Advocacy & Safety - Google Maps

I have Google Maps installed on my PDA/Cell phone. Is there a setting somewhere that I have missed that will allow me to let the software know that I am riding a bicycle? All routes it generates are geared for someone driving.

Google's routing engine would need to have bicycle-specific paths and shortcuts plotted in as an optional layer, and so far I don't think it does.

Try the pedestrian setting.

I heard somewhere that this is in development. Also try the ped setting.

Try the pedestrian setting.

It keeps you off the freeways, which is a good start.

Try the pedestrian setting.

There isn't a pedestrian setting, there is a transit tab. But that's for as the name implies public transportation and walking.

I guess it's time to save some money and buy a used Garmin Legend (monchrome is fine) off Ebay. All you would need is the handlebar mount and you're set. Just buy a used copy of Streets and Trips and enter those points by hand into your GPS. The whole setup should cost less than 100.00 dollars and you'll have the same ability as units costing hundreds more.

There isn't a pedestrian setting, there is a transit tab. But that's for as the name implies public transportation and walking.

The Google Maps app on my iPhone does have a pedestrian (walking) setting. Maybe you should check for an update for your phone.

The main drawback to the pedestrian setting is that it can route you the wrong way on one-way streets.

I guess it's time to save some money and buy a used Garmin Legend (monchrome is fine) off Ebay. All you would need is the handlebar mount and you're set. Just buy a used copy of Streets and Trips and enter those points by hand into your GPS. The whole setup should cost less than 100.00 dollars and you'll have the same ability as units costing hundreds more.

Steve,

I have the eTrex Legend, the only problem with it is that it plots routes as "the crow" flies NOT as the bike/car drives on the street.

The Google Maps app on my iPhone does have a pedestrian (walking) setting. Maybe you should check for an update for your phone.

The main drawback to the pedestrian setting is that it can route you the wrong way on one-way streets.

Brian,

When I got home from the library yesterday and launched Google Maps on my PDA/Cell Phone it did an upgrade and I know have the tabs for driving, transit, and walking. One for bike riding would be nice, hopefully they'll have it in the next upgrade. I do like the street level view, that is a nice feature.

Steve,

I have the eTrex Legend, the only problem with it is that it plots routes as "the crow" flies NOT as the bike/car drives on the street.

I traveled hundreds of miles with my monchrome Legend before it was lost by accident. Seriously. I would make the routes at home using maybe 50 or 80 turns (Waypoints) and off I went. I didn't need maps at all and would only use the "Arrow" to guide me home from trips 75 miles away. I got lost sometimes but it added to the fun factor. I didn't consider myself an expert either!

I think you're better off making your own routes because I've seen some of those "Bicycle" routes made by "Internet" and handheld GPS's and they have a LOT to be desired. I always felt safer making my own routes because they went through subdivisions, cities, small towns and roads while avoiding highways as much as possible.

The main drawback to the pedestrian setting is that it can route you the wrong way on one-way streets.

Hills.

I traveled hundreds of miles with my monchrome Legend before it was lost by accident. Seriously. I would make the routes at home using maybe 50 or 80 turns (Waypoints) and off I went. I didn't need maps at all and would only use the "Arrow" to guide me home from trips 75 miles away. I got lost sometimes but it added to the fun factor. I didn't consider myself an expert either!

I think you're better off making your own routes because I've seen some of those "Bicycle" routes made by "Internet" and handheld GPS's and they have a LOT to be desired. I always felt safer making my own routes because they went through subdivisions, cities, small towns and roads while avoiding highways as much as possible.

Sadly, I do not have a computer at home with which to plot a route on to be transferred to my Legend. And the computers at the library are very limited in the external programs that one can run on them. :-(

xeno:

One can check elevations on Google Earth, or on http://www.earthtools.org

I'm in the same situation as DC. I carry a few paper maps, but I supplement that with pre-planned routes using Google Maps and Earthtools. Sometimes I print out the route from Google.

Google ain't perfect. The most direct (walking) route it suggested for a ride from my house to the nearest bike shop included several streets inside a gated development. Nobody hassled me as I rode through, but I was technically trespassing. There's a perfectly nice MUP that parallels those private streets, without any annoying speed bumps. I've used that since I discovered it, but Google knows nothing about it.

You can also set Google maps for driving, but use the "avoid highways" setting. That way you will at least not be routed onto any limited access roads where bikes are verboten.

You can add your name to the petition to update Google Maps with a "Bike There" feature: http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2009/03/20/suggest-a-feature-for-google-maps/

Kevin

xeno:

One can check elevations on Google Earth, or on http://www.earthtools.org

I'm in the same situation as DC. I carry a few paper maps, but I supplement that with pre-planned routes using Google Maps and Earthtools. Sometimes I print out the route from Google.

Google ain't perfect. The most direct (walking) route it suggested for a ride from my house to the nearest bike shop included several streets inside a gated development. Nobody hassled me as I rode through, but I was technically trespassing. There's a perfectly nice MUP that parallels those private streets, without any annoying speed bumps. I've used that since I discovered it, but Google knows nothing about it.

You can also set Google maps for driving, but use the "avoid highways" setting. That way you will at least not be routed onto any limited access roads where bikes are verboten.

You can add your name to the petition to update Google Maps with a "Bike There" feature: http://googlemapsbikethere.org/2009/03/20/suggest-a-feature-for-google-maps/

Kevin

Kevin,

Yep, like you I also carry a couple of "paper" road maps at least one for St. Pete with a couple of routes highlighted, one for Tampa, a booklet for the Pinellas Trail, City Trail, The Upper Tampa Bay Trail, and Tampa's "City Trails" map, as well as the Florida Ride Smart booklet which has the Florida bicycle statue printed inside the front.

I know what ya mean about Google Maps not always selecting the most direct route to a destination. Checking it to see how it would suggest going to my LBS it takes me several blocks out of the way. :-(

Google ain't perfect. The most direct (walking) route it suggested for a ride from my house to the nearest bike shop included several streets inside a gated development. Nobody hassled me as I rode through, but I was technically trespassing. There's a perfectly nice MUP that parallels those private streets, without any annoying speed bumps. I've used that since I discovered it, but Google knows nothing about it.
Kevin

google drives through areas the maps and photo's reflect that. they will have to redo a lot of maps to find all those bike trail options. I have signed the petition and would love to see Google add this feature.

I know that Google maps picks up the W&OD trail in Northern Virginia if you use the Walking setting. I know a lot of routes and usually ride without a computer. Since I live 10 minutes from W&OD, I usually use it to get our to the roads I'll be riding that day. When back home with my post-ride feedbag, I'll map it out on googlemaps to get a good estimate of my mileage.

Google maps would need a lot of work, from my perspective, to be useful for bike travel. Even on my regular riding routes, it doesn't cover 80% of where I go in street view - very useful if you want to see road conditions (paved, gravel, BMX course?). Most of the maps are really out of date as well (5 miles of where I go isn't even on the list).

I'd almost petition them to update what they got before they add any more.