Tandem Cycling - Biking directions added to Google Maps

Here's some welcome news for tandem team navigators, it has just gotten easier to plan routes.


Biking directions added to Google Maps (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/biking-directions-added-to-google-maps.html)

3/10/2010 05:00:00 AM
Whenever I meet someone who finds out that I work on the directions team for Google Maps, the first question I'm asked is often "So when's Google Maps going to add biking directions?" We're big biking fans too, so we've been itching to give you a concrete answer. I don't want to keep the good news a secret any longer, so the answer is: right now!

I tried it, and sure enough (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=201+N+Santa+Cruz+Ave,+Los+Gatos,+CA+95030&daddr=Sausalito,+CA&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=b&sll=37.560364,-122.263412&sspn=0.385915,0.617294&ie=UTF8&z=10&lci=bike), directions from Los Gatos to Sausalito, although that isn't the route that most road cyclists would use.

A route from Google maps can easily be seen on Google Earth, and these are very easy to download into a Garmin 705. Alternatively, iPhone wielding stokers could get bicycling directions on the fly.

A route from Google maps can easily be seen on Google Earth, and these are very easy to download into a Garmin 705.

Oh please tell me how, I have found downloading routes in to my 705 from bike route toaster or map my ride an exercise in aggravation at best, more likley an exercise in futility. Help

Take the bike trails with a small grain of salt.
I checked the Boulder area to find a nice bike trail running parallel to Hwy 36.
Only problem is, this is a *proposed* trail that has never been built.

Just gave it a quick try, while not the route I would choose it would work. I do not know how you would read the 42 course directions it gave me for my 14 mile commute. I did not see a way to transfer the route into the Garmin.

Still needs alot of work. Sent me through a state prison and several dirt roads that are private when routing my commute to work and skipped the paved bike trail.

Google should have a special cyclist website where we can just click on roads and bike paths that we use / like the most.
Then they will know how to generate a decent route.

Experimented with a route I've refined through the course of the winter. Google found a "trail" kind-of parallel to my route, and every time I tried to drag it off, there was a different part of the route bouncing back. Said trail is covered in 3-6" of snow, just now, even though the roads have been dry for the better part of a week. When it thaws it will be mostly dirt with some wood-chip "improvements". A simple check-box that says "avoid unpaved routes" would help.

I did not see a way to transfer the route into the Garmin.

I did manage to download a route into my Garmin, but then I haven't been able to replicate this feat.

This website, takitwithme.com (http://www.takitwithme.com/), claims to be able to convert Google Maps routes and send them to your Garmin, but I've not gotten it to work.

This was of course posted on the Road Cycling forum as well, with a lot more posts.

Finally: Bicycle Directions on Google Maps (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?627367-Finally-Bicycle-Directions-on-Google-Maps&highlight=google+maps)

I still haven't seen the procedures for getting the Google Maps course into the Garmin.

I did manage to download a route into my Garmin, but then I haven't been able to replicate this feat.

This website, takitwithme.com (http://www.takitwithme.com/), claims to be able to convert Google Maps routes and send them to your Garmin, but I've not gotten it to work.

This was of course posted on the Road Cycling forum as well, with a lot more posts.

Finally: Bicycle Directions on Google Maps (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?627367-Finally-Bicycle-Directions-on-Google-Maps&highlight=google+maps)

I still haven't seen the procedures for getting the Google Maps course into the Garmin.

I fixed Google's route for you ;)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=201+N+Santa+Cruz+Ave,+Los+Gatos,+CA+95030&daddr=CA-35+N%2FSkyline+Blvd+to:CA-35+N%2FSkyline+Blvd+to:Skyline+Blvd+to:San+Andreas+Trail+to:Skyline+Blvd+to:Gateway+Dr+to:Skyline+Bl vd+to:Great+Hwy+to:Great+Hwy+to:Great+Hwy+to:Great+Hwy+to:Balboa+St+to:Balboa+St+to:Balboa+St+to:Bal boa+St+to:Balboa+St+to:Balboa+St+to:34th+Ave+to:34th+Ave+to:Sausalito,+CA&geocode=FesGOAId6bK6-CllybQ78DWOgDEBrvacMZMYXQ%3BFf68OAIdFDG4-A%3BFRh5OwIdHz-1-A%3BFfZRPQId4GG0-A%3BFRLfPQId8M-z-A%3BFapIPgIdJGWz-A%3BFfmuPgIdxhyz-A%3BFYoGPwIdAviy-A%3BFdq2PwIdBrOy-A%3BFbrTPwIdj7Gy-A%3BFQJQQAIdkqKy-A%3BFZVdQAIdtqCy-A%3BFQNnQAId9aKy-A%3BFV9nQAIdfaqy-A%3BFRxoQAIdGLuy-A%3BFVhoQAIdHcCy-A%3BFcBoQAId3Miy-A%3BFUlpQAIdQtSy-A%3BFXVtQAIdKeOy-A%3BFWmGQAId69ay-A%3BFRavQQId_QWz-Cl1JskxU4SFgDHuUY-CbaoDuQ&hl=en&mra=mr&mrcr=0&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19&dirflg=b&sll=37.852933,-122.474384&sspn=0.025685,0.031672&ie=UTF8&z=15&lci=bike

URL is much longer now... haha

They need to revamp their algorythm. There is too much weight given to bike lanes. Like it will have me deviate to another road for 2 blocks, because it has a bike lane. I do like that is has included bike paths and MUPs.

Have Googled routes for car trips and twice sent me on a real will goose chase.
I still rely on real state maps when we travel.
Technology can be an aide, but is not foolproof . . . yet.
Just our experience.
R & K/zonatandem