Distance Calculator welcomes Austin

Solid Rock Riders released version 2.4 of its online Distance Calculator. The new features include four new cities and maps from www.AllTrails.com. The new cities are Austin, Fort Worth, Brownsville, Houston (with Katy), Dallas, Little Rock, and New Orleans. SRR's Distance Calculator had stepped across state lines. More trails are expected in the future.

The calculated distances were obtained from AllTrails.com, a media platform that receives uploaded ride data such as FIT files. This data is dependent on GPS coordinates collected by riders' devices; therefore, the distances may vary upwards to .2 and .3 mile deviations.

Back in the Day

It was those fabulous times when major oil gas stations handed out free maps that featured distance charts. These charts were standard with the folded maps that were displayed nicely on metal wire racks in gas stations' waiting areas. That was back in the day when an AM radio blared with rock n' roll tunes and teenager grease monkeys hopped at the bell to assist arriving motorists. They provided full service that included pumping the gas, wiping the windshield, and checking the oil.

Times have changed. The full-service gas stations are practically gone except one that still exists in Hollywood Park today. The Hollywood Park Shell still operates with a full-mechanic garage. Just like back during the 1950s, the station offers full-service pumps. The only difference is that the pumps are modern.

The foldout maps are gone and have been replaced with downloadable maps from the TXDOT website at www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/forms-publications/maps.html. Meanwhile, we can reminiscence their original foldout mileage charts as shown in the photo below.

—SRR News Services - Original issue: 24 Jan 2021