Bike-filter
May 15, 2022 6:11 PM Subscribe
What is a google maps-like website for city biking that isn't horrible?
I live in a very bike-able city with real live designated bike routes that can be taken, but Google Maps absolutely refuses to give me routes that use them, even when I turn the "bike direction" feature on and even when I redirect the route to the bike routes (it gives me scribbly routes suggesting I go in circles to get back onto the bad non-bike-able route).
Google maps avoids designated bike-routes and puts me instead on busy, scary streets where bikes are absolutely not safe and bikers have died from being run over or doored. I'm traveling in a cargo bike with children on the back, so safety is non-negotiable.
Is there a better mapping website? I'd prefer something I could use on my laptop (not my phone) so I can see it on a larger screen and review my route before I leave.
I live in a very bike-able city with real live designated bike routes that can be taken, but Google Maps absolutely refuses to give me routes that use them, even when I turn the "bike direction" feature on and even when I redirect the route to the bike routes (it gives me scribbly routes suggesting I go in circles to get back onto the bad non-bike-able route).
Google maps avoids designated bike-routes and puts me instead on busy, scary streets where bikes are absolutely not safe and bikers have died from being run over or doored. I'm traveling in a cargo bike with children on the back, so safety is non-negotiable.
Is there a better mapping website? I'd prefer something I could use on my laptop (not my phone) so I can see it on a larger screen and review my route before I leave.
What city? Citymapper was shockingly good at this on a trip to Seattle, but it’s not available everywhere.
posted by charmedimsure at 6:20 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by charmedimsure at 6:20 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yes, different cities have different resources for this. Chicago has a Mellow Bike Map, for example.
posted by Mid at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Mid at 6:32 PM on May 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ask your local bike shops. In the cities I’ve lived in, there have been active local bike orgs that have been publishing bike maps for years, which, depending on the city, show bike trails , bike lanes on streets, bikeable non-bike lane streets, and sometimes even hill gradient.
Your local bike community will know the best resource for your area.
posted by Silvery Fish at 4:34 AM on May 16, 2022
Your local bike community will know the best resource for your area.
posted by Silvery Fish at 4:34 AM on May 16, 2022
Strava has a routing tool, but you can use it without a subscription during a free trial: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-steal-free-routes-from-strava-1848900774
AND apparently that was bike week on lifehacker, because they also collected this set of tools: https://lifehacker.com/the-best-free-online-tools-to-map-your-own-bike-routes-1848892049
posted by adekllny at 6:19 AM on May 16, 2022
AND apparently that was bike week on lifehacker, because they also collected this set of tools: https://lifehacker.com/the-best-free-online-tools-to-map-your-own-bike-routes-1848892049
posted by adekllny at 6:19 AM on May 16, 2022
Check out Komoot. It's route planner is based on Open Street Maps but has some extra features for routing and stating what's a bike route and just a regular road.
posted by dobi at 7:23 AM on May 16, 2022
posted by dobi at 7:23 AM on May 16, 2022
I did have some luck using the report feature on Google Maps. Sometimes they had a passable junction marked as impassable, so it resulted in weird detours. Might be worth a shot, and it would benefit others if it worked.
posted by alexei at 9:15 AM on May 16, 2022
posted by alexei at 9:15 AM on May 16, 2022
Nearly every cyclist I know (including me!) using RideWithGPS for this. If you set the route planner to "cycling," it generally does a good job creating routes on bike-friendly streets. If you turn on the "global heatmap" setting, you can see what routes other cyclists are most likely to take.
posted by kingoftonga86 at 1:54 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kingoftonga86 at 1:54 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Fiasco da Gama at 6:17 PM on May 15, 2022 [1 favorite]