Home ›

Google Maps goes green with biking routes, but use with caution!

by Matt Jansen on March 11, 2010
in

Google Maps goes green with biking routes, but use with caution! Biking is a great way to stay in shape, go green, and avoid traffic. With its latest beta feature, Google Maps wants to help you find the best way to your destination while pedaling two wheels. It’s a great idea and Google Maps has a basic model working. The routes it chooses are another matter though as they often direct users through parks, off-limits areas and unpaved roads busy with other traffic.

To try it out out head to Google Maps and enter in a couple of destinations as normal, then choose “Bicycling” from the drop-down below the final address. The engine will jump to work and in a few informal tests brought back some solid new ideas for routes between home and work.

There are three types of paths, according to Google’s blog post, trails intended for bikes only, dedicated bike lanes and regular roads that bikers might prefer. Initial reaction to the service seems to be a bit cynical because Google is missing lots of good paths and is directing people through a lot of incompatible terrain.

Google acknowledges that it’s not perfect yet, and that will likely require gathering input from people living in local areas who have inherent expertise. Right now most of the data is based on a partnership with the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Finding routes that aren’t currently well documented probably is the eventual fix, and gathering feedback through some sort of online community would quickly aggregate that information.

This brings another question to light, which is to think about how green riding a bike is versus other modes of transportation. The human body utilizes energy just like any other moving entity so how does that efficiency compare to something like driving a car? There are plenty of other analyses out on the web, and here’s one from Mr. Green.

Related articles

. . . propelling the average car 48 miles requires at least two gallons of gas . . . the amount of fossil-fuel energy needed to grow enough corn for the 48-mile [bike] ride is a meager .025 gallons.

So by that logic it seems that Google is supporting yet another movement toward green.

Comments

by Karen Arbutine (not verified) on December 24, 2010 - 10:10am.

Biking is certainly green and is becoming even more sophisticated in it's design. I like the Battery Charger Kit introduced by Nokia because the cycle does two things at one time, lets the biker exercise and at the same time charges the battery as well, innovative idea!  If only cars were never invented but we cannot imagine that either, maybe the only way is to use the bikes for other errands other than work or maybe we should all try to habituate into biking and it won't feel too odd to take one to work. And Yes, Climate change is more important than feeling odd.

Sweetwater Florida real estate

by jonn1 (not verified) on March 28, 2011 - 9:16pm.

comment4, 1, [url="http://bquxiwa.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://bquxiwa.007gb.com/map.html 1, rjde, 2, [url="http://wnijpo.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://wnijpo.007gb.com/map.html 2, =))), 2, [url="http://behixg.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://behixg.007gb.com/map.html 2, =-[[[, 3, [url="http://hihytyx.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://hihytyx.007gb.com/map.html 3, ibvfth, 2, [url="http://lylelaja.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://lylelaja.007gb.com/map.html 2, %[[, 1, [url="http://sykecijy.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://sykecijy.007gb.com/map.html 1, >:-P, 3, [url="http://nivjypy.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://nivjypy.007gb.com/map.html 3, 73301, 2, [url="http://zudewuro.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://zudewuro.007gb.com/map.html 2, emhb, 1, [url="http://zoryvuro.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://zoryvuro.007gb.com/map.html 1, =-((, 3, [url="http://zofimiwy.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://zofimiwy.007gb.com/map.html 3, 9183, 1, [url="http://xssyju.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://xssyju.007gb.com/map.html 1, :], 2, [url="http://maxijamy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://maxijamy.007gb.com/map.html 2, iyimhg, 1, [url="http://bavwusa.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://bavwusa.007gb.com/map.html 1, :-OOO, 1, [url="http://somyqesi.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://somyqesi.007gb.com/map.html 1, tdwmg, 2, [url="http://ejyseca.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://ejyseca.007gb.com/map.html 2, glf, 3, [url="http://penotepy.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://penotepy.007gb.com/map.html 3, 128, 1, [url="http://jybagola.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://jybagola.007gb.com/map.html 1, >:-PP, 2, [url="http://ziajp.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://ziajp.007gb.com/map.html 2, 92370, 2, [url="http://xosyhumu.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://xosyhumu.007gb.com/map.html 2, %-(, 2, [url="http://taxihizy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://taxihizy.007gb.com/map.html 2, 14374, 3, [url="http://jywyhure.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://jywyhure.007gb.com/map.html 3, 8PPP, 2, [url="http://emalacy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://emalacy.007gb.com/map.html 2, 397559, 2, [url="http://qojyzcy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://qojyzcy.007gb.com/map.html 2, 814611, 3, [url="http://duluda.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://duluda.007gb.com/map.html 3, mgq, 2, [url="http://mbawemu.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://mbawemu.007gb.com/map.html 2, 453909, 2, [url="http://rculay.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://rculay.007gb.com/map.html 2, :-DD, 2, [url="http://tutahato.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://tutahato.007gb.com/map.html 2, >:-D, 2, [url="http://halofiqy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://halofiqy.007gb.com/map.html 2, =[, 2, [url="http://naelyfe.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://naelyfe.007gb.com/map.html 2, %P, 3, [url="http://sigamixa.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://sigamixa.007gb.com/map.html 3, 0231, 1, [url="http://ziqytyja.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://ziqytyja.007gb.com/map.html 1, mtegle, 1, [url="http://dahjom.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://dahjom.007gb.com/map.html 1, 3094, 3, [url="http://reqedity.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://reqedity.007gb.com/map.html 3, 8[[, 2, [url="http://pomosinu.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://pomosinu.007gb.com/map.html 2, 192, 3, [url="http://vojojwe.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://vojojwe.007gb.com/map.html 3, sosaq, 1, [url="http://bwytud.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://bwytud.007gb.com/map.html 1, 8)), 2, [url="http://gepipiby.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://gepipiby.007gb.com/map.html 2, 98521, 2, [url="http://ftywfe.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://ftywfe.007gb.com/map.html 2, :O, 1, [url="http://gesakoto.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://gesakoto.007gb.com/map.html 1, 827647, 2, [url="http://zalutewy.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://zalutewy.007gb.com/map.html 2, >:-[[, 2, [url="http://rycewaho.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://rycewaho.007gb.com/map.html 2, 268, 2, [url="http://gmaspo.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://gmaspo.007gb.com/map.html 2, :]], 2, [url="http://xacylko.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://xacylko.007gb.com/map.html 2, izmav, 2, [url="http://fiqubaky.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://fiqubaky.007gb.com/map.html 2, >:-OO, 2, [url="http://higeniq.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://higeniq.007gb.com/map.html 2, 8D, 1, [url="http://leqiheze.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://leqiheze.007gb.com/map.html 1, =PPP, 1, [url="http://qukahili.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://qukahili.007gb.com/map.html 1, %-]]], 2, [url="http://lywyvahu.007gb.com/map.html"]2[/url], http://lywyvahu.007gb.com/map.html 2, 426123, 3, [url="http://caqygyji.007gb.com/map.html"]3[/url], http://caqygyji.007gb.com/map.html 3, 73755, 1, [url="http://nikokyqi.007gb.com/map.html"]1[/url], http://nikokyqi.007gb.com/map.html 1, 468,