Google Maps launches bike directions

Bicycling

Google Maps launches bike directions

by David Alpert • March 10, 2010 9:55 am

Google has added a long-awaited feature to Google Maps: bike directions.

There's also a new "bicycling" layer that shows bike lanes and trails. It appears if you ask for bicycle directions, or you can activate it by clicking on "More..." in the upper right of a Google map.

How does this compare with Ride the City for you? Chris B. says Ride the City came out on top for his commute (Ride the City map, Google map.

Ride the City also has the nice feature that you can determine how far out of your way to go to use bike lanes and paths. Google Maps doesn't appear to be aware yet of the 15th Street bike lane, and it will route you through Arlington Cemetery heading westbound in ways that aren't allowed. But the data quality will surely improve with time, and I'd rather have a beta to play with now than have Google keep it under wraps for years until everything's perfect.

Speaking of Arlington Cemetery, WashCycle has a detailed explanation of how cyclists can use the cemetery, along with some history of bicycle access.

Thanks to Gavin, Steve S., Denis B., and Chris B. who all sent in the tip.

Update: Rob Pegoraro identifies a more comprehensive list of data errors, including missing the Metropolitan Branch Trail, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and Matthew Henson Trail.

12 comments

Tags: bicycling, Google, maps, technology

Google Maps: Bike There (Mar 6, 2008)
Ride the District (and surroundings) (Feb 1, 2010)
Transit and bicycling Google maps that Washington still lacks (Jun 10, 2008)
DC tops "most improved" bicycling list (May 8, 2008)
Trail signs should work like street signs (Jun 18, 2009)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington. He has had a lifelong interest in great cities and great communities. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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I've already noticed some pretty glaring flaws with the directions here in Cleveland. It's a good start though. Hopefully it will improve with time.

by Rob on Mar 10, 2010 10:30 am

What's the point if this thing gives wrong directions? That's absolutely unacceptable. Almost as bad as the NextBus system getting my bus time wrong by 4 minutes.

by Lou on Mar 10, 2010 10:57 am

Google sent me all over creation to go from my home in SW to 17th and R, normally a fairly straight shot up 12th street to R street. I especially loved the backtracking along Constitution Ave south of the Elipse and the rides through secured space around the White House. Not terribly helpful.

by Moose on Mar 10, 2010 11:07 am

The big flaw in an otherwise useful feature is the absence of almost the entire Met Branch Trail. As far as I can figure out, that's because the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Google's data source for off-street trails, lists the Met Branch as under construction even though parts of it have been open for years.

- RP

by Rob Pegoraro on Mar 10, 2010 11:10 am

Instead of complaining about bad directions on blog comments, click "Report a problem" on Google Maps and they'll actually get fixed!

by Mike on Mar 10, 2010 11:29 am

The only bike route identified for Charlottesville is wrong. It's the downtown mall, where cyclists are not allowed. Not too useful yet.

That being said, I agree that many of these errors will be dealt with as users send in their feedback. For places that do not have ridethecity, I have no doubts that this will be a great tool.

Use with caution for the time being.

by Daniel on Mar 10, 2010 1:02 pm

I'm not getting anything to show up for me. Is there something special I have to do to enable this?

by Boots on Mar 10, 2010 1:17 pm

Google gave me a better route than Ride the City from my apartment near Eastern Market to my work near Farragut Square, making use of the shared bike/pedestrian paths on the Mall (Ride the City took me on streets the whole way).

by Liz P on Mar 10, 2010 1:52 pm

Apparently works in IE but not in Firefox.

by Boots on Mar 10, 2010 2:10 pm

For my typical route from home (east falls church metro to the navy yard), I had to force GM to use a 14th street bridge crossing instead of a memorial bridge crossing. It also missed a little path used to access the W&OD trail. Other than that, seems to work fine.

by Michael Perkins on Mar 10, 2010 2:14 pm

i noticed a lot of other city-designated bike routes are missing. the ones that run through and around trinidad, for example, are not here. in addition, the bike trail along suitland parkway in DC is missing as well.

by IMGoph on Mar 10, 2010 2:55 pm

Hilarious. I tried to move the route so I went down Mass rather than through G-town and Google wants me to ride through the middle of the Naval Observatory. I'll say hi to Joe on my way.

Other than that, my usual route (which it almost gave me) won't show up because of a missing crosswalk. At least, I think that's the problem.

by rdhd on Mar 10, 2010 3:16 pm