Sneaky paths and scenic routes (on bikes!)

So here is how my shortcut / scenic route idea has evolved:

This is an event intended to get people to think about altering their daily routines, switching up their patterns and finding ways to get out of a rut that they might not even realize they are stuck in. It is also about getting the participant to think more critically about the environment that they live and move about in.

Our target audience is the bicycle commuting community.

The event will consist of placing invitational flier/packets into the spokes or on the handle bars of locked up bikes. There will be two versions of the packet, each challenging the rider to take an alternate route to the next stop. The first packet will ask that they find a short cut on their way. Depart from a designated bike lane or cut through a parking lot; just find a way to shave off a few blocks from your normal route. The second will ask that they take a less direct, more scenic route based on aesthetic whims or personal amusement.

There are two parts in which people participate in this project: creating a physical trail (we can discuss how permanent this will be) and on a website

Part of the packet will be a baggie of powdered dye and instructions to mix the dye with water in a  plastic bottle (found in a nearby recycling bin?). A bit of wire will be provided to attach the bottle upside down to the person’s bike, and the top will be left slightly unscrewed. As the person bikes along, a trail will be left behind.

After they make it to their destination the cyclist can visit our website and report on their experiences. Problems, adventures and other comments can be shared. Ideally there could be a map where people could plot the path they intended to take and their alternate route.