Google Maps Adds UK Cycling Directions

judgecorp writes "Google Maps has added cycling directions for the UK. The directions aim for safety rather than speed — for instance advising me to take a gentle route through the Park instead of speeding through the Hyde Park Corner underpass."

Comments

Not only UK, also many other European countries

[Anonymous Coward]

According to the H, UK was only one of many European countries for which cycling directions were enabled:

Cycling maps are available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Cycling directions are available at least in both Austria and Switzerland in addition to the UK.

Source: http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Google-Maps-jetzt-auch-fuer-Radfahrer-in-Europa-1637428.html (German)

Re:Not only UK, also many other European countries

[Knuckles]

According to the H, UK was only one of many European countries for which cycling directions were enabled:

Cycling maps are available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Cycling directions are available at least in both Austria and Switzerland in addition to the UK.

Source: http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Google-Maps-jetzt-auch-fuer-Radfahrer-in-Europa-1637428.html (German)

You can overlay the cycling information for maps, but it doesn't seem to do the route planning for cycling; the only options there remain "per car" and "on foot". So for the time being, for actual cycling route planning in Germany, Komoot seems to remain the only good option for now.

Re:Not only UK, also many other European countries

[lloydchristmas759]

You can overlay the cycling information for maps, but it doesn't seem to do the route planning for cycling; the only options there remain "per car" and "on foot". So for the time being, for actual cycling route planning in Germany, Komoot seems to remain the only good option for now.

In Switzerland, cycling directions are available (in addition to car, foot and public transport).

Safety...

[Savage-Rabbit]

Google Maps has added cycling directions for the UK. The directions aim for safety rather than speed...

So it sounds a klaxon whenever Jeremy Clarkson is in the vicinity so that the cyclists can run for cover?

CycleStreets is often better

[xaxa]

While Google do now have many cycle routes marked, I still prefer CycleStreets (which uses the same data as OpenCycleMap, i.e. OpenStreetMap). That gives a choice of three routes (fast, balanced, quiet), and has more cycling-related data on the map. Sometimes the routes can be a bit wiggly, but I think they're working on this.

However, it's great to see the cycle routes on Google, which will make them visible to lots of people -- hopefully those that don't realise their trip to the shops or work is faster by bicycle.

Re:CycleStreets is often better

[Chrisq]

While Google do now have many cycle routes marked, I still prefer CycleStreets (which uses the same data as OpenCycleMap, i.e. OpenStreetMap). That gives a choice of three routes (fast, balanced, quiet), and has more cycling-related data on the map. Sometimes the routes can be a bit wiggly, but I think they're working on this.

However, it's great to see the cycle routes on Google, which will make them visible to lots of people -- hopefully those that don't realise their trip to the shops or work is faster by bicycle.

Both have problems OpenCycleMap gives me a track which is through deep mud on the way to work, but then correctly gives me a cycle track at the end. Google maps keeps me on less muddy routes but sends me down a dangerous dual carriageway when there is a cycle track as an alternative.

Re:CycleStreets is often better

[ion]

CycleStreets ... gives a choice of three routes (fast, balanced, quiet)

http://www.openrouteservice.org/ gives 5 choices:

• Shortest Track
• Mountainbike
• Racer
• safest track
• prefered cycleway

But I am still missing these, some in sliders and not just on/off.

• no obstacles
• cargo bike/trailer
• velomobile
• many street lights
• no hills
• no (red) lights

Re:CycleStreets is often better

[fiannaFailMan]

no (red) lights

Why? Cyclists never pay attention to traffic lights anyway.

And motorists never pay attention to speed limits or cellphone/texting laws, never stop on red until at least tho seconds after the light turns red, nor do they ever come to a complete stop at stop signs. Point...?

That's normal.

[nospam007]

'The directions aim for safety rather than speed — for instance advising me to take a gentle route through the Park instead of speeding through the Hyde Park Corner underpass.'

That's not safety, it's because you were logged on, first, it knows you're a bad driver, second, it knows you're too fat and need the extra exercise.

Google maps India is awesome!

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

In India the street and road names are not marked very prominently as they are in USA. Even those few street name plates/boards are likely to be covered posters touting everything from "Certificate in ANSYS CAD software in 30 days!" to latest offering by the local "Mega Star". Nor are the local customs of giving directions involve the cardinal directions. Very rarely you hear, "Take Subramxysjdjhd street North and then go east on Johnshdhs road". Often you will hear, "Take left after the Pillsjdj temple, and then a right after the Indian Bank. You will see a autorickshaw stand opposite to the transformer. Third house ..."

Last trip there, I was pleasantly surprised to see the maps.google.co.in giving directions based on landmarks and the street names were shown in fainter font. It had three or four "mode"s. Car, motorcycle/scooter, public transportation. It knew the bridge across Cauvery at Anaikkarai was closed for repairs. Granted, that bridge has been down for about six years. But none of the printed maps were more recent than six years. It was able to find a very new apartment complex near Chennai when even the local Electricity Board meter reader guy could not help us.

Of course there were some funny stuff. The Old Mahabalipuram Road, (three lanes up, three lanes down, center median toll road) was shown with same level of prominence as Pillaiyaar Koil Street that was barely wide enough to accommodate an autorickshaw. But this is great progress. I would strongly advice people to get a USB stick 3G service and carry a laptop and you can find things your own cabby or autorickshaw driver or even the electricity board meter reader guy does not know.

My brother was joking, "all these techies go to USA with dreams of working for Google. Then they get a job in Google and the assignment they get is to punch in the local town bus timings of their own rural home town! "

Not that great

[agentgonzo]

Trying it out with a route from my house to a friend's, it takes me the 4.4 mile road route along the A36 rather than than the 5.6 mile route through the new forest that avoids the main road and is a peaceful cycle.

Putting my route to work in, it takes me along a main road rather than along the cycle-path that is about 10m parallel to the road for about a mile (that it has marked on it's maps but chooses to ignore).

I am impressed

[Peter H.S.]

I have played around with it for 10 minutes and have already found several alternative routes for my new cycling commute route, some even shorter than my current route.
The "Streetview" feature combined with this new cycling route planning feature makes Google maps really awesome.

I think exercising like running is totally boring, but somehow how cycling is different to me, it is just some much fun. Commuting to work is a blast; I arrive fresh, awake, full of energy, and with a smile on my face. Commuting home is nice too; I can unwind stress by going fast, so when I arrive home I am just relaxed. Endorphin rush is probably part of this good feeling, but my blood pressure and rest heart rate have improved a lot since I started cycling again.

Classes of cyclists

[OhHellWithIt]

I don't know about the new cycling directions in the U.K., but Google's cycling directions in the U.S. are pretty pitiful from my perspective, tending to guide one toward cycle paths and ignoring perfectly usable streets and roads. The problem is that cyclists' preferences are widely divergent. What may be an acceptable road for me, because I am used to riding in traffic, is unacceptable to someone who is overly afraid of cars and believes he is safer on the sidewalk (despite statistics to the contrary). The other web sites mentioned above are probably much more useful; meanwhile, I will just continue to choose the car route and then drag the route away from roads that look to be too unsafe or unpleasant.