Zaphod Beeblebrox 

This isn't C&V specific at all, but I just saw today on Google that Google Maps will now generate directions for travel by Bike!

It already did by car, foot, and public transport...I'm pretty excited to have a bike route option now that will realize that I don't want to (and legally can't) ride on the shoulder of Route 80.

rhm

I tried it out for a route I know pretty well, and it suggested roads I would never take, including a bridge on which bicycles are not allowed. So while I applaud the effort, the results so far are not encouraging.

RogerB

I couldn't get it to come up as an option, but I watched their demo video.

cycleheimer

Thanks for posting this!

I did a quick check on a route I am familiar with, and it got an A+

Can't wait to map out some road trips!

lotek 

I just mapped a bike route from home to work, pretty neat. It avoided most of the major roads except where
absolutely unavoidable.
Rogerb, when I clicked get directions it had a dropdown box that include auto, bicycle walking etc.

Marty

PDXaero

They certainly don't have all th kinks worked out but they had to debut it today for the national bike summit in DC. From what I hear it will be constatly updating to factor out huge hills, dangerous conditions, and non bikable roads. Still. A good sight to see but when people are using google maps to plot a one mile trip to the _____, seeing bike as an option is not going to change the laziness of the user. (This was one of there goals, that seeing biking as an option would open more people to the concept of making short trips by bike instead of vehicle.)

jamesss

@ 12.3 mph I wonder where they got that from?

unworthy1

I heard (on the radio) that that is supposedly the "average speed of bike", averaged from data of all riders on all routes under all conditions. YRMV

cycleheimer

This is addictive! You definitely need a cycle computer with an accurate odometer reading for longer trips, but that only makes sense and is almost a "given". The estimated riding time on one trip I looked at seems just a little "dicey". Lance Armstrong would be hard pressed to arrive in the time it says it would take...they aren't running on "girly man" time. Anyway, this is totally awesome! Thanks again Z.B. I know it will help me plan my spring and summer rides.

Oscuro

Not working for me. Just for the US right now? Or perhaps my city just isn't supported yet.....nuts.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Yes only major Metro areas in the US are covered right now I believe.

JunkYardBike

I like this website for plotting routes. Usually, however, I choose the roads I want rather than allowing the auto-routing to do it (though I do use auto-routing for more accurate mileage and elevation data). It lets you use either Google maps or OpenStreetMap (doesn't appear it's updated yet with Google's bike route data), and allows you to modify speed. It also generates a cue sheet and data file uploadable to GPS devices. As a guide, I use the New Jersey Bike Map, a great resource available to cyclists riding in NJ. It's color coded to indicate traffic volume and includes general elevation data on most roads.

treebound 

Seems to work for the general Milwaukee Wisconsin area. Plugged in my daily (car route) start and end commute, pulled a few points into better routes, and it came up with 39 miles and about 3hrs-29minutes. I then moved the start point to a planned Park&Ride so I could Drive&Ride and worked it down to about 16 miles and about 90 minutes. It even picked up the Interurban and Bugline trails.
I'll have to play with that other route generator this weekend some.

My plan is to get a few bike commutes in to the current job before it ends, once the weather breaks for the better.

The Golden Boy 

Nifty!!

noglider 

I am happy!

I think 12.3 mph is a good average estimate.

I notice in the pictures, it has me making turns from the left side of the street, as if it's a walking route. I haven't checked to see if the pictures are the same for car-driving routes.

Anyway, they will fix the problems. They respond well to users' suggestions. I hope it doesn't have us going the wrong way on one-way streets, assuming that it's OK for cyclists, the way it does for walking routes.

The Golden Boy 

Is there any sort of legend, especially as far as what the colors on the route mean?

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I'd go one further and Wish they'd put a disclaimer at the top of the directions that says "Remember: Bicycles Travel WITH the flow of traffic, not against"....such a message could easily be displayed or not displayed depending on the local laws of the location you're mapping.

noglider 

It's illegal to ride against traffic everywhere.

treebound 

Not necessarily. Plus there is the sidewalk factor where some jurisdictions make it illegal to cycle on a sidewalk and others don't care. There's a couple of sketchy road sections I've been on where I was thankfull for a handy sidewalk, but usually I just play in the street.

YoKev

My "bike route" suggested I take paper streets that don't physically exist (never have), sent me across the creek at Fording Place road (couple hundred feet wide and about 2-3 feet deep), sent me down a narrow state highway with no shoulder for 10 miles, and didn't include about 20 miles of the Rail Trail, of which, I use about 7.

Tried to report it to Google, and their server borked it up and said try again. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

noglider 

Really? I sent in a correction, and they accepted it.

GV27

Well, it only covers 110 cities so at least some of your problems likely come from no coverage in your town. They could save themselves some grief by indicating where no bike data exists. Maybe that's the problem with your correction as well - you're trying to correct data that doesn't exist. If they have data in your area you'll see bike paths, lanes, etc. in green everywhere. e.g. for you, Kevin, Kingston shows none but scroll down to NYC where they do. edit: they do have some rural coverage in NY I was just noticing - rail trails and canal trails from the look of it. Huh.

As far as the non-existent roads, etc. I was discussing this over in commuting and another guy was saying it couldn't find his house and all addresses were 1/2 mile off. Dunno about all that. If you put in my address it gives you a picture of the front of my house with my dog on the porch! Maybe it's not accurate everywhere? It sure as heck is here in Denver and has an impressive database of paths.

Over in commuting a lot of folks wanted it to take into account things like shortcuts through parking lots and across grassy fields as well as where potholes and garbage are. All that seems a little too much to ask. Then there is the eternal debate about what "appropriate" cycling routes are. Some take the lane and have no use for shoulders and sidewalks and regard MUPs as death zones, where other folks are exactly the opposite. No good way to satisfy both......

C