How to plot a bike route using a Google-like interface

May 2, 2009 6:36 AM

Does anyone know of a Google Maps equivalent for bicycle route-finding in the greater Los Angeles area? You type in starting and ends points, and it gives you a bike-safe route, off busy streets? Thanks
posted by holdenjordahl to sports, hobbies, & recreation (8 comments total)

Not quite what you're asking, but here are some bikemaps.
posted by metastability at 6:54 AM on May 2

Not exactly what you are after but the tools at http://www.mapmyrun.com (it isn't just for runs) can help you plot out your own route using Google Maps and will give you feedback on distance, calories burned, et cetera et cetera.
posted by synecdoche at 7:10 AM on May 2

Google maps also has an "avoid highways" option, which will keep you off of some of the biggest streets.
posted by craven_morhead at 7:27 AM on May 2 [1 favorite]

This blog post details a bunch of cycling trip planners. It looks like this one's specific to the LA area:

BikeMetro
posted by lilnublet at 7:41 AM on May 2

"Bikely helps cyclists share knowledge of good bicycle routes."
posted by conrad53 at 9:09 AM on May 2

Seconding Bikely and there is also mapmyride.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 9:13 AM on May 2

I like this list of bike routes people have posted on CICLE. Most of the routes have commentary describing different sections of the route, where stop lights are, whether or not you are bypassing a scary stretch of traffic, etc.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 9:39 AM on May 2

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but since Google Maps will plot for walking (thus ignoring the various confines a car would place upon you), perhaps you can click on the 'walking' option?
posted by WCityMike at 5:56 PM on May 4