Hello

Since Google Maps Classic no longer lets users export routes to KML files, I'm looking for an alternative to city cyclists with the following features:

• Simply type two addresses, A = source, B= destination
• After the site offers a route, let users "pull" the route to force it to go through specific locations, even those only available to cyclists/pedestrians
• Export route to KML/GPX.

IOW, I'm not looking at exercise-oriented apps like Strava, Endomondo, etc.

At this point, it appears that OpenStreetMap-based solutions aren't very good because they often lack street numbers, which is a must for that use.

As for Google Maps-based solutions, the only application I know that prompts users for addresses is Google Maps Engine Lite (a.k.a. Google Maps New) but it's not as good:

1. Must log on to Google, and create and name a new map, while Classic didn't require that initial step
2. No zooming in on home location: User must zoom in every time before getting to work
3. When selecting Directions and clicking the Bicycle icon, it displays all bike lanes, which I don't need and it makes the map harder to read
4. Harder to share route: Classic simply provided a URL (long/short), while New requires logging onto Google (required in first step to actually create a new map) and hitting the Share button

My dream app would 1) be as easy to use as Classic, 2) display the route in different colors to show elevation, which is very important for cyclists who live in non-flat cities, 3) be cyclist-centered so as to let users force routing to locations off-limit to cars (eg. stairs, one-way streets with contraflow lanes, etc.), and 4) export routes to KML/GPX.

Is Google Maps Engine Lite the best there is at this point?

Thank you.

Are you looking at something that will route everywhere or only to limited locations? If you are looking for limited locations and like OSM based solutions other then the lack of addresses it would be easy to add them.

I'm not sure why you're ruling out exercise oriented sites, but I believe you can do all what you want on the Ride With GPS site and the Map My Ride site, among others. For example, sign up for a free account on RideWithGPS and click on PLAN at the top. Enter the starting address in the box on the top right. Click on the found point on the map. Enter the destination address in the box on the top right. Click on the resulting point shown on the map to add it your route. You can then drag the route as desired. A window on the bottom shows the elevation profile of the route. Save and export as a GPX.

Yes, ridewithgps does use google's address number correctly. I typed in a local address as the starting point, and it was accurate.

Oh, I see ridewithgps can route to a control point. (EDIT-like Looigi posted above.) I typed in a destination address and it asked, "Do you want to route to this point?" I never do this, I want to design my own route by clicking on roads.

Save the route with a descriptive title. You can just link to the ridewithgps route URL, like this: ridewithgps.com/routes/3290232 or click Export and save the .tcx or .gpx file. It seems to export KML files, but I've never tried it.

A couple of years ago, google maps didn't know that house numbers in my neighborhood went from about 1 to 40, with a hundreds prefix. For instance, one end of the block is 401, the other end is 438. They assumed it was from 1-99 within the block, so any located address was pushed toward the low numbered end of the block. I see that now it's been corrected here.

Yes, the "New My Maps" at google is terrible. I used to use the old version to easily make a starting location map. I would just drag a pointer into the map, label it, and save the map with a name. It would load instantly for other riders to see where the ride was located.

Now, it's more complicated to mark up, and the map zooms way in to just display the markers. But I want the map area I saved it at. And it wants me to sign in before it shows the map, and the provided url link has "edit" in it, so it wants to go into edit mode, even though I told it to be View only. (change the 'edit' to 'viewer' which helps a little.)

+1 the new Google maps are a major down grade.

Me too, as my destination is almost always the same as my starting point. LOL. However, if you are navigating between two points, using the auto-routing feature and then editing the route as desired is very straightforward. You add control points and then drag the part of the route between them. Delete control points when they get in the way of what you're trying to do. You can even route where there are no roads or trails on the map by turning off follow roads before you make the edit. I can't conceive of an easier or better interface.

RideWithGPS, MapMyRide, Strava, Google Maps New, etc. are all more labor-intensive than Google Maps Classic, which worked like a charm.

Even without being logged on to Google…

1. Open page
2. Fill TO/FROM addresses, either by typing or right-clicking on map > "Directions to here"
3. Click on Get Directions
4. (optional) Pull route to force path
5. Save file to My Maps, and download KML file*
6. Copy KML to smartphone
7. (optional) Share long/short URL with friends.

<Dennis Miller>Wash it, wipe it, good night.</Dennis Miller>

After trying several alternatives, Google Maps Engine Lite (a.k.a. Google Maps New) and (OSM-based) Cycle.Travel are the least bad options for use in cities.

One feature that none has: Show elevation in the route itself by coloring it differently (green, blue, red). Very useful to urban cyclists in hilly cities.

* Google could have made this step easier by providing a link to a KML file directly

Turns out Cycle.travel isn't a good alternative, as it doesn't support POI :-/

Although it requires a few more steps than Google Maps Classic, I sorta like RidewithGPS but if possible, I'd rather avoid having to shell out $6/month just to draw and export a couple of routes with POIs. Unfortunately, routes imported in Google Maps Engine Lite cannot be edited, so RidewithGPS + GMEL isn't a good solution.

I think Garmin Connect will let you export a GPX file. I just create them on there and send them to my Edge 1000.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/create

Thanks.

Just gave it a try, but didn't like it:

• The UI is slow and bulky compared to others
• Couldn't find how to type a To address
• Map too small (less than 1/2 of the screen)
• No POI

The search goes on…

GC does not export GPX files but rather TCX files. GC mapping functionality is pretty poor compared to the other sites I've mentioned, IMO.

I looked again. It is the Activities (past rides) that can be exported as .fit, .tcx, .gpx and .kml. Apparently those additional options aren't available from the Courses menu. Bummer. Since I use the Edge 1000, Garmin Connect works well for me.

At this point, AFAIK, the alternatives are:

• Pay $6/month to subscribe to RideWithGPS so you can export route + POIs in the GPX/KML file
• Draw two, unrelated maps, one in Google Maps Engine Lite (a.k.a. Google Maps New) to hold POIs, and the other in RideWithGPS to hold the route. Before bothering, check that your smartphone application can display multiple GPX/KML files at once (Maps.Me does)