Two-wheeled travelers across the United States got some good news today: Google is adding bicycling directions to its popular Maps site. At present, riders in 150 cities will be able to identify bike lanes, quieter streets as well as off-road trails before heading out on their morning commutes or pleasure rides.
So far, there is no word on whether or not the same feature will be extended to Canadian cities.
Bicycle directions were the most popular feature request for the Maps page, which previously offers driving and walking routes. As with those features, users enter a starting point and ending point for their trip, and Google fills in a suggested route and fairly accurate time. The same way that drivers can choose to keep away from highways or tolls roads, Google Bike users can be advised how to guide around hills.
A feature called Local Search will point out close by bike shops or snack stops. And, of course, users can use the Street View function to see photos of what the street really looks like, before they go.
Also included in Google Bike are 15,000 miles of off-street bike trails. That info was collected by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that has been assembling trail information also publishing it free on its own site since 2007.
Jennifer Kaleba, VP Communications for Rails-to-Trails says that “It just seemed like a good partnership”. And building new trails out of unused rail corridors and the group lets users submit info on existing U.S. trails via its site.
According to Jennifer Kaleba “All our mapping and trails are available free, and Google Maps is also a free service,” whose hope is that bike info on both sides will grow up as users contribute to the mapping initiative.
Up to now, Google Bikes is only available in 150 cities in the U.S., and Rails-to-Trails is U.S.-based too. Jennifer Kaleba says time and money are the limiting factors in bringing the trail site further north.
So far, there is no word on whether or not the same feature will be extended to Canadian cities.
Bicycle directions were the most popular feature request for the Maps page, which previously offers driving and walking routes. As with those features, users enter a starting point and ending point for their trip, and Google fills in a suggested route and fairly accurate time. The same way that drivers can choose to keep away from highways or tolls roads, Google Bike users can be advised how to guide around hills.
A feature called Local Search will point out close by bike shops or snack stops. And, of course, users can use the Street View function to see photos of what the street really looks like, before they go.
Also included in Google Bike are 15,000 miles of off-street bike trails. That info was collected by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that has been assembling trail information also publishing it free on its own site since 2007.
Jennifer Kaleba, VP Communications for Rails-to-Trails says that “It just seemed like a good partnership”. And building new trails out of unused rail corridors and the group lets users submit info on existing U.S. trails via its site.
According to Jennifer Kaleba “All our mapping and trails are available free, and Google Maps is also a free service,” whose hope is that bike info on both sides will grow up as users contribute to the mapping initiative.
Up to now, Google Bikes is only available in 150 cities in the U.S., and Rails-to-Trails is U.S.-based too. Jennifer Kaleba says time and money are the limiting factors in bringing the trail site further north.
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