Categories: google | maps | toronto
As a newcomer to Toronto, and a long-time cyclist, I am enjoying the feeling of starting to learn my way around by bike. As any cyclist knows, it's a very different experience to ride around a city than it is to drive! You learn the side streets, you break the street rules intended for cars, and you get there much, much faster when the traffic is heavy.
Preliminary observations:
- streetcar tracks are sketchy
- Toronto cyclists are much, much cooler than Vancouver cyclists (more upright cruiser bikes ridden by people without helmets, in funky urban wear)
- Toronto is much flatter than Vancouver – hooray!
So here's my problem! When you use Google Maps to get directions (and let me tell you, as a stranger to this town, Google Maps is my new BEST FRIEND, especially the part that finds you businesses nearby... hello bank machines! hello yoga studios! etc)... you get CAR DRIVING directions. Which means they don't use side streets, they don't go the wrong way down one-way streets, they don't hop over traffic calming barriers, etc.
In short, Google Maps does not give me relevant directions for cycling, unless it happens that the best route for me actually is the main road route. But it often isn't.
All this to say... I want Google Maps for bikes! Does such a thing exist? And if not, how hard would it be to create one of them fancy pantsy Google Maps mash-upy thingys that geeks are always on about, that gave me bike-friendly directions? Anyone?
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
The closest I know of is
Thu, 2007-05-17 17:37 — gabe (not verified)The closest I know of is http://bikely.com It's not exactly the tool that most of us are looking for, but it's a start...
That would be a great
Tue, 2007-05-22 16:36 — VancouverBrit (not verified)That would be a great idea... the folks at Google are West Coasters so hopefully they have someone working on it!
There's a pretty decent map of Vancouver bike routes at the BC Translink website that I printed out and used a lot when I first moved here. Maybe you could find something similar in Toronto?
oh, right.
Tue, 2007-05-22 19:53 — sarahfelicitypaper maps! i forgot about those.
the kind guy at The Urbane Cyclist gave me a Toronto Bike Map today. I will refer to that in future... though actually, even more fun has been allowing a bit of extra time and then just meandering my way there, discovering hidden gems along the way.
comments
Sun, 2007-06-17 16:25 — sarahfelicityI'm not sure why, dear readers, but I've received a few emails telling me that people are getting blocked from commenting. I'm looking into it. In the meantime, here are three comments I received by email:
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From Rob in Houston:
As a long time bike commuter, the safest thing you can
do on a bike is act like a car. If the map gives you
car directions, you should follow them for the most
part. Further, ride in the middle of the right-most
lane (if cars drive on the right in your area); riding
in the middle ensures that cars will not try to
side-swipe you as they pass.
Naturally, you shouldn't go on freeways; but, for
example, riding the wrong way on a one-way street is a
good opportunity to get killed. (But you ask, you ride
on sidewalks).
You shouldn't ride on sidewalks for the most part,
because of all the hazards on the sidewalk (ex poles,
pedestrians, newspaper racks). I'll ride on a sidewalk
on ocassion for a short distance if the vehicle
traffic is very thick, and if i can easily get back
onto the street. But getting back onto the street from
a sidewalk is again dangerous.
So, in essence, act like a car; you'll live longer.
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From Matthew:
Perhaps a helmet is not the coolest thing a person could put on his head.
But not wearing a helmet is totally wack.
I've seen a person going about 3mph on her bike topple over slowly and smack her head -- and she went into convulsions as a result of the impact. Don't tell me it's cool to not wear helmets.
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(Incidentally, I wasn't saying that I think that riding without a helmet is cool... I usually wear one. I just meant that cycling in Toronto is much more *normal*, and this is evidenced in part by the number of people in non-cycling-specific wear on bikes.)
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From Paul:
I know that this won't help you, living in Toronto, but if any of your readers live in Southern California it will be useful, or as a demonstration of what is possible. When I entered my home address and work address the route given was definitely safer than many possible. It included the bike path on the Santa Ana River for about 95% of the trip.
http://www.bikemetro.com
"BikeMetro currently only covers Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties."
Perhaps you could contact the company that puts it together to learn more about it. I know a little about the technology behind it. The technology is Geographical Information Systems (GIS). It basically works the exact same way as Google Maps. A quote from the website, "Unlike other sites that route cars using freeways, BikeMetro uses low speed roads, designated bike routes and roads that have bike lanes."
GIS is a very interesting technology that has no limits to it's use. For more information visit.
http://www.gis.com/
That website is put together by the company, ESRI, whose GIS software dominates the world (think "the Microsoft of GIS"). The owner of the company basically created GIS, though there are arguments disagreements with that.
Paul
P.S. I do not work for, or have any connection to either company linked to. I do use use ESRI's GIS software everyday all day in my job. Though much like MS Windows I would gladly use another if a comparable one was available.
another link
Mon, 2007-06-18 13:37 — sarahfelicityfrom a reader via Instapundit...
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/
google maps has a bike feature...sort of.
Thu, 2007-06-28 10:48 — veganboyjosh (not verified)i found this blog while looking for a similar thing to what you are. i just used it to map one route, and figure the route. it seems it's set up for pedometer use, so one way streets and crossing illegaly doesn't seem to be a problem. you just double click on waypoints, and it measures the route for you. it doesn't look like it'll give you directions (yet?) but you can definitely find easy ways to go/distances, you'll just have to enter the route by hand.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
good luck. and i'd love to hear back if you find something that does give directions.