Google Maps for Bikes
2:33 pm, by tricky coyoteWouldn’t it be cool if your Google Map directions told you the best way for bikes to go? Some folks in Portland at a startup called bycycle.org are working on just such a gizmo, and have rolled it out in a couple of cities.
Speaking of Portland, I was there for a conference last week and it seems to be fast becoming THE bike town in this country. While I was there, a congressman tried to lure Xtracycle into town, saying there are already 50+ bike-related businesses in the city (not the least of which is our very own buddy, the clever chimp). Someone else said that bikes are so respected that they don’t even need Critical Mass anymore…
Check out my buddy Jonathon’s Portland bike blog for a little peak into the emergent culture of stumptown.
April 15th, 2006 at 7:26 am
Reading this reminded me of a similar site here in LA - bikemetro.com, which I was so excited about until it mysteriously disappeared…..and seems now to have reappeared, hallelujah. You can enter hill tolerance, experience level etc., and it maps out elevation along w/ route.
April 17th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Just what is “just such a gizmo” - is there someplace I can go to find out without logging in? (”Links” that aren’t really… arrgh…)
April 19th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Whoops, sorry, Sue. I corrected the link: http://tripplanner.bycycle.org/
April 27th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
The folks behind the Trip Planner also have a Google Group to get feedback and discuss other details:
http://groups.google.com/group/byCycle
Thanks and if anyone wants to go for a ride in Portland, just drop me a line.