When bicycling around town, commuting to a destination, or getting some exercise I frequently take the same route or similar routes depending on the location and purpose. Subconsciously I select the route that works best, is the fastest or least interrupted, or has the least traffic. But would I select a different route if I really analyzed my path of travel? Would I realize I may enjoy a different route entirely?

Each morning, traveling by bike to my office on 2^nd Street in Eureka, I see numerous cyclists coming off the freeway and heading into Old Town. Some take Waterfront Drive while others use 2^nd or 3^rd Streets as more direct routes. Chances are each cyclist takes a specific route for one reason or other, but is there a single route that makes the most sense. Is there a route that is best?

This Wednesday Green Wheels-Eureka will look at route design possibilities, inspect traffic flow and intersections, look for off-street connectors, and discuss the ups and down of each possible route scenario. We’ll also talk about effective ways of communicating “best” routes to cyclists who travel west to Old Town daily or occasionally on a whim. Meet at Old Town Coffee at 5:15pm and ride with us to take a critical and creative look at how we choose to pedal from point A to B.

For a preview of the focus area, check out the link: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110433529598552391600.00045219e13146c2f3efe&ll=40.805689,-124.156923&spn=0.023843,0.037422&z=15