Want To Fund An Urban Bike Map?
Moments ago a commentor flagged a comment left on a recent Buffalo Hostel post. The commentor fully agreed with the sentiment that the city needs maps for people so that they can navigate the area. Here's the comment left by sbrof:
We really are lucky to have such a hostel here in Buffalo. They can really make or break a trip to a city. Having such a great home base for people visiting our city is wonderful news and something that probably goes a long way when it comes to stories about our city. Now if we could only get some maps of our downtown and city for tourists it would be even better.
Also what about working with Justin and Buffalo Blue Bikes to get the Hostel a membership so that people staying in the hostel can use the Blue Bikes available. As a traveler having such an amenity for cheap or free would be very convenient. And since we do have a very ride-able city they could explore more of the city than their feet and understanding of the transit system can show them.
Then, on another BRO post (in the last few days) someone commented that he or she felt sorry for people who stay at the Adam's Mark and are looking to explore the city. First of all the roadways can be very troublesome... do you walk towards City Hall hoping to find a restaurant? Or do you walk towards the freeway overpass looking for something to do on the water? Comprehensive maps would be great to have... especially if there were bikes available for people to get them around the city. I emailed Blue Bikes' Justin Booth to see what his thoughts were regarding some sort of bike map of the city:
"There is a Blue Bike hub directly across the street from the hostel. We have worked with the hostel in past – running a youth program as a part of Teen Treks, but we have no formal relationship with them for people staying there and having access to the bicycles. We're spearheading a project to create a better bicycle map of the city. We are working on creating the draft product now, but will need to identify a source of funding to get them printed. This is something that we would like to have available by this cycling season. Any thoughts on a possible funding source or printing sponsor?"
So there you have it. The concept is being worked out, but a funding source is needed to get the wheels in motion. Anybody out there looking to fund a biking map of the city?
In the meantime here's a PDF 2006 Bicycle Route Guide.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
Lighting The Elmwood Village For Good
Now that the Elmwood Village has landed the distinction of being one of the Top 10 Great Places in America, I can't wait for the day when the city switches up the street's lamp standards. If you look at historic Allentown, you will see that the street lighting is attractive and effective. It places the importance of the neighborhood experience on the sidewalk, rather than on the cars. As we see the highway cobras being replaced (finally) in our neighborhoods, our commercial distri … - Today, 4:58pm
- Continue Reading
- 2 Comments
-
Open Discussion with Al Coppola and Ron Rienas
Tomorrow evening, Ron Rienas, General Manager of the Public Bridge Authority, will meet with former State Senator Al Coppola in order to discuss the Peace Bridge and plaza expansion once again, and word is that Hillary Clinton is sending representatives.
In addition to the aesthetics, health concerns and historical impact to the immediate area, final funding has not been previously disclosed and is obviously an important element in the ongoing controversy over the entire proposed … - Today, 3:34pm
- Continue Reading
- 5 Comments
-
Urban Roots During The Holidays
You know that you've run across a creative garden cooperative when you're shopping for gardening supplies and you come home with a work of art. That's why we're so lucky to have Urban Roots on the city's West Side. During the course of the year, the cooperative works hard towards teaming up with artists who live in the community. It is during the Holiday Season that there is a big push to shine a light on the creative individuals. And don't think that art just comes in the form of … - Today, 10:50am
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
-
Bills vs Miami- Tailgate for a Cure
The Bills have a home but away from home game this weekend against the hated Dolphins. Suneel's Light, a local medical research foundation, is throwing the largest tailgate party in Western New York as the Buffalo Bills try to revenge their early season loss to their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins this Sunday in Toronto.
Known as Tailgate for a Cure, the annual fundraiser organized by the Suneel's Light Foundation welcomes all to attend a full blown, festive tailgate part … - Today, 10:45am
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
ToughintheStreets
You should consider talking with the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. Their Visitors Center is located down the street from the Hostel in the Market Arcade Building. The center currently provides an array of downtown maps and guides for tourists looking for something to do. With their financial challenges they may not be able to fund the maps, but they may know ways to find or raise the funds necessary and probably already have a map that can be expanded upon.
Report this
sbrof
How about the GBNRTC transportation dollars, by law most transportation projects have to have a multi-modal aspect to them. However this often doesn't happen because they design and pass more laws to make it near impossible for anything but a standard road for cars to be built. Perhaps we can get a small chunk of change that should have gone to bike routes and lanes etc and get them to fund this. They already put together the existing bike route map as well. If they relinquished control of that project to a group of people (like Justin’s) who actually care about biking maybe that money they would normally spend on it could get shifted.
Report this
Geomike
I would suggest contacting UB's geography department, or Buffalo State's geography department. There would certainly be studnets or entire class that could make this a semester project at no cost - other than printing - for the hostel, or the CVB, or even post it online as a PDF since most traveling folks (and anyone not stuck in the stone age) would have some form of web access.
Report this
Dan
Comic Sans? Really? Might as well just use Brush Script (The official typeface of Western New York).
Report this
rpmcmurphy
How much would this cost?
We (?) could organize an event, identify who stands to gain, canvass for contributions.
Report this
Perry
I have a copy of this map after I picked it up at the Convention & Visitors Bureau visitors center in the Market Arcade - it's a great map!
Report this
CandyMan
It'd be nice if the bike map was more accessable on-line. The trail information on a 2 foot by 3 foot pdf is pretty much impossible to manipulate into a useable 8.5"x11" printed sheet without special, expensive software. But a 2 foot by 3 foot map makes a nice wall reference. Actually, you need two since it's a two sided map.
Report this
redbaron
The bike map has actually been out for a while, exactly how long I'm not sure. I picked one up at the Handlebars Bicycle Co. this past summer and Ski Market the year before. I have the 2007 edition and use it to check out as many different trails and routes as possible. Great resource it even has Canadian trails!
Report this
MJWorthington
No expensive software needed. Your printer driver should allow to scale it to fit one 8.5x11 or if 1:1 scale twelve 8.5x11s, etc.
Report this