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.