Using Google maps to help plan a tour route. Selecting the bike option puts me on gravel at times. Is there a way to avoid the gravel, and also the interstate system, while still in the bicycle mode?

Google is not that good..

They cannot show me how to get out of my neighborhood.

Google maps, around me, is incredible for local route planning before and during rides. The vast network of MUPs and bike lanes is up to date.
But in terms of streets, if all there is to choose from is highway or gravel, i cant say what it would choose. I havent tried to use google maps in that way.

Click the line that is the route and drag it to where you want to go. Thatll reroute the line. You need to manually change the suggested route sometimes.

I don't like Google for route planning, using RideWithGPS instead. Better routing options, IMO. The basic sign up is free.

Problem is I don't know any on line mapping program that will allow you to deselect gravel or non paved roads. Highways, yes you can avoid, but not off pavement.

I think part of the problem is all the on-line programs use the Google map set as the basic and Google doesn't seem to differentiate well, pavement from dirt.

I generally use RWGPS for initial route selection on my group tours, but try to verify everything in person - for a number of reasons. I've gotten quite good at detecting surface type - here are some tips.


It helps a lot to turn Labels OFF, as the labels include a Google whitish line over every road that tends to obscure the surface. You'll find this in the map selection box (top right corner) in RWGPS.


Often that will allow you to see if there are any white lines or not, either edges and/or center, which is a reliable indicator.


Otherwise, you'll need to really zoom in, and try comparing the road surface at intersections, or driveways. In rural areas, many driveways will be unpaved, so look for variations in color between known paved roads and questionable ones. Also be careful of roads that may start out as paved, but change at some distance from a paved main road.


Good luck

They could if you indicate a destination out of your neighborhood ;-)

Google map does strange things sometimes. The route took us over a dirt road that ended at these stairs. The road we wanted was at the top of the stairs

Gee, something similar happened to me last summer in CT. Trying to get from the state house in Hartford across the Connecticut River. They got me to the edge of the river just fine and told me to go over the Phoenix Footway Bridge or something like that. Problem was they didn't tell I was going to have to climb a set of stairs to get up the bridge. After riding between exits on I-84, wasting another 45 minutes still looking for how to get up on the bridge I finally found the steps. Couldn't complain too much, I had been wanting for ages to ride that particular stretch of I-84, yes illegally, but nonetheless. With my first guess as to how to get up on the bridge I end up on the off ramp from I-91 northbound onto I-84 westbound not immediately knowing that was where I was at. When I saw the southbound offramp I found myself cussing madly and laughing hysterically at the same time...didn't know you could do that. When I got off I-94 onto Asylum St, I was laughing even harder thinking the entire state of CT needs to be put in an insane asylum.

Why do you want to avoid gravel? It can be awesome.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349...7667672266654/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349...7667672266654/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349...7667672266654/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105349...7667672266654/

And sometimes interstates are unavoidable...unless you want to ride gravel.

Break out the manual maps if you want that. Heck, google only recently implemented historical traffic data, so you could estimate future traffic...

I'll agree with others. I like gravel, unless traveling on lightweight bikes with skinny tires, why avoid it? Great scenery and generally quiet roads where gravel exists!

I've found that often when trying to use Google Maps Bicycle for route planning that Google will divert quite a ways at times to get me onto a bike path or trail.

Riding dirt or gravel roads may not be too bad but sometimes those roads are a lot hillier or slower to ride on than a paved road. It depends on what you're iding, what you're carrying and if your trip is to just get somewhere and thus you want the fastest route to get you there. Sometimes too the satelite view will let you know if a road is gravel.

Perhaps Google plus a paper map?

Cheers

This is true. I often will plan out a route and If I'm not familiar with the roads, will use either Google maps satellite view or Google Earth, to zoom in to try determine road surface. One clue to look for is on pavement the local hwy. department will often times paint a center yellow as well as side of road white lane markings, which can be seen in the photos. Dirt and gravel never have these, though sometimes asphalt doesn't either.

Gazetteer: https://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DEL...?section=10096

Google maps + street view should provide a fairly good idea of what to expect .