Google has announced that it will start helping cyclists navigate in certain cities when it launches the latest edition of google maps later this week. The new edition will also help cyclists avoid hills and dangerous roads.
Cyclists will be able to find cycling directions and bike trail data. The system is being launched in Ottawa/Gatineau, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Kelowna and Waterloo.
Maps will be colour coded. Dark green will indicate dedicated bike trails, light green will indicate bike lanes and a dotted green line will indicate routes often used by cyclists without bike lanes.
The new edition will also help cyclists avoid dangerous roads and hills if they wish.
The maps will be colour coded. Dark green that will