Google Maps Now Supports Bike Routes

[MtnSingleSpeed]

Thank you Google. Odd that hiking trails hit before existing street bike routes, but as they say, "better late than pregnant."

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/google-maps-for-bikes?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

[hoser]

I like how folks will complain about the timing of free technology coming to their browser. This type of technology is difficult the put together and requires a great deal of time and money to bring to the masses. Be thankful the almighty G did it at all and enjoy mapping your favourite routes.

[picken myown]

I was excited to hear this announcement on NPR this morning. So once I reached my computer, I decided to try it out.

OK, let's go from Farragut to Market Square - will it find my favorite Greenways and side streets while avoiding Bearden Hill? Well sadly it's not yet up to the task. It sent me down Kingston Pike!

I hope Google keeps working on the program. It's a tool that the cycling community realy needs.

[MtnSingleSpeed]

I like how folks will complain about the timing of free technology coming to their browser. This type of technology is difficult the put together and requires a great deal of time and money to bring to the masses. Be thankful the almighty G did it at all and enjoy mapping your favourite routes.

Hoser, you're too easy...

I was just making a comment that it would have been more logical from a technical progression standpoint to assign cycling routes to pre-existing surveyed roads and easy-access green ways than to incorporate the wide array of non-motor vehicle supported hiking trails. Seemed a bit cart-->horse so I commented accordingly.

[ericmoritz]

I tested it out last night and this morning's commute. The route it suggested seems more direct than the one I've been using. I'll have to try it on my normal commuting bike to see if it's faster/slower than my other route.

The ride home was definitely easier. It was mostly downhill, while my old route home was mostly uphill.

Going to work was a much different story. Google suggested the same route going to work, which doesn't make sense to me. Given that the route was mostly downhill going home, it was mostly uphill going to work. There was some high grade climbs that I'd like to avoid while riding to work. It did feel faster despite the climbing.

It did a good enough job for me to trust using in a pinch. It's definitely better than just trying to guess the route if you don't know the streets. Especially in this area where wondering through random streets can result in some seriously high grade climbing.

I don't know if I'd trust it for suggesting routes in new cities. The route it suggested took me down Bernard which can be a bit sketchy if the hookers are out.

The moment this is available on the iPhone, I think Joel is going to pwnd all of us in the Alleycats

[Mudgobbler]

I like how folks will complain about the timing of free technology coming to their browser. This type of technology is difficult the put together and requires a great deal of time and money to bring to the masses. Be thankful the almighty G did it at all and enjoy mapping your favourite routes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LkusicUL2s

[COG]

I like how folks will complain about the timing of free technology coming to their browser. This type of technology is difficult the put together and requires a great deal of time and money to bring to the masses. Be thankful the almighty G did it at all and enjoy mapping your favourite routes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LkusicUL2s

"You are sitting in a chair, in the sky!"

[MtnSingleSpeed]

I do like this disclaimer for user-input improvements:

Bicycling directions are in beta.
Use caution and please report unmapped bike routes, streets that aren't suited for cycling, and other problems

There's really no way to get out of the N. Knox / Fountain City area on a bike without considerable risk. It suggests chugging down Callahan all the way to Dutchtown. Honestly, for as far as wide shoulders and visibility goes, it's not a bad route until it gets around Mabry Hood. Not Google maps fault. We live in TN, home of hills, curves, no shoulders, and battery/bottle chucking swerve-happy rednecks.

[ericmoritz]

I do like this disclaimer for user-input improvements:

Bicycling directions are in beta.
Use caution and please report unmapped bike routes, streets that aren't suited for cycling, and other problems

There's really no way to get out of the N. Knox / Fountain City area on a bike without considerable risk. It suggests chugging down Callahan all the way to Dutchtown. Honestly, for as far as wide shoulders and visibility goes, it's not a bad route until it gets around Mabry Hood. Not Google maps fault. We live in TN, home of hills, curves, no shoulders, and battery/bottle chucking swerve-happy rednecks.

battery chucking?

[Tom]

You haven't lived until you had a battery whiz past your noggin.