Google Bikes There!

Biking is one of the most efficient ways to get around. It's cheap, it's clean, and it's good exercise. Which is probably why Americans are biking more than ever.

photo from BikePortland.org

Unfortunately, cycling isn't always the easiest way to travel. Have you ever tried to bike across town, only to find yourself on a road with lots of traffic, no bike lanes, sidewalks, or even a shoulder to speak of (aka an Incomplete Street)? Or maybe faced with an imposing intersection, or other similar obstacles? For many riders, unfriendly streets can be a big obstacle to cycling more often, whether for running errands, commuting, or recreation.

Fortunately, more areas around America are working to build Complete Streets by incorporating features into their transportation network to accommodate cyclists. As progress is made and more people are cycling, it is important for them to have information about the best and safest routes to ride. Sure, many local governments or bike groups provide both paper and online maps of bike facilities. But that's not always practical or convenient, especially on the fly. And with the rise of smartphones and GPS, something better is needed.

Corresponding with the kickoff of the National Bike Summit today, information giant Google launched a new feature in its Maps application that displays bike lanes, paths, and trails. It also offers travel directions by bike, in addition to car, by foot, and on public transportation.

What's really cool is that Google pulled out all the stops in designing the application. They included bike lanes and bike-friendly streets in 150 cities across the country, as well as 12,000 miles of bike trails (thanks to a partnership with NRDC's clean transportation ally Rails-to-Trails Conservancy). Dark green lines are dedicated bike-only trails. Light green shows a dedicated bike lane in the road. And dashed green lines represent routes that are safer and more convenient (avoid hills, narrow shoulders, etc.) for bicycling. To calculate the best travel route by bike, Google Maps takes all these factors into account. That means safer, easier, and hopefully more, cycling in the US.

Public demand for this feature has been intense, channeled through a dedicated website and Facebook pages. So we're expecting lots of riders to start testing these tools this spring! And since Bike Maps is still in its beta version, you can help Google improve it with your feedback.

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