Foothill bridge in Rancho Cucamonga dedicated December 8, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, bicycling, Bridges.add a comment
Officials in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., on Wednesday celebrated the recent completion of a pedestrian and cycling bridge over Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66), reported the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
The bridge over the roadway now carries the 7.5-mile Pacific Electric Trail.
The newspaper’s report didn’t include a photo. However, this artist’s rendering shows what the bridge and a nearby park will look like when they’re all done:
The newspaper also said:
A Route 66 Trailhead Park, which features a historical timeline, remnant of the old bridge and a piece of the original Route 66 pavement, is also expected to be finished next month.
Artwork on the bridge depicting historic cars, states that Route 66 passes and scenes from California and Illinois, the end points of the Mother Road, is scheduled to be complete by March.
Bicycle trail proposed from Springfield to Strafford November 16, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Highways.add a comment
A bicycle and pedestrian trail is being proposed next to Route 66 from the eastern edge of Springfield, Mo., to the nearby community of Strafford, according to a document by the Ozark Transportation Organization’s Journey 2035 long-range transportation plan.
This video shows an image of Route 66 next to modern-day Strafford, which then melts into an artist’s rendering of the bike trail:
The description of the video says:
The main transportation improvement shown here is the addition of a trail paralleling Route 66 along the south. This trail is intended to connect Springfield, through Strafford, to the ball fields at Farm Road 249 on the east end of Strafford. The additional land use changes are inspired by the Route 66 Corridor Management Plan, as well as Strafford’s DREAM Plan for their downtown.
According to Google Maps, Farm Road 249 would be 8.5 miles to U.S. 65 in Springfield, which is where the proposed bike trail would stop.
As I’ve said before, public sentiment to create bicycle-friendly trails or lanes along Route 66 continues to grow. And if local governments are willing to contribute to that effort, it will make it easier for a cross-country bike trail to be established on the Mother Road.
Man plans Route 66 bicycle ride for Litchfield museum October 2, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Museums, Road trips.2 comments
The city manager of Litchfield, Ill., plans a bicycle ride down Route 66 in spring 2012 to raise money for a Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, according to the Springfield State Journal-Register.
Andy Ritchie will use a recumbent bicycle, and will attempt to take on all 2,400 miles of the Mother Road, if he can:
“I’ve done some distance riding before, but not at this level,” said Richie. “I’ll probably leave in May or June.”
Richie expects to make about 80 to 100 miles a day by riding from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. At that pace, said Richie, he should be able to make the trip in about 30 days. He also expects to be accompanied along the way, including possibly by his wife.
Plans for the museum and visitors center are only in early stages. Backers have a site picked out just off Interstate 55, which generally tracks the route of the historic road through Illinois from the St. Louis area to Chicago.
Ritchie understands that some portions of Route 66 are inaccessible, or have been supplanted by the interstate. In those cases, he’ll use nearby alternative routes.
Ritchie says he’ll take a leave of absence from his job once the city’s yearly budget is complete. He’s motivated to finish the trek within a 30-day or so window, because his son is getting married in July.
As for the museum / welcome center, Ritchie says an association for it has been formed, and it has applied for nonprofit status.
UPDATE 10/17/2011: The Journal-News in nearby Hillsboro, Ill., published a story about Ritchie’s quest. Additional details:
While still trying to put a team together and secure some SAG support, Lon Haldeman, of PAC Tour (www.pactour.com), who has ridden Route 66 at least 15 times in the past 20 years, has agreed to give Ritchie ‘route cards’ that have the entire Route 66 course planned out.
“Someone once said that there is a fine line between having a hobby and having a mental illness,” Ritchie said. “I’m hoping that riding the length of Route 66 does not cross that line.”
Bike MS event on Route 66 aims for $500,000 August 31, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Events, Road trips.add a comment
The annual Bike MS Oklahoma Ride cycling event next month on Route 66 is aiming to raise $500,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oklahoma chapter, reported the Edmond Sun.
