An interesting development was added to everybody’s favourite mapping service Google Maps in the past month. NZ’ers can now experience getting directions for cycling, which will make use of any handy cycling shortcuts such as off-road paths. Viewers can also see the location of any bike lanes, off-road paths (“trails”) or cycle-friendly streets.
It’s easy to use: when you enter addresses to get directions in Google Maps, you can now select a bike icon to get it to determine the best route by bike. It will also give you an approximate time to cover the distance, although I have to say that it’s probably a bit brisk for the average “non-racer” commuter.
Obviously Google Maps is only as good as the information it has and at present there are plenty of things not quite right in Christchurch. For example, I tried the route from my old place in Spreydon through to work in Ilam; I used to go up Selwyn St, through Hagley Park and then along Kilmarnock St to do this. However Google Maps suggested first up that I might like to head along SH73 (Brougham St) to get to my destination! The second option provided (technically the shortest) was only slightly better in sending me along Blenheim Rd (at least it has bike lanes…). Option 3 finally sent me up Deans Ave (and then Riccarton Rd!), although presumably on the road because it doesn’t seem to have all the paths in Hagley Park registered yet. You can tick an option to “avoid highways” but evidently that doesn’t affect the routes proposed in this case – perhaps they need to lower the bar on what constitutes a “highway” for a cycling trip?
Fortunately there is a new way to help improve the maps that has also been released. Google Map Maker allows anyone to contribute to the pool of knowledge about what’s in their neighbourhood, including bike facilities. The editing interface is a little hard to get used to (I was struggling to try to correct some bikeways that were a bit off), although it wasn’t too hard to add a new link or (more often than not) tell Google that a marked “road” was in fact a ped-bike trail. Pay attention to some of the attributes recorded (e.g. is the route “preferred” for cycling?), and also don’t get confused about divided roadways that are actually two separate one-way links.
Proposed edits have to be reviewed by others before they get approved, which seems to provide a sufficient level of protection from map vandalism or inadvertent mistakes. Already in a few days I’ve had a go at correcting or adding some things around Christchurch and now they are part of the GoogleMaps world for all to see. I can see that Hagley Park is going to be a work in progress though…
Here is some local feedback in The Press about these initiatives (although why do they always have to go and slot in some cycle crash statistics? It’s about mapping, not safety!)
What do you think about the new GoogleMaps features?
Google really do own this space – intuitive and constantly evolving. Given the recent nonsense with Apple Maps, it really showcases Google Maps’ current dominance.
As for the editing itself, if something global like Wikipedia is a (cautionary) reference, this can work on a similar level. Especially great for visiting new places. Running routes would also be ideal – not always just the same as a cycle route. Plenty of sites like MapMyRun and Nike+ are into this, but no reason why Google couldn’t incorporate it into its offering!
This is such an exciting development!
Thanks for pointing this out. I did not know about this feature and I am definitely going to use this!
Probably a complete coincidence but my submission to the transport plan requested action on getting Christchurch cycling routes onto Google maps. If, by coincidence, all the other items on my wish list come true we’ll be in cycling heaven.
if it encourages more people to cycle thats great. too much reliance on technology or does it enhance our cycling lives noticably?
Am brand new to cycling in Chch as an older person…used to race around when at Rangi, but had to write and congratulate the initiator of this webpage. 🙂 Thank you for giving us Newbies a guide plus great advice!
Was a little dissapointed when I tried it out as it planned a route down a very cycle unfriendly bit of road, it does at least give you the option to report that such roads are not suitable for cycling on.
On a whole it looks quite promising.
http://cyclingchristchurch.co.nz/2020/01/07/guest-post-wednesday-wheelers/
Some e-bikers in this group Bill. Varied skill levels, some off road / hill rides arranged between them.
I am a 69 year old male, recently converted my mountain bike to Electric assist and loving it,always looking forward to a new and different ride, any other E bikers out there, ??????????