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Huge jump in cycling searches prompts Google Maps overhaul

New feature will help Santander Cycles users in London identify docking stations with bikes free and where to leave them at journey's end...

A huge jump in searches relating to cycling routes during the coronavirus pandemic has prompted changes to Google Maps – including showing docked hire bike locations in cities such as New York and London.

Besides providing directions on foot to the nearest Santander Cycles docking station with a bike free, for example, the feature will then give the cycle route to the one nearest the ultimate destination as well reaching there by walking once leaving the bike.

In a blog post, Google Maps product manager Vishal Dutta said: “To give you the most up-to-date bike route, we use a combination of machine learning, complex algorithms, and our understanding of real-world conditions based on imagery and data from government authorities and community contributions.

“We also consider various forms of bike lanes and nearby streets that might be less friendly for your two wheels (like tunnels, stairs and poor surface conditions) so you can have the best and smoothest biking route.

“You can also see how flat or steep your route will be, so you’ll know if you’re in for an easy breezy ride or one that will really get the heart pumping.”

According to Google, it has seen a 69 per cent rise in searches for cycling directions via Google Maps since February down to people getting on bikes both for exercise and to get to and from work.

“As biking habits change, especially as things evolve with COVID-19, we’re constantly updating this information to help you uncover the most reliable bike route,” said Google.

The feature is due to be rolled out initially to 10 cities, with London being the only one in Europe, the other locations being Chicago, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington DC, London, Mexico City, Montreal, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Taipei and New Taipei City.

Other cities will be added later on, Google added.

The company first introduced cycling directions a decade ago and information is now available in 30 countries worldwide with millions of people using the feature each day.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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5 comments

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wtjs | 3 years ago
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Looks like we all agree- as soon as these Covid Cyclists realise it's not all downhill on sunny lanes free of psycho-drivers and their Fellow-Traveller police pals, they'll be gone.

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LetsBePartOfThe... replied to wtjs | 3 years ago
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We've all seen a better way dawning for people and the planet. And there is so much further to go still, to achieve real and permanent changes to attitudes and infrastructure. 
What stupidity: if we now let it slip from our collective grasp, and just revert back to how we once were. Some strong and coherent leadership would be a huge help in keeping the momentum of changes and incentives going, otherwise it will just stall within a few weeks, and the opportunity will have been totally squandered.

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OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
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I do wonder whether this change in urban mobility will last.

My wife starts working again in a couple of weeks after a long break during lockdown. She'll be back on her bike to get into the centre of London as she says she won't go on the tube. But then she's a regular cyclist and preferred two wheels to the underground as long as the weather's not too bad in any case.

Elder son is also back doing shifts and also now commuting on his bike rather than taking the tube. We're a family used to cycling though and we've a fleet of bikes.

How many of these newbie cyclists prompted to switch to two wheels because of the pandemic will continue to do so 12 months from now? 

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brooksby replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
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OldRidgeback wrote:

I do wonder whether this change in urban mobility will last.

No.  No, it won't.  2

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chineseJohn replied to OldRidgeback | 3 years ago
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sadly it won't as soon as winter arrives, they'll be a large number of bikes for sale.

I worked in Central London for 5 years and cycled around 98% of the time from Paddington to various offices. It was noticable how few people cycled in the winter especially when a heavy downpour was expected. I even cycled in the snow without issues. 

The summer it was heaving, bicycle jams

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