The 26th annual Bike MS Oklahoma Ride is a statewide cycling event heading from Tulsa to Oklahoma City for fun along Route 66 with stops along the way at many of the historic landmarks.
Cyclists will ride about 150 miles during both days. Along the ride cyclists can find rest stops every 10-12 miles and support and gear vehicles will be available between stops. [...]
The ride begins at 7 a.m. Sept. 17 and at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 18.
Day One starts at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Tulsa and goes to Chandler, and Day Two starts in Chandler and ends in Oklahoma City at the state Capitol.
Here’s a report from last year’s event:
Bike MS is truly one of the great charity events in Oklahoma. And I’ve heard so many people like the trek on Route 66, they come back to do the Mother Road on another date just for their own enjoyment.
To register to volunteer or to sign up for bus transportation, go here or call 918-488-0882.
Ride across the river August 30, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Bridges.add a comment
A cyclist takes us all the way across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, which once carried Route 66 over the Mississippi River. It’s now open to pedestrians and cyclists only.
In it, you’ll see the St. Louis skyline in the distance, the water intake towers, and several Route 66-related displays.
The cyclist is sucking wind in parts of the video, but the bridge remains deceptively steep in parts.
Arcadia mayor voices concern over Route 66 changes August 23, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Businesses, Highways, Towns.9 comments
The mayor of Arcadia, Okla., is expressing concern about a number of improvements planned for Oklahoma Highway 66 (aka Route 66) through her town, reported The Oklahoman newspaper.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation plans to widen 66 to four lanes from Post Road near Edmond to about Winchester Westminster Road in Arcadia, which is right next to Pops. It also plans to resurface the road and add shoulders from Post Road to the Lincoln County line, which is east of Arcadia.
But Arcadia Mayor Marilyn Murrell is skeptical:
“This project will have a negative impact on the town of Arcadia,” Murrell said. “A major portion of Arcadia’s budget is generated from tourism-related activities. People come to Arcadia because they want to visit the original Route 66.”
Murrell led a campaign to get people’s opinions about the estimated $26 million project in the hands of transportation department officials.
“I am confident we got their attention,” Murrell said.
I’m not joining Murrell on her concerns. The highway changes will not affect any historical bridges or other structures, nor will the four-lane portion go through the heart of her town. And more lanes on 66 in that area probably is warranted, with the additional traffic that Pops is bringing from Interstate 35 and the large suburban city of Edmond to the west.
Also, the highway in Arcadia to the Lincoln County line is not original pavement. The road in that area already is made of asphalt, and resurfacing won’t affect its character in any measurable way. Plus, the addition of shoulders will make that portion of 66 safer and more pleasurable for cyclists.
Oklahoma Route 66 historian Jim Ross concurs with my assessment on the lack of any historical impact this project will have.
Interestingly, Edmond is planning a Route 66-themed park at Post Road.
Road construction is slated for 2015 or 2016.
UPDATE: Ross followed up with this comment that clarifies that plan and corrects the Oklahoman’s report:
The plan was to 4-lane 1.2 miles (which will do nothing to disperse traffic), then skip the portion from Pops to Indian Meridian Rd. (5 miles), then add shoulders and resurface from that point to the Lincoln Co. line. This seemed bizarre. The consensus at the meeting was to forget the 4-lane bit and simply add shoulders the entire length of the project, including Arcadia, and to also widen the box drains with narrow guardrails (there are two of these on the portion they planned to omit). ODOT seemed open to these ideas. I have to agree with the mayor that the last thing the road needs is to have any part of it 4-laned unless absolutely necessary.
Spinning their wheels for charity August 19, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in bicycling, Events, People, Road trips.add a comment
The Children’s Center, which provides specialized medical care to children, recently held its 15th annual Spin Your Wheels cycling fundraiser on Route 66, starting in Bethany, Okla.
Here’s a video about the 2011 event:
Below is one of the videos that helped publicize the event. And, yes, it indeed was shot on the Mother Road:
An effective ad, I’d say.