Comments on: Video : Experience with Google Maps http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Fri, 24 May 2013 01:42:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Bike Shop Girl http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-183379 Bike Shop Girl Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:40:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-183379 Hey Chris We are working on it. I've been reviewing a couple different plugins that require user identification. Thanks for the feedback Hey Chris

We are working on it. I’ve been reviewing a couple different plugins that require user identification.

Thanks for the feedback

]]> By: Chris Goldsmith http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-183348 Chris Goldsmith Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:22:13 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-183348 Please sort out your comment arbitration settings on this site. Whenever I leave a comment I inevitably get spammed by some idiot selling some old tat like outdoor ceramic kittens or tectonic tiles. Please sort out your comment arbitration settings on this site. Whenever I leave a comment I inevitably get spammed by some idiot selling some old tat like outdoor ceramic kittens or tectonic tiles.

]]> By: norm http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-181496 norm Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:08:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-181496 I tried Google Maps to direct me from work to home. It was about half good. It ignored a Class I bikepath in favor of a busy & fast multilane street that was less than a quarter mile shorter in total. And if I'm reading the map correctly, the Class I path is in fact in Google's database. I give that a fail. Car GPS directions, however, aren't much better. If you try to go from Watsonville to San Juan Bautista, your Garmin GPS will direct you to a place where you have to make a left turn across six lanes of expressway (US 101) which is a) suicide, and b) going to be made illegal shortly anyway. So I think there are a bunch of things that need to be done wrt automated directions (even with good maps) before you can consider them foolproof. However, if you can read a map yourself and the map is accurate ... I tried Google Maps to direct me from work to home. It was about half good. It ignored a Class I bikepath in favor of a busy & fast multilane street that was less than a quarter mile shorter in total. And if I’m reading the map correctly, the Class I path is in fact in Google’s database.

I give that a fail.

Car GPS directions, however, aren’t much better. If you try to go from Watsonville to San Juan Bautista, your Garmin GPS will direct you to a place where you have to make a left turn across six lanes of expressway (US 101) which is a) suicide, and b) going to be made illegal shortly anyway.

So I think there are a bunch of things that need to be done wrt automated directions (even with good maps) before you can consider them foolproof. However, if you can read a map yourself and the map is accurate …

]]> By: kristine http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-180473 kristine Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:47:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-180473 I know this doesn't help you in NC, but the bike community here in Minneapolis has the honor of using a new site called cyclopath http://cyclopath.org/ it's used by bikers. abused by bikers. edited by bikers. no google here, my friends. the notes are helpful and a lot of people leave their own routes that they find fun! hope you'll be able to enjoy something similar in your 'hood. I know this doesn’t help you in NC, but the bike community here in Minneapolis has the honor of using a new site called cyclopath

http://cyclopath.org/

it’s used by bikers. abused by bikers. edited by bikers. no google here, my friends.

the notes are helpful and a lot of people leave their own routes that they find fun!

hope you’ll be able to enjoy something similar in your ‘hood.

]]> By: Rob http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-180469 Rob Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:26:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-180469 One issue is that the determination of bicycle friendliness is typically done on a decentrilized scale. Where I live (Cleveland) the local planning agency (NOACA) has put together some fantastic bike maps ranking streets as safe, moderate, challenging, or dangerous but without alternative. Almost none of that data has been incorporated by Google. As far as I know, the data for Google Map's bike feature comes from Rails to Trails, which is presumably better in some citie than others, but hardly comprehensive for every place in America. One issue is that the determination of bicycle friendliness is typically done on a decentrilized scale. Where I live (Cleveland) the local planning agency (NOACA) has put together some fantastic bike maps ranking streets as safe, moderate, challenging, or dangerous but without alternative. Almost none of that data has been incorporated by Google. As far as I know, the data for Google Map’s bike feature comes from Rails to Trails, which is presumably better in some citie than others, but hardly comprehensive for every place in America.

]]> By: Ryan Keefer http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-180463 Ryan Keefer Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:50:36 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-180463 Another Durham, NC bike commuter here. I don't think it's ready for primetime here, though from a software development standpoint, this is a major major undertaking, with a lot of variables, plus a lot of variation in the preferences and tolerances of riders. In my last job, I used to bike commute from norther Durham to Raleigh, and had a stair-stepping route down into downtown Raleigh. Not surprisingly, Google Maps' route was different, but it wasn't safe at all. It had me going on Glenwood Ave/US-70 E for 2.5 miles, which is not a safe route for cyclists at all. From Glenwood, it had me going through a state park. This is a place where riders' preferences are going to differ. The state park's trails are crushed granite. On a MTB or Cyclocross bike, I think this is a great option. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable taking my road bike on these trails though. All-in-all, I'll stick with my local bike club and racing club for advice on commute routes. I don't think I'd trust Google Maps for getting me to and from work. Another Durham, NC bike commuter here. I don’t think it’s ready for primetime here, though from a software development standpoint, this is a major major undertaking, with a lot of variables, plus a lot of variation in the preferences and tolerances of riders.

In my last job, I used to bike commute from norther Durham to Raleigh, and had a stair-stepping route down into downtown Raleigh.

Not surprisingly, Google Maps’ route was different, but it wasn’t safe at all. It had me going on Glenwood Ave/US-70 E for 2.5 miles, which is not a safe route for cyclists at all.

From Glenwood, it had me going through a state park. This is a place where riders’ preferences are going to differ. The state park’s trails are crushed granite. On a MTB or Cyclocross bike, I think this is a great option. I’m not sure I’d be comfortable taking my road bike on these trails though.

All-in-all, I’ll stick with my local bike club and racing club for advice on commute routes. I don’t think I’d trust Google Maps for getting me to and from work.

]]> By: Jack in NC http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-179901 Jack in NC Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:18:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-179901 Hello from Durham, NC, My anecdotal experience has been pretty positive. On day-1, Google Maps recommended my tried and true commute route as the best way between my house and my work. Caveat: I am an experienced vehicular cyclist who rides (mostly) unflinchingly on narrow roads with cars whizzing by at 55 mph. YMMV. GMaps Bike routed me from another NC town 25 miles back home using two greenways I'd never been on, one of which I'd never heard of. Caveat: One of the greenways had a portion that had *just* closed for construction of a road over it. I think any mapping software/service would fail on that. And, GMaps Bike got me from Trenton NJ Amtrak to my hotel 8 miles away on really nice, quiet neighborhood roads. Caveat: Trenton is old and consequently has grid neighborhoods making it really easy to get point-to-point without arterial roads. In other words, no major accomplishment getting that one right. :-) Jack Hello from Durham, NC,

My anecdotal experience has been pretty positive.

On day-1, Google Maps recommended my tried and true commute route as the best way between my house and my work. Caveat: I am an experienced vehicular cyclist who rides (mostly) unflinchingly on narrow roads with cars whizzing by at 55 mph. YMMV.

GMaps Bike routed me from another NC town 25 miles back home using two greenways I’d never been on, one of which I’d never heard of. Caveat: One of the greenways had a portion that had *just* closed for construction of a road over it. I think any mapping software/service would fail on that.

And, GMaps Bike got me from Trenton NJ Amtrak to my hotel 8 miles away on really nice, quiet neighborhood roads. Caveat: Trenton is old and consequently has grid neighborhoods making it really easy to get point-to-point without arterial roads. In other words, no major accomplishment getting that one right. :-)

Jack

]]> By: Chrisg http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-179694 Chrisg Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:07:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-179694 Unfortunately I couldn't watch the video as it's flash. We don't get bike routing via google maps here in the UK, although some enthusiasts set up cycelstreets.net which is based on open street map data and does a very good job here in Cambridge. The government also set up their own scheme which has been widely slated and cost us the taxpayer in excess of.£2m. You'd think the sensible thing to do would be to use that money to help improve the "amatuer" system, anyway there's an election soon :-) Unfortunately I couldn’t watch the video as it’s flash. We don’t get bike routing via google maps here in the UK, although some enthusiasts set up cycelstreets.net which is based on open street map data and does a very good job here in Cambridge. The government also set up their own scheme which has been widely slated and cost us the taxpayer in excess of.£2m. You’d think the sensible thing to do would be to use that money to help improve the “amatuer” system, anyway there’s an election soon :-)

]]> By: sabrina http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-179648 sabrina Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:54:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-179648 I've been using it in Austin, and it did start off a bit rough - but I've noticed that it has improved over the last month. The routes are getting better... They say you can use 'report a problem' on the map in order to tell them what's up, though I haven't tried myself - but guessing other Austinites are. :) I've also looked at http://www.ridethecity.com which has been available longer in austin, but is worse for my area. I’ve been using it in Austin, and it did start off a bit rough – but I’ve noticed that it has improved over the last month. The routes are getting better… They say you can use ‘report a problem’ on the map in order to tell them what’s up, though I haven’t tried myself – but guessing other Austinites are. :)

I’ve also looked at http://www.ridethecity.com which has been available longer in austin, but is worse for my area.

]]> By: @ecogordo http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/04/20/video-experience-with-google-maps/comment-page-1/#comment-179378 @ecogordo Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:40:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/?p=4792#comment-179378 You might want to check with whatever government org in your area (probably state) is responsible for mapping because I have heard that Google works with the localities to get things right. You might want to check with whatever government org in your area (probably state) is responsible for mapping because I have heard that Google works with the localities to get things right.

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