Kelly Color Code for Bicycling Maps
by Bill Kelly, 301-441-2740, ws.Kelly@att.net,  www.cpabc.org 

A proposal to make following bicycle routes easier by establishing a national, standardized system of bicycle map route colors

Making maps can be quite difficult, and quite complicated, but I know that riding a Bike close to 60 years gives me wide experience in reading maps and trying to find my way around on two wheels. The best Bicycle Cities like Davis, California, and Madison, Wisconsin, have a very simple code of:

	GREEN for On-Road Routes
	BROWN/TAN/ORANGE for Off-Road Routes

And when you pick-up their maps you know exactly what to expect in your Bike/Ped Travels. I would suggest two more colors:

	YELLOW for Caution and
	RED for where Not to Bike -Limited Access Highways/Beltways, etc.

These colors are designed for general purpose route, transportation and recreation bicycling, helping the casual and experienced rider alike to get from one point to the next on their two wheeling journey. The proposed consistency and logical colors facilitates visitors, tourists, new riders of all types and utilitarian bicyclists.

The colors can be combined on maps with other information such as:

• Bicycling difficulty, i.e. grade of route, riding surface, level of service (LOS), etc.;

• Designation information, i.e. directness, time to travel, etc;

• Bicycle facilities, scenic, support, (bicycle repair, rental, etc) or points of interest, local facilities, libraries, ice cream stores, etc;

Land and transportation planners, engineers and elected officials; ride managers; scenic or recreational developers and others can incorporate the Kelly Color Code as it fits their more specialized purposes.

The Kelly Color Code is designed to provide some uniformity for the greater bicycling public thus reducing, to some extent, obstacles for bicyclists wanting, or needing, a map to navigate by. The code can also be incorporated into a wide range of maps for other purposes including, transportation or recreation planning, organized rides or races, etc.

Bill Kelly 301-441-2740, ws.Kelly@att.net,  www.cpabc.org