mailman/options/touring
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Touring mailing list
> [email protected]
> Browse and search the archives: http://search.bikelist.org
> Unsubscribe or list settings:
> http://www.phred.org/mailman/options/touring
>

-- 
Gesendet von meinem Mobilgerät