[Talk-us] Removing US Bicycle Route tags

[stevea]

I just wanted to add that the CycleNet proposal I mentioned in my 
previous post is simply a numbering protocol added to ALREADY 
EXISTING (Class I, II and III) bicycle infrastructure.  All of the 
"proposed routes" are actual bicycle infrastructure "out there 
today."  What is being proposed is simply the set of numbers to be 
used to identify the routes (in a one-to-one correspondence with 
existing bicycle infrastructure), and eventually (most likely, given 
things like funding) displayed on the MUTCD-standard sign for that 
purpose.

(In the USA, there are three bicycle number signs approved by the 
MUTCD -- our signage standards -- SG45 is used in California for 
local bike routes, M1-8 is used for state routes, and M1-9 is used 
for USBR routes).

It is cool that this little countywide (an lcn, l being for "local") 
system for bike routes has familiar "rules:"

Even routes are primarily east-west,
Odd routes are primarily north-south,
Major/significant routes end in 0 and 5,
Three-digit routes XYZ are based off of route YZ with X a primary 
direction (odd, N-S; even, E-W).
Suffixes can be appended to numbers:
M = Mountain Bike Trails (no pavement), L = Loop routes, P = 
Pedestrian/walk bike (dismount), Z = planned, not yet implemented or 
actual infrastructure, N, S, E, W are direction-restricted traffic 
segments, A, B, C, D...= Alternate or segmented routes.

Take a look!  http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=37&layers=C&lon=-122&zoom=12

SteveA
California