How many of you use tools like google maps to search out new routes to work?

I found myself looking tonight at ways to extend my 7.33 mile (one way) commute to something more than that. Came up with a 9.3 mile ride that should be wonderful, an 11 mile ride, and a 16.2 mile ride.

The last two intentionally take me well out of my way. I'm going to drive the two later routes to make sure the roads I've selected (which I'm unfamiliar with) are suitable for safe bicycle commuting.

What do all of you do for route planning?

7.3 Miles: My Most Direct Route

9.3 Miles Alternate Route #1

11 Miles Alternate Route #2

And Finally
16.2 Miles Alternate Route #3

My area is simply laid out enough that I don't need maps to the different ways across town, but I do something the same on mileages.

4 miles is most direct on city roads
6 miles is nicest, using the MUP most of the way
8 miles is what I do if its a really nice day and I have time, working in an extra loop on the MUP

I have two routes into work, one is 10.9 miles, the other 11.5 miles. I always take the shorter route unless I need the other route that takes me past my business address in case I need to pop in. The shorter route also has very slight variations but nothing drastic.

The way I figure it, in the mornings I wanna get to work asap, and in the evenings I wanna get home reasonably asap.

I have one good way across the river, so I will sometime vary how it get to this point

I like to ride on good surfaces with little traffic. I put together a nice 30 miler by just getting on my bike and discovering spontaneously.

I've used bikeroutetoaster, The UBC bike route planner at https://www.cyclevancouver.ubc.ca/cv.aspx, and old fashioned paper maps, with some experimentation thrown in. I worked out my short route by taking the route I'd normally drive in the morning, and finding the quieter side streets on the ride home.

I've got a river to cross and highways abound, so my options are sadly limited. I do play around w/ Google Maps and ridewithgps a lot though - just I use them more to scope out weekend rides or routes to possible touring destinations.

Great that you have options... I would put my money on the 7.3 and 9 miles route. But that's just a swag.

I would not use the car to scout out those routes.

I would prefer riding them early Sunday morning when there's no or low traffic. Problem is that using the car shields you from a lot of input. For example, a rough road for a bike might not seem that rough in a car. Also, riding on the bike gives you an idea of how tired you will be after the ride. This might dissuade you from the longest route (or it might convince you.) Car won't help you with that.

Lastly, riding a car will not give you a good feel for hills and traffic. These routes might seem flat in a car, but might surprise you one a bike. You might also get the impression driving a car that there's lots of traffic, which might not be your impression on a bike. Traffic often travels in bunches with rather lengthy interludes between them. You get a feel of the pace on a bike. You don't in a car.

Gee, what an amazingly boring road layout your city has. What is that, an intersection every mile or so? and everything is so straight.

heh. I live on the edge of the city, and ride into a town of 3500 residents.

I've been taking the 7.3 mile ride into work pretty frequently over the last two weeks. I have a personal goal of 1500 miles in 2010, and since I didn't start riding until the 30th of May, I have a lot of catching up to do. I did 90 miles in may. I'm going to need to do more like 300 a month from now until November because I'm sure the miles will fall off, (not end) in December when the weather is good and crappy. I figure if I can double the distance of my daily commute that's a step in the right direction, which is the reason for the 16 mile route I was looking for roads that didn't seem like major car routes.

I figured I could use the car to determine just how much traffic is actually on those roads at the times I'd be riding in, as well as gauge how wide the roads/shoulders are.

I've used regular maps, google maps, word of mouth, exploration, and a local cycling forum to help me figure out how to get where I want to go.