Are there any websites (or other resources) for mapping out a good commuter route using start point and end point? Or am I stuck looking at maps and driving the route until I figure out a good bike route to my new job location? I'm hoping that technology has made it possible for me to be lazy and just enter in the two points and a computer will magically do at least the first round of heavy thinking for me... Suggestions?

Google maps does Bike routes now and does exactly what your asking but doesn't always select the best route. I put a sweet route together using it by dragging the highlighted blue route line to streets that looked better to use. It automatically recalculates mileage and time, it was pretty accurate too. Plus with street view you can actually look at the roads to see how they are for Bike riding

I do the same thing. But, I won't use the bike route feature, until it is out of Beta and, is fully operational. Until then, I leave it on 'car', click the box 'Avoid highways' and, drag after they give me the recommended route by car. When possible, I click on the box that will show the street. So I can get an idea of the possible road conditions.

I put in my home and work addresses into Google Maps and picked the bike route option. Amazingly enough, it showed me the exact route I normally ride every day.

They closed a bridge on me for a month, so I picked the 2nd recommended route and have been riding that for the last 2 weeks. It's a route I wouldn't have thought of on my own and has worked great for me.

So far I've been pretty impressed.

is there a way for Google Maps to show an elevation profile of the route? mapmyride.com does this very nicely, so I still use that.

Elevation would be nice for Google Maps. My primary trail I ride (Hennepin canal bike trail in Illinois, 60 mile long trail) isn't loaded on Google Maps yet, I've reported it.

Which brings me to my point of posting. Those of you not using Google Maps, it would help them out alot if you would at least open it up and try your commute, and report to them the problems in their reporting. They cannot possibly test everything and know every nuance of every city, but with enough reporting by the community, they will get it right. The Quad Cities (just next door to me) are trying to do this, twas an article in the paper a couple weeks ago to go along with the report about Google Bike Maps.

We can all do our part.

dood, where ya been the past 15 years? maps? wutz a map? just kidding GOOGLE IT!

I started out using mapmyride.com and you can see other people's bike routes but I got really tired of the heavy advertising on the site and gave it up.

I like bikely.com. But I recognize they have a real challenge now that Google is muscling into their turf.

It freaks me out that Google answered the OP's question by placing an ad for Google Bike Maps in the post asking the question! At least when I open the thread. Hey Google, what kind of sandwich should I have for lunch?

In addition to Google maps, I also use Bing.
With Bing maps you can click on "aerial" view, then click bird's eye view. In this mode, you can get a better view of the street width and see if there is a bike lane or shoulder.
In Google Maps, you can also use the Street view mode (if the view was shot by the Google van). Great way to pan over to see the bike lane, shoulder or parked cars!

This might help you too. I just found the bike lane maps for SD. Here's the link:

https://www.icommutesd.com/Bike/BikeMap.aspx

where's the BING bird button?

chumbolly, freaky with the Google Ad indeed.

To the OP, try this.

Bikely is such a different type of application. Its data (other than the actual maps...) is provided by cyclists. I don't think Google will provide actual user routing. No?

Ridewithgps

It doesn't actually let you pick point A and Point B, but it's fun to play around with. Much, much better than MapMyRide, Bikely, Bikeroutetoaster, etc...

It's very easy, has very accurate elevation gain, shows very accurate mileage, and is in active development.

I use Gmaps Pedometer which is great if you already know where you're going. Gives you distance, elevation profile, calories burned, complete out and back, etc...

thanks - very very nice. elevation feature is SO much better than mapmyride and that's what I care about mostly since I am so slow on the hills. THANK YOU!

after a week of trying ridewithgps I have completely abandoned mapmyride. it is so much better in every way. I have redrawn all of my routes on ridewithgps, it's that good!

Try google with the walking option.


Here in Minneapolis we have cyclopath.com If you can find a way to get it up and running (open source) you to can have it in your county/city.