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Google Maps makes major update to cycling navigation

Features include warning of routes with heavy motor traffic and highlighting alternatives with better cycling infrastructure

Google Maps has made a major update to its cycling navigation capabilities, including which route options will see riders encounter heavy traffic, as well as highlighting ones where they will find greater provision of cycling infrastructure.

Highlighting that “over the past few months, cycling has increased by more than 40 per cent worldwide,” Google says on its Blog that its new route information means that cyclists will “soon be able to easily compare bike routes and see even more granular details (when this data is available) to prepare for the ride ahead.”

Cycling directions, giving route options and estimated timings as well as a comparison of elevation profiles have been a feature of Google Maps for a number of years now, but the internet giant says that the new features mean that “In addition to seeing the elevation along your route, you’ll also know if you’ll encounter heavy car traffic, stairs or steep hills.

“You’ll also be able to get a highly detailed breakdown of the route itself so you can know at a glance what type of road you’ll be biking on – like a major road vs. a local street. Gone are the days of unknowingly pedalling up a strenuous hill or on a route with more car traffic than you’re comfortable with.”

Here’s how it would look on your phone, with route options provided for a journey from just south of Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium to Hampstead Heath (if you’re finding that difficult to view, take a look at it on the Google Blog, which also has details of other non-cycling features being added to Google Maps).

As mentioned above, providing alternative routes and displaying their profiles – with altitude of start and finish points, plus how much climbing and descending is involved in each shown in feet – has been a Google Maps feature for a number of years now.

> Google Maps unveil new ‘lite navigation’ system specifically for cyclists

Here’s an example of existing Google Maps cycle routing from Wales for a trip from Machynlleth to Barmouth, following two route options available on National Cycle Network Route 8, one inland taking in a big climb as it heads through the Snowdonia National Park, the other providing a much gentler option mainly along the coast.

Machynlleth to Barmouth on Google Maps

 

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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10 comments

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nortonp | 1 year ago
4 likes

"Less turns" indeed. Translated to English, thats "fewer turns".

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mdavidford replied to nortonp | 1 year ago
4 likes

We could do with less comments like this.

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Rendel Harris replied to nortonp | 1 year ago
5 likes

nortonp wrote:

"Less turns" indeed. Translated to English, thats "fewer turns".

Totally approve of the pedantry but might need to get an apostrophe in there to make it credible. 

Avatar
Alphabigrob | 1 year ago
0 likes

My biggest problem with Google maps cycling is that I'm invariably sent on rough tracks suited for a MTB. Wish they would offer alternative routes for MTB and road bikes

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Alphabigrob | 1 year ago
0 likes

Yep, they don't seem to let your choose surfaces like dedicated route planners on Komodo's ot strava. Although I think you have to subscribe for that benefit on those platforms. 

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JMcL_Ireland replied to Alphabigrob | 1 year ago
0 likes

This. Had a near disaster down near Bordeaux a few years ago where it took me up some tracks which would have been probably ok for the most part were it not for the fact that it was raining torrentially. They certainly wouldn't have been suited to a pure road bike. One turned into deep sand crossed with brakes that just couldn't be cycled. Another was 6 inch deep mud. Pièce de resistance was when it insisted I take a right into some dense pine forest that had never seen a track of any sort. I now use either cycle.travel as somebody else has suggested, or Komoot (worth paying for the maps especially if you come across an offer) as their navigation is great

Avatar
tintinbike | 1 year ago
4 likes

Nice to see cycle routing going more mainstream, I'll stick with the little guy for the moment though.
https://cycle.travel/
I've found this one works well, though It's a bit more leisure/family focussed than your average roadie ride it's easy to drag and change.
Has extra functionality to break long trips etc.

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mdavidford | 1 year ago
5 likes

Is 'more bike lanes' meant to be a feature or a warning?

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Bucks Cycle Cammer | 1 year ago
1 like

Hopefully they'll correct the grammar...

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andystow replied to Bucks Cycle Cammer | 1 year ago
1 like

Bucks Cycle Cammer wrote:

Hopefully they'll correct the grammar...

Here you go!

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003775.html

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