[*BCM*] Opinions on move by MassBike

[Adam Rosi-Kessel]

Andy Rubel's bike maps do something like this, without the systematic
approach you describe. <http://www.bikemaps.com/>.  Recommended streets
for bicycling are highlighted on the maps.

At least for Boston and nearby suburbs, I suspect the approach you
describe would be overkill.  As anyone who has been around for a while
knows, there aren't too many ways to get from Point A to Point B, and
you're likely to end up on Mass. Ave or another major connecting road at
some point.  When the options are so limited, it becomes a much easier
task of picking the most bike friendly just based on an intuitive survey.

David Hammond wrote:
> At some point in this discussion I saw the idea mentioned of creating bike
> maps that rated streets for "bike-friendliness".  I think this is a great
> idea, but I suspect that a lot more is involved than just going out for a
> ride, taking notes, and then coming back and marking up a map.  To be truly
> useful and credible, a series of maps that rated cycling routes would, IMHO,
> have to be based on sound research into correlations between cycling
> accidents (type, severity), road conditions(posted speed, congestion,
> intersections, "pavement deficiencies", etc) and ambient conditions(weather,
> light levels, wind speed, visibility, etc.).  Next, a process for rating
> streets would have to be developed, documented and tested, and then a cadre
> of cyclist/street-raters would have to be trained in that process.  Finally,
> there's the aspect of support technology to consider.  The maps ought to be
> built, updated regularly and maintained using a high-end GIS package
> (probably NT or Unix-based), and the field technology would likely have to
> be built, or at least custom-integrated, rather than bought. Each rater in
> the field would need a cyclecomputer with USB or RS-232 output; a GPS with
> same, AND with programmable data-logging capability; perhaps a
> voice-activated digital recorder with USB or RS-232; and a rugged laptop
> with an extended battery pack, running custom software, to tie it all
> together.  This is because all the rater should be doing(for safety reasons)
> is pressing a button and speaking a very brief narrative, at pre-specified
> intervals of the survey ride.
>
> I guess I've just described somebody's master's thesis, or even doctoral
> dissertation.  The fact that MassBike  assumingly would be willing to
> provide and assist in training the raters, and maybe even help to raise some
> funding, in exchange for some sort of licensing rights to the final product,
> would greatly increase the chances of some Urban Transportation grad student
> and her/his prof. being able to pry the needed $100,000 to $200,000 out of
> some funding group.  Obviously, there is commercialization potential to
> this, which increases the chances even further.
>
> My interest in this is partly personal - lacking such a map on one of my
> forays into unknown territory a few years ago nearly cost me my life, and
> did cost me several hundred dollars in repairs to a very expensive custom
> bike.  But imagine the end-product: Cyclist route rating maps on a CD,
> obtained via subscription or by going to the nearest bike shop, that feature
> regular updates flagging such things as deterioration, construction, sudden
> increases in congestion, etc. That is a tool that, if well publicized, could
> entice 1000's of new cyclists out of their cars.
>
> Dave Hammond
> Voltaia Design Cooperative
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