That's what's helpful, some specific suggestions -- even better if they come with link to a map (like on Google Maps)
Originally Posted by
cc_rider
Even though it's on the NJ bike map, avoid Franklin Ave.
When I look at the "Map Key" for the njbikemap.com maps, it doesn't look like the author intends that every road shown on the map is recommended for bicycling. Like the explanation for
purple roads says, "They will have lots of driveways and traffic." Doesn't sound like a recommendation to me.
Then the description of
purple says, "Thicker lines denote busier roads". The problem is that the key doesn't show what "thicker" versus "thinner" lines
look like. Near as I can tell the purple lines shown in the Map Key are the
thicker ones. Looking on the map for my home area, the thinner purple lines are
very thin, nothing like the lines shown in the Map Key. And I agree with the labeling: The purple roads with the very thin lines in my home area are ones that I use myself and would recommend to other riders with sound traffic-handling skills and judgment. The roads with the "normal" thicker width purple lines are mostly ones that I try to avoid.
There are only 5 of those "thinner" purple roads (plus one "thinner" green road) shown on the njbikemap.com map for my home area -- versus like 100 normal ("lots of traffic") purple roads.
But the reality of my own riding is that I know hundreds of low-traffic roads and streets in my home area. And I've linked sets of them together into loops which are my "local favorite" routes. But they're not within the intended scope of the state-wide njbikemap.com.
Anyway this whole question of which roads are low-traffic (or which roads are "good bicycling roads") is very tricky. So I can only express sympathy and admiration for the njbikemap.com author for even attempting to publicize anything like that.
Ken