Map Reading 101

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Map Reading 101

For some, reading a road map would seem very basic. Unfortunately we weren't born with the ability to find our way from point A to point B with only a big pretty sheet of paper with lots of scribbly lines on it. Sooner or later, everyone gets handed a map and asked to navigate. What follows won't get you across the oceans like an explorer of old, but it will get you home and back with a little practice.

There are several types of maps available, but for our purposes the only type we’ll consider is the basic road map you can get at most any state welcome center. You can also order these online from many of the state Department of Transportation web sites. When unfolded these maps are about 2 foot by 3foot in size and contain a legend and most navigable roads through the state. On the back you’ll usually find more detailed maps of the larger cities and a list of the towns marked on the map.

Once you have a map, the first thing you must do is locate your current position and your destination on the grid index which contains a list of towns and cities, and is usually found on the back of the map. Next to the town names you’ll see an alphanumeric coordinates such as "C-5", "A-6", "G-13", etc. These correspond to the map grid; a set of vertical and horizontal lines running across the face of the map. The grid is indexed by a series of numbers listed across two opposite borders of your map, and a series of letters listed across the other two sides. To find the coordinate "C-5", simply find "C" along one edge of the map, and "5" along the other edge of the map, then follow the grid lines until they intersect. Once you’ve found your location and destination, it’s time to plan how to get from one to the other.

Are you in a hurry, or would you rather take a leisurely and scenic route through the countryside? The next step is to choose your route. This is where the map legend comes into play. If you’re in a hurry, then an Interstate highway is probably your best choice. These are four to eight lane highways that link up the United States. These are normally identified by a blue and red shield containing the route number and a boldly marked line.

U.S. Routes are normally smaller than Interstates, only two to four lanes wide, and are identified on your map by a plain white shield. They are good compromise for although they aren’t as fast as an interstate in many cases they are the old roads replaced by the interstates. You’ll find tons of pre-60’s Americana such as old motels and amusement parks.

For a scenic route, choose a state route. In Virginia, Routes within the Primary System are numbered from 1 through 599 statewide and indicated by a white rounded shield. Roads within the Secondary System are numbered 600 and above countywide, and are indicated by a white rectangle. These many times will travel though the slower and more pastorial areas of the state and sometimes even provide shortcut to your destination. Be careful though of the little roads that lack much marking. In many cases these may not be your best choice because they are dirt or gravel and not much fun on a heavy tour bike.

Once you've found a route, have a look at the little symbols along the way. Compare the symbols with the legend and you'll find hospitals (normally an "H" in a circle), camping, airports, and other sites of interest. While you looking at the legend, also notice the color coding. A green area on the map usually indicates a park of some sort, and blue indicates a lake or river. The legend will also show you other lines found on your map that are not roads. Pay particular attention to these as they are boundry lines, state, county, etc., and they along with rail road lines can easily be confused with highways.

So how far is it to your goal? Again, the legend will give you some guidance. There's nearly always a scale indicator that will say something like "1 inch = 25 miles", and a line to give you a graphical view. With a common ruler you can transfer this to your route and get a rough idea of how far you'll be traveling. This isn't exact, takes no regard for road conditions, and it more or less distance as a crow flies; still, it's useful for estimation. A more accurate indicator is found on the map face itself. If you look closely, between each town you'll see a small number giving the distance between them.

Good luck on your ride and have fun planning your trip. Oh, and one more thing. The top of your map always points North.

Ride safely friends.

Thanks for visiting VirginiaWind.