Are Google Map’s Bicycling Directions a Game Changer?
Last night Google made a “game changing” announcement at the national bike summit in Washington DC. The long awaited “Bike There” option has been added to their options for route types. The dropdown next to Google Maps “Get Directions” button now has “Bicycling” as the fourth option following “By car”, “By public transit” and”Walking”.
We are very excited to hear this long awaited announcement. The implication of Google’s map update to the world of cycling are enormous. UtilityCycling.org has long been advocates of bicycle mapping as a way to improve cyclists knowledge and access to routes. With Google now fully entrenched in supporting cyclists through Google Maps, we now have very high hopes for a continued growth in bike commuting and bike touring in the US.
As we know all to well, putting bicycling infrastructure into place in the US is a serious uphill challenge. Even with recognizable momentum in places like Portland and New York City, the ability to offer cycling infrastructure throughout the US seems like a Eutopian dream. But utilizing mapping technology, Google offers cyclist a glimmer of hope. Google’s bicycling directions offers up a tool that will have both an immediate impact as a tool that that provides immediate results and a pathway towards long term integration of bicycling into the US transportation infrastructure. Google’s bike map’s will only encourage increased number of cyclists to go out on bikes. With more cyclists out, a demand for better cycling infrastructure will follow. Continue …
