The long-awaited Bicycle Route 66 map set for cyclists who want to taste the Mother Road now is available from its creators, the Adventure Cycling Association.
The association made the announcement Monday in a news release. A few nuggets I’ve gleaned from the set:
- It contains six maps that cover all eight states where Route 66 traverses.
- The total route is 2,493 miles — just 50 miles longer than the original Route 66.
- The maps include turn-by-turn directions, navigational instructions, elevations and services cyclists will need.
- The entire set costs $88.50, or $15.75 for each map
The maps came after four years of research from cyclists who consulted with Route 66 experts, government officials and tourism leaders.
The Adventure Cycling Association sought a mix of routes that would send cyclists to Route 66 attractions and cycling-friendly roads and trails.
In case you’re wondering why people along Route 66 are excited by the prospect of a mapped bicycle route, there’s this factoid from the release that should explain why:
There is growing evidence that touring cyclists spend more money and time than the average tourist. For example, a recent survey done in Montana by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research found that multi-day cyclists spend $75-103 per day and stay an average of eight or more nights while traveling through the state. Conversely, motorized travelers only spend between $54-68 per day and spend an average of three days in the state.
In short, there’s money to be made from those two-wheelers.
The maps can be purchased here, direct from the association. If you need the maps soon, I’d order now, because they’re not on Amazon or any other online retailer yet.
I hope to get my hands on these maps in the coming days and deliver a more detailed report. I’m no cyclist, but I hold much knowledge of the old road. It will be intriguing to see what the Adventure Cycling Association chose as the paths for Bicycle Route 66 and what it recommends for cyclists.
(Images courtesy of the Adventure Cycling Association)