True, but a paper map does not generally have a "bike route" function that recommends the poor road. If I get on a rutted dirt road using a paper map, then that somehow feels different to me, more like an adventure, the success of which depends on my own wits and decision making. Having an online mapping service give a route that is horrible feels like an empty promise. The one time I used google exclusively was a destination oriented trip of 500 miles. There were really great things about using it, some of the turn by turn directions through small Midwestern cities were really cool(though I think I was trespassing on private property a few times), and it took me to some bike paths that were long abandoned and unmarked.

This is the only picture I can find of that road, mostly because Flickr and Photobucket have been redesigned since I posted them and are no longer as accessible to me due to improvements to their sites!

[IMG]securedownload by maruishi, on Flickr[/IMG]