Best Scenic Bicycling Highways

[oldnassau]

I am attempting to create a site that road bicyclists can visit for information on/about scenic highways and byways. I spend summers in Vermont, so I can recommend purchasing a Northern Trailways Bicycle Map at the LocalMotion bike store on the Burlington Waterfront (info@localmotion.org) which shows, in color, hundreds of miles of back road trips. I spend winters in Palm Beach, Florida, so I can recommend A1A from West Palm to Ft. Lauderdale, past all the mansions. A1A runs along the Atlantic coast all the way up to Jacksonville. For maps, just Google A1A.
For many more scenic roads, in all states, for bicycle and car, Google
http://www.byways.org/.

[classof70]

Good luck with your project - very worthwhile!

There was some publicity down here in Key West this week about a group that bicycled from Miami to Key West over several days. They tried to make an economic argument for improving the road for bikers. Currently, they say, sections of this beautiful road are dangerous - too narrow, bumpy, and exposed. Plus it can be brutally hot. But if it was safer and more pleasant, more business for local merchants on the way. Sounds like a good idea, the road could be magnificent if you didnt have to worry about getting bumped off by a big RV.

Reminds me a road trip (by car) on the Pacific Coast Highway through Oregon. Always wanted to take that trip by bike... until i took it by car. Narrow berms and huge campers are a bad mix for bikers. Plus the scenery is usually so awesome its hard for anyone to keep their eyes on the road.

[classof70]

Timing is everything. Very interesting article about cycling in Sonoma County, California in conjunction with the big race out there, the Amgen Tour of California. Lots of interesting facts about Santa Rosa and Sonoma biking, including its recognition by the League of American Bicyclists as 7th out of 50th for doing the best job of promoting cycling and cycling safety.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090214/ARTICLES/902140262/1010/SPORTS?Title=Is_Sonoma_County_a__must_ride__destination_for_cyclists_