McLean County, Ill., will apply for a grant that will extend the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail about 2 1/2 miles north from Towanda, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The extension would begin at County Highway 29 north of Towanda and connects an old alignment of Route 66. The state of Illinois would cover 80 percent … Continue reading County seeks grant for Route 66 Bike Trail extension
Category: Bicycling
War veterans suddenly in spotlight on Route 66
Here's something eerie -- two different stories about war veterans on Route 66 were posted on the Internet today within an hour of each other. The Pontiac Daily Leader in Pontiac, Ill., reported on Tom Skinner cycling on much of Route 66 to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder -- an ailment which dogged him for … Continue reading War veterans suddenly in spotlight on Route 66
Saving a bridge by putting it on a diet
The historic York Boulevard Bridge in Los Angeles, which carried Route 66 from 1932 to 1934, apparently is in danger of being torn down and replaced with a wider bridge because of traffic congestion. However, a local cyclist has come up with an intriguing possible solution to keep the 1912 concrete arch bridge and make … Continue reading Saving a bridge by putting it on a diet
Ariston Cafe hosting sendoff party for Litchfield museum fundraiser
The Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Ill., is hosting a sendoff party tomorrow for a city administrator who will bicycle Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago to raise money for a history and Route 66 museum in the town, reported The Journal-News. The historic Route 66 restaurant will start serving free coffee and doughnuts at … Continue reading Ariston Cafe hosting sendoff party for Litchfield museum fundraiser
Pacific Electric overpass approaches the finish line
Longtime roadie Delvin Harbour sent these photos of the Pacific Electric Trail overpass that goes over Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. As you might expect, the new overpass has a Route 66 theme, and puts all eight of the Mother Road's states on display: Harbour says the overpass isn't done yet. … Continue reading Pacific Electric overpass approaches the finish line
Cyclist soon will begin quest for Litchfield museum
Andy Ritchie, a 62-year-old city administrator for Litchfield, Ill., will begin his 2,300-mile cycling quest on Route 66 in early May to raise funds for a history and Route 66 museum in Litchfield, reported The Journal-News in nearby Hillsboro. The newspaper reported: Ritchie will be accompanied by his wife, Pam, who will fly to California … Continue reading Cyclist soon will begin quest for Litchfield museum
Man will bicycle Route 66 for childhood-hunger charity
Sixty-five-year-old Bill Catlett plans to bicycle 1,900 miles on Route 66 from Victorville, Calif., to St. Louis in his native Missouri, according to the San Bernardino County Sun. Catlett, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., wants to raise $25,000 for the Inland Empire United Way and Inland Valley Hope Partners to help combat child hunger. As a young … Continue reading Man will bicycle Route 66 for childhood-hunger charity
Running the route
The blog of the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association recently posted this video about the Route 66 Trail Biking Loop, which contains old alignments of the Mother Road on Ash Fork Hill west of Williams, Ariz. https://youtu.be/x9R6MDE12vQ The group's blog said: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, my Kaibab National Forest co-worker Teri Cleeland … Continue reading Running the route
Two former soldiers riding part of Route 66 for veterans
Two former soldiers are cycling down a good portion of Route 66 as part of a 4,200-mile ride from Bakersfield, Calif., to Washington, D.C., to help raise awareness on veterans' issues. The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride is being undertaken by Wesley Barrientos, a double amputee who was injured by a roadside bomb in … Continue reading Two former soldiers riding part of Route 66 for veterans
Edmond wants bicycle trail to Pops
The City of Edmond, Okla., has applied for a state grant that would build a bicycle trail along Route 66 to the west edge of Arcadia, Okla., reported the Edmond Sun newspaper. Edmond has a bunch of bicycle plans on its radar. Among them is this: And a trail will be constructed from the west … Continue reading Edmond wants bicycle trail to Pops