Dirt Road indicator

[Sanaghan]

I went on a motorcycle wine tour of Southern Arizona. I planned the trip in Street Atlas and Topo. While on the trip, I ran into a minor hitch; the road turned into a dirt road.

I didn't want to turn back around so I ventured on. It was a mostly flat road and I didn't have any problems, but I'd prefer to avoid dirt roads. I had stacked two wine bottles on their sides and it did get bumpy enough to break one--and with seven bottles, of course it was my favorite that broke. I put them all upright and used a sweatshirt to protect them; no issues after that.

How can I tell, by looking at the map, what State Routes or marked roads are main roads, and what are dirt roads? The short answer is, I can't. Sometimes the gold lines mean paved, sometimes dirt. Same for the gray "local road" types.

This is mostly a problem in rural areas. The road I was on was decently maintained (with signs warning it was a primitive road). When I got closer to Patagonia and the ranches, it was very smooth dirt, and didn't have any steep or winding turns.

But prior to that, there were several spots that if you were in an RV, you were out of luck and faced an ugly back-up to get out. If you looked at the map, you wouldn't know that. If you looked at the map for a way to get out of the area without hitting more dirt roads, you'd also be fooled.

Maps should be trustable. I understand this same road in Google Earth (and State Hwy 83) show up with a similar style. While it would mostly be user reported, it would be a big plus for DeLorme to have a way to indicate dirt road vs paved road.

[Sanaghan]

Now that I think about it, all dirt roads should be coded as "unimproved roads"

Separate from 4x4 roads, but still dirt.

[DaveB]

I could agree more!!!

AAA & Rand McNally have had the ability to differentiate between unimproved, two lane and four lane roads for years. I would LOVE for Delorme to have that functionality as well.

PLEASE consider doing this. It would really improve navigation, help avoid frustrations and would really allow for trip planning.

Thanks.

p.s. I've been using Delorme products since you guys only had the Maine Atlas and have been waiting for this for almost as long!

[gratfob]

I agree 100%. In addition I would love to see dirt roads indicated in Topo USA. I use Topo and a PN-20 for planning bike routes and I am quite happy with both. Having dirt roads shown would be real nice though.

[west3man]

Same.

I was routed to a horrible dirt road a couple of weeks, ago. I've since set up a "route avoid" so I never have to go there, again, but it would've been nice not to have wasted 20-30 minutes going 1-2 miles down the bumpiest, darkest, narrowest, most pothole-filled, mud-street I've ever witnessed in life.

[Sanaghan]

Here's a sample of the same area in Garmin City Navigator North America 2009. Dang that's a long name.

[rachtenb]

This would be a big plus to identify dirt roads; while on a bicycle and just had a 1 inch rainfall, and you are routed to a dirt road, this is no fun maybe adventurous, but still no fun.

The work around is export to a GPX file then import into Google Earth and you should be able to identify dirt roads via satellite imagery. Then I go back to the Delorme and re-route around the dirt roads.

[Djtentman]

I agree 100%. I've been routed on quite a number of dirt roads since I live in Pennsylvania. Usually I am driving a fairly large truck and a narrow dirt road isn't very ideal besides taking lots of extra time.