http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/ Engadget Comments for Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like 'Quicksilver' http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/i live in NYC and tons of my friends bike to school everyday, even sometimes in winters.
do you really live in the city? i bet you don't go outside that often]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
...yeah. My friend at Columbia delivers pizza on his bike as a part time job. Bikes are everywhere.]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 3:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
It is a great first step. I think they need to have color codes as to how safe the roads/trails are. Riding on the small shoulder of a two lane road with no turn lane isn't as safe as a bike trail.

And it is only in the US right now...

And they need to work with GPS makers to have a non-internet connected, no monthly fee, GPS device with a solid state drive containing Google Earth that can be mounted to a bike. I could probably build that before they make it though.]]>Mar 10th 2010 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/

Oh please, Google will probably update Android within the next week to include this.]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
I totally agree. I think that Joseph (the author) went a bit over the lines with that comment.]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
I'm not sure either of you understand the word "first."]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
I'm not sure you understand the concept "developing software and its issues".]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
Ha, bit of a red herring, but you're right; I may not, but I do understand copy & paste. I would think it would be fairly simple to add the word "Bicycling" to your app and have it behave exactly as your "By Car" and "Walking" options do, having already put their bicycling route data on the web. Buzz was released simultaneously for desktop and mobile, and they had to build a new app from scratch for that. It's just silly to me that a "mobile first" company adds bicycling routes to their maps, but you have to either bike with your laptop or some 8.5x11's folded up in your sweaty pockets. ]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
the fact is that what they are doing is a HUGE database update. It is one of the most faliure-prone operations you can do in the IT worlds, so thumbs up to google for walking on eggshells.]]>Mar 10th 2010 5:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://priorityresults.com/blog/driving-directions-from-china-to-priority-a-google-maps-api-exploration/#more-318
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HA! Same here I just added it to the top of my Netflix Queue]]>Apr 21st 2010 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.gadgetspage.com/cars/the-seven-person-tricycle.html]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
lol lord vader, that made my day!

i was using google maps periodically today and saw this feature, but for some reason it never really sunk in because i guess its just something i thought they 'shouldve' had for a long time now.]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqp0DxeF5Ec
]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.opencyclemap.org/]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.cyclestreets.net/ is a great start too. It is still good to see a huge company like Google taking some interest in cycling though.]]>Mar 10th 2010 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://gmap-pedometer.com/ sometimes for running routes and it works really well]]>Mar 10th 2010 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 10th 2010 5:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/I think you're wrong. Public Transit and Walking options have existed, but AFAIK bicycle routes are brand new.]]>Mar 10th 2010 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
For those who haven't tried, it's incredible hard to find bike-friendly routes by combining PDFs of local bike lanes and trails with street maps and Google Earth. Zooming way in and stepping screenful by screenful down every road to look for bike paths, freeway undercrossings, and to see if there are little paths or trails to get from one place to another where a road doesn't conveniently go.

Unfortunately at 28 miles each way it's really only feasible during the long-daylight summer hours. For now, I'll still to the motorbike.]]>Mar 10th 2010 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
I feel bad for the route that they have to take to the squirrel hill cafe. thats a huge hill.]]>Mar 10th 2010 11:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 11th 2010 12:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 11th 2010 3:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/Mar 11th 2010 10:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/It's was such a pain in the @ss figuring out long distance bike route with 3rd party sites that used Google Maps APIs in the past. Hopefully this will make it easy. I'm just wishing there will be a way to export navigation rout from this into format understood by my Garmin Edge GPS]]>Mar 11th 2010 10:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
well i was mapping directions for the quickest route to the hoth shield generator...so bicycle, maybe?]]>Mar 13th 2010 2:40PM