BRUCE DAY
One of the Founders of the FOGBEES, Bruce Day has been active in cycling for more than a generation. For him going on a bike tour means peddling across the state or across a country, US or England. Fortunately, for the rest of us we don't have to peddle to join him. As a writer, photographer, and computer enthusiast he shares many of this long excursions via publications on the Internet. Aptly named for Bruce, CrazyGuyonaBike is the repository for many of his adventures. It also provides his brief biography.
What his humble bio leaves out is that when this medical doctor is not fixing bodies, he is active in improving cycling facilities for all of us. In 2003 to 2005 he was Vice-Chairman of the Bike and Pedestrian Review Committee estab-lished by the Mayor and Aldermen for Hendersonville and continued as a member of the Steering Committee for the Hendersonville Tomorrow Sub-Committee for Hendersonville Greenways. Whenever a call goes out for Cycling Advo-cacy, he does whatever he can, which frequently is considerably more than almost any other road cyclist in Tennessee.
Bruce is the Fogbee Long-ride Tour leader and major contributor to this Web Site. He puts together and leads our Spring and Fall Tours, which are always a great treat to those who join him. He'll teach you how to fix a bike, take a picture, make a PhotoShow, write an article, load Linux on your computer, or advocate for the sport of road cycling. He has also literally pushed and coached many a tired cyclists on that last mile to the finish line.
East-West Tennessee Bike Route
Bruce's latest project is to design a bike route across Tennessee from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River and then make it "official" with active advocacy with the Tennessee State Legislature. He has some pretty good experience as to where this route should be. He has already done many solo rides from Henderson-ville to East Tennessee. To enhance his chances with obtaining state funding, he has chosen to put his bike route along historic trails across the State, which has attracted support from fellow cyclist Tom Evans, who is interested in Tennessee Pioneer History. Their first section of bike route is along the Old Avery Trace. If you think TDOT has already marked this route, you'd be wrong.
The real source of confusion was introduced on February 5, 1990 when House Bill No. 2568, enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, designating portions of certain highways to be named "Historic Avery Trace". According to the Bill "When an area has historic, cultural, and natural sites to promote, it provides a marketing hook."
However well intentioned the program, permanent distortion to the true location and names of old roads in the region has taken place. Many hundreds of signs have been placed on the routes discussed in the Bill, stating "Historic Avery Trace". When hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists see the signs they have no other reason than to believe that they are on the Avery Trace. Hence, Avery Trace is synonymous with any old pioneer road or trace in the region as viewed by the general public.
Today, General Assembly resolutions, historic markers, county museums, art and books, written, published and distri-buted by the State of Tennessee for our children, have cemented in the historic awareness the name of an East Tennessean who never contracted a road and most certainly never impacted road development in Middle Tennessee.
Tom's interest is the real history and not something concocted. Bruce has agreed to use the first east-west route across Tennessee from the Appalachian Mountains to Fort Nash Borough as established by Legislative Act in 1786 by the North Carolina Legislature for which Tom has prepared some preliminary estimates. Their plan is to map sections of the Route and then to ride them to confirm the suitability and accuracy for Bruce's East-West Route. They'll post their progress on this Web Page with the hope of exciting interest and contribution from others. Bruce is also documenting his process on his CrazyGuyonaBike Internet Site.
- First Scouting Trip for Avery Trace (October 2008-Hartsville to Fort Blount): Photos are on SnapFish, PhotoShow by Bruce. The ride was very scenic and relatively flat for that area of the State. Nevertheless, Tom had to change several locations for his original map. Bruce & Tom have also decided to create a Fogbee Tour along this route.
- Second Scouting Trip for Avery Trace (November 2008-Standing Stone (Monterey) to Cookeville: Photos are on SnapFish, PhotoShow by Tom. This short section was part of the Fall Colors Tour, Day #2. Weather could have been better, but Bruce & Tom selected the most likely pioneer route.
- Bruce and his team propose routes on MapMyRide - Group TN Bike Advocates
- Adventure Cycling Association provides leadership in the development of a US Bicycle Route System
- Ride for Hope from Bristol to Memphis
- Knoxville Bike Routes . Map identifies suitability of city streets for cycling and shows greenways.
- Tennessee Long Range Plan - Bike and Pedestrian Element (12/2005) - extensive planning for walking and biking facilities in Tennessee including an analysis of bike routes border-to-border.
CONTACTS
TRAIL INFO
SCHEDULES
- Virginia Sullivan
- State of Tennessee
- Philip Pugliese, Bicycle Coordinator
- David "Bud" Laumer, AICP, LAB LCI#2201, Bicycle
-Pedestrian Coordinator
REVIEWS
-----Original Message-----
From: Glen Wanner, January 14, 2009 To: TNBikeAdvocates@googlegroups.com
Subject: [TNBikeAdvocates] Re: TN East West bicycle route
For a little more background--Governor Sundquist announced that TDOT would be doing a Hwy 70 bike route way back when. He and former Commissioner Saltsman even rode bikes for a mile or so on Hwy 70 near Montgomery Bell State Park at a press conference. TDOT then put up some signs here and there along Hwy 70 and that was about it.
While I haven't looked at Bruce's work yet, I am very much in favor of using alternative routes when Hwy 70 is deemed less than suitable for bike travel. Even when there is an adequate shoulder, the back roads often provide a more enjoyable cycling experience if you have the time and legs for a few extra miles and additional hills. Thus, having options would serve all cyclists better.
Keep in mind that when TDOT did their Bicycling Highways, there were one or two counties that objected to them using local roads (not state highways). Other counties welcomed the idea of tourist dollars. Things may be different now, but we should beware that not everybody loves cyclists.
Finally, TDOT might be able to provide some data on ADT and even shoulder width to Bruce and others working on this. I used such data in CA on a bike trip and found it very useful.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jessica Wilson", January 14, 2009 To: TNBikeAdvocates@googlegroups.com
Subject: [TNBikeAdvocates] Re: TN East West bicycle route
Bruce and Tom, In hindsight I should have mentioned that the 2005 Long Range Plan was intended to be a 30-year plan, so while the plan is really great, we've not tackled everything just yet (our efforts have been hampered with the statewide budget crisis that I'm sure you're aware of) I grew up right off Highway 70 between Mt. Juliet and SR-109 so I'm very familiar with how much traffic that route carries. Not to mention in some places in Mt. Juliet it is strictly curb and gutter with no shoulder. Definately not the most conducive cycling conditions!
I believe the reasoning behind making US70 a bike route is that over the years, as US70 is resurfaced and reconstructed in places, it will be labeled a bike route, thus calling more attention to improving cycling conditions through better shoulders, bike lanes when called for, etc. US70 is an old route so we kind of get in this Catch 22 position where it has all kinds of great historic sites and cool
little towns, but you also get into issues of not having enough Right of way since the road was constructed way before today's design
standards were implemented. Like I said- by naming it a bike route in our plan, the hope is to improve this corridor for cycling in
tandem with reconstruction and resurfacing projects.
Thanks for all the great info on the alternative routes! It will definately take me some time to digest as well. I think my husband
and I need to go on a road trip. :)
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Evans, Jan 14, 2009
I second Bruce's unfavorable comments on US 70. I know it from Rt 109 (West of Lebanon) to Smithville. Short sections of it are marked as Bike Route and have a two-foot shoulder at best in that portion at best and end/start with not connectivity to alternate routes. A very short section near RT 53 & 96 has eight-foot plus shoulder & is unmarked. The road is narrow with 55MPH posted (cars travel at 60 to 70 MPH). Most of it is not suitable for bike traffic.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Day, January 14, 2009 To: Jessica.L Wilson; Tennessee Bike Advocates
Subject: [TNBikeAdvocates] Re: TN East West bicycle route
Jessica, Ok, I lied again. About the taking a week part. It was too cold to be outside today and it turns out I have read much of the Plan Go bicycle website in other places so was not too hard to digest. My impression first time I read it was that [QT removed]. But then I was working as part of our local Hendersonville Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan Review committee and noted how easily the local officials were able to ignore the state guidelines. One could say talk is cheap, but a report like the Plan Go did not come cheap. Now my impression is [QT removed]. Let us hope times are more favorable. Now to respond to your questions.
Since cyclists by nature prefer less trafficked roads, that the use of roads other than TN state roads would be an issue had not occurred to me. I have no ready answer to how to sign or maintain them. Realistically any signs along most back roads will last about a week so maps and downloadable GPS routes are the most important. Road surface maintenance is another issue. Most of the county roads in TN are very well kept and the extra bicycle traffic should not impact this.
US 70
First a few thoughts about US 70 as the main East West route. It looks pretty good, does have historical tie in as The Broadway of the Americas, part of the first automobile "interstate" network, has good shoulders most of the way, and ties East and west nicely. The negatives I know of are, consistently heavy traffic, numerous pinches from bridges or just no shoulder and a 5 mile section of totally rumbled shoulder between Kingston and Crossville. The pinches are particularly intolerable due to the high speed, high volume and especially aggressive traffic on much of the road.
US 11W Bristol to Knoxville.
I have no first hand data on this. It follows the Old Wagon Road route of the pioneers, appears to have good shoulders most of the way and should be scenic. Is any place East of Cookeville not scenic? Kelly Segars of the Knoxville TPO advises deviating from US 11 once in Knoxville and is reflected in the Mapmyride plan.
Knoxville to Algood. Pretty closely follows Old Avery Trace from Oak Ridge to Algood. TN 62 is more scenic, less trafficked, flatter, and more direct than US 70. Points of Interest. 1. Bull Run Stem Plant. Pretty impressive sight and has not yet had an ash spill. To see an ash spill go US 70 through Kingston. 2. Oak Ridge and Museum of atomic energy. a deviation from TN 62 onto Pleasant Hill road, Clinton Highway etc taken for less traffic and to avoid the TN 62 Clinch river crossing. 3. TN 62 except for the grungy ride from Oliver Springs to Wartburg, is very scenic, has low traffic and moderate climbs compared to other possible routes. Only real down side is no motels or campsites I know of between Wartburg and Algood. There are stores at Clarkrange ad Monterey and an upscale B&B, the Garden Inn, at Monterey. A trail beside rail project is in the works from Monterey to Cookeville but the existing roads are excellent.
Algood to Nashville
Still on Avery Trace except a detour through Gainesoro because of Hull Lake. Points of interest.
1. Cycle past TN Tech.
2. Follow Flynn's lick to near Old Fort Blount site, at one time the major route into Middle TN.
3. Just past Gladdice leave TN 85 to follow Little Salt Lick Creek Rd, most likely Avery Trace route though absolutely marvelous scenery. Alternatively, stay on 85 to get to Defeated Creek Recreation area for camping and some stores at entrance and a few more hills.
4. At Dixon Springs view abandoned Hartsville Nuclear plant. That lonesome huge chimney is something to see.
5. One seedy looking motel and some stores etc. in Hartsville. The motel might be ok but its proximity to a liquor store bothers me. 6. Catalian Springs. Several historic sites. Wynwood, Hawthorne Hill ( a restored old home) and Bledsoe's Fort and archaeological dig. A bit west is Craigfront, Grandeur on the Frontier.
7. Bledsoe Creek State park. Camping, no inn or cabins. Very nice park.
8. Through Gallatin, could take spur on Lower Station Camp Creek to get to Cages Bend Campground. Just before Goodlettesville, Manskers Fort Historic site is a short detour to South.
9. Brick Church Pike chosen as least trafficked, most cycle friendly route into Nashville. Leads to Bicentennial mall, LP Field, Music Row, etc.
Nashville to Memphis.
Only know from Burns on by maps and internet search. All my personal trips have been by car on I-40. Leave Via US 70/Charlotte pike. Not so great but simple and no obviously better route. Greenways a possibility. Pass Centennial park and Parthenon.
1. Pass Montgomery Bell State park. Full service SP.
2. South out of Burns to get off US 70 and onto a bit of Natchez Trace. Services intermittently along way but no lodging till Hohenwald, site of Elephant sanctuary.
3. Catch bit of Natchez Trace, then US 64. US 64 roughly traces the Trail of Tears, Bell's route to Memphis.
4. Motels at Waynesboro, Savannah, Selmer, Boliver. Can make short detours to Pickwick Landing, another full service SP, and to Shiloh Historical site. Can make a spur to connect to Corinth, MS here if we did not want to go to Memphis.
5. Could stay south on 57 if one wanted to bunk in Big Pond SP, a partial service SP.
6. Leave 64 to south after Bolivar to avoid crossing Memphis. Would use TN 18 but for the rumbles entirely across shoulder most of way.
7. End for now in Collierville. No legal way across Mississippi river in Memphis. Closest is 30 miles south at Helena, AK. it's no jewel but is at least legal.
So that's it for now. I hope to cycle from Nashville to Collierville sometime in Feb, weather permitting.
- American Trails, National Trails Symposium in 2010
- Looks like Sept 2010 is a target for getting a statewide
bicycle route network. Bruce
- Chattanooga will be hosting the 2010 ProWalk/ProBike
conference in September. Philip
- I think we should definitely move toward a 1-day event in
Nashville sometime this year. Philip
