In Georgia, our TV and print media recently reported on the development of a 161-mile bicycle route connecting Atlanta with Chattanooga.
Huh?
Most of the details in these reports come from a press release issued by the public relations office at Georgia's Department of Transportation. U.S. Bike Route 21 is the first of its kind in Georgia and will eventually connect with other bike routes going all the way to Cleveland, Ohio.
Most of the details in these reports come from a press release issued by the public relations office at Georgia's Department of Transportation. U.S. Bike Route 21 is the first of its kind in Georgia and will eventually connect with other bike routes going all the way to Cleveland, Ohio.
But GDOT's press release doesn't answer the most pertinent question, what is it? Clearly none of the "news" outlets could be bothered to ask.
I had to dig hard in order to find a map of the route. As a result, here's my description of USBR 21:
Start at Five Points in downtown Atlanta, ride north to Smyrna, get on the Silver Comet Trail, ride to Cedartown, make a right and head north on a bunch of two-lane country roads (except for a stretch of heavily-travelled Georgia Route 20 west of Rome), until you see the "Welcome to Tennessee" sign.
I hope this at least inspires some individuals to plan their two-wheeled adventures to Chattanooga, or Atlanta. Or Cleveland.
But don't wait for GDOT to install the route markers. Just follow the "See Rock City" signs.
Start at Five Points in downtown Atlanta, ride north to Smyrna, get on the Silver Comet Trail, ride to Cedartown, make a right and head north on a bunch of two-lane country roads (except for a stretch of heavily-travelled Georgia Route 20 west of Rome), until you see the "Welcome to Tennessee" sign.
Not a speck of new pavement was applied for the route. USBR 21's "development" was embodied by the labors of GDOT's Bicycle Coordinator, who presumably drew a bunch of lines on a map and then attended an embarrassing number of meetings and conference calls to make it official.
As for the future of USBR 21, our Coordinator at GDOT is "exploring possible sources of funding for the installation of signs along the route."I hope this at least inspires some individuals to plan their two-wheeled adventures to Chattanooga, or Atlanta. Or Cleveland.
But don't wait for GDOT to install the route markers. Just follow the "See Rock City" signs.
