[Talk-us] Removing US Bicycle Route tags

[Richard Welty]

On 6/7/13 9:59 AM, Greg Troxel wrote:
>
> Given that, I think it's only really useful to discuss whether any
> specific route merits a proposed tag, with the facts of that situation.
>
we probably want to see this as a life cycle issue relating to any
sort of highway/route situation, not just these cycle routes, and
consider what should/can trigger mapping.

proposals start out vaguely. at some point, they become concrete
enough, e.g. there are actual maps from an official body saying
where the proposal runs. at this point, it's ok to map a proposed
route, but there are things to consider:

1) concrete proposals can be altered over time

2) even very concrete proposals can be altered in response
to new issues

3) proposals may die without being built

here is a non-bicycle route example. I 687 was proposed
in the Albany NY area in the 50s and 60s. the following link
shows official maps from 1957 and 1967. neither was built;
the flurry of really bad highway proposals for the area ended
in the 1970s, and worst ones were never built. the only thing
built for i 687 was the ramp on i 90 which feeds into an
office park today:

http://www.capitalhighways.8m.com/highways/687i/

additionally, routes can be fluid as anyone who has been
doing this for a while should know; highway designations
get shifted to different roads more often than we tend
to think about.

so

1) proposals should not be mapped until they achieve
a real measure of concreteness

2) we need to be aware that proposals can shapeshift
even after this point

3) once the route is official rather than longer proposed,
it can still be moved if the authorities so desire

4) we need to recognize that proposals and even sometimes
official routes can go away.

this is where i'm confused by the discussion, because i think
Kerry is arguing that the vague proposals where there is only
a wide corridor should be removed, and i think that's a
sound request. the ones that are more concrete can probably
stay.

richard