Originally Posted by
mdilthey
In Iceland, there's a comprehensive cycling map that dictates the conditions expected for every road. Number of cars, gradient, road condition, etc. All keyed out - for literally every road in the entire country.
Interesting (not completely surprising). Iceland is the size of Ohio.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
The fact that Google Maps accomplishes as much as it does is a small miracle. The fact that the cycling option even exists astounds me from a logistics perspective. I don't think we have the manpower to properly update every road as might be ideal.
Not "every" road.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
1. People did fine without any digital mapping for decades.
We don't really know how many did fine or have problems. Also, there might be more people doing things now and they might be going to fringier places than most people did decades ago. One issue is that maps encourage people to go places (few people choose to venture where there are no maps). If the maps misrepresent ways, then those people are encouraged to go where maybe they shouldn't.
GPS-based mapping systems provide a sense of certainty that isn't always correct (and isn't correct where it's important to be correct).
I believe cyclists need to think more like wilderness navigators (understand the basics of navigation) and less like drivers.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
Even a complete cycling luddite can just turn around if a road is unsafe.
The problem can be that people convince themselves "it's probably only a short segment" and they might be too far along for turning back to appear as a reasonable option.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
Nobody is perilously careening down riverbeds thinking "Google said this would turn out fine!"
If nobody is doing this, then there's no point in mentioning it. Maybe, the issue isn't this at all. (Though, there have been people who have continued when they should have turned back.)
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
2. Because of the vast spectrum of preferences among cyclists, a crowdsourced update feature in google bike maps may make things worse, not better.
I'm not arguing for crowd sourced information.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
3. Google is unlikely to send out a guy with a StreetView camera/backpack out on all of your local dirt paths and abandoned roads.
Of course not. There are other sources than Google.
Originally Posted by
mdilthey
Those, you'll just have to explore for yourself. Many local organizations create cycling maps of their backyard; a cursory knowledge of Google Earth can help you get to making the same. I've done some cycling map work in GIS before, too, if you have access to it through a local university.
Yes. And Openstreetmaps provides a place for individuals to record what they find.