Google maps new cycle option

MB Lacey

After reading this article in the Guardian about Google maps introducing cycling routes as of yesterday (for UK and Europe), I tested out my daily route to see what it came up with.

Guess what.
It didn't work.
It could not calculate a cycle route from Drimnagh to UCD.
It could calculate the route by car and by walking, but not by the new Cycle option.

If you were to plan a cycle route which site do you use for Ireland?

smacl

I use http://bikeroutetoaster.com/ which seems to work well enough.

Doctor Bob

MB Lacey wrote: »

If you were to plan a cycle route which site do you use for Ireland?

The NTA is currently developing a cycle journey planner to bolt onto its recently launched national journey planner, but it's a few months away still, AFAIK. In the meantime, I'd use the Google walk route as a reasonable proxy.

The DTO had a fairly decent walking and cycling journey planner, but it bit the dust not long after the DTO did.

doozerie

I tried the Google Maps cycle route option just now for my commute home. It tells me that "We cannot calculate directions between <my minging office place> and <my cosy house with Tour coverage>". ...how do I get home dammit?

doozerie

www.cyclestreets.net, linked to from the original article above, provides some info that I've not see before. It's for the UK but their map has a couple of lines drawn in around the west coast too for some reason - I presume they are trying to depict cycle routes there.

And if you zoom in to Dublin (you have to zoom right in before a click will select a start/end point) it'll calculate your route - it probably produces pretty much the same result as the "Drive" option on Google Maps but it adds some extra info such as number of traffic lights (incorrect for my commute route though), number of "crossing delays" (not sure exactly what they consider to be a crossing delay), quietness, CO2 saved, etc. I assume it's getting some of this info from the likes of OpenStreetMap, which means that you can probably correct any errors in the data it returns too.

MB Lacey

smacl wrote: »

I use http://bikeroutetoaster.com/ which seems to work well enough.

I couldn't work out how to use that I'm afraid.

I didn't think Cyclestreets would work for Ireland, but it mapped my commute quite well, even took into account the no right turn at portobello bridge down to ranelagh.

CramCycle

MB Lacey wrote: »

If you were to plan a cycle route which site do you use for Ireland?

I use the car option and remove tolls, motorways, highways etc. Sometimes I use walk, the cycle option popped up when I looked but then disappeared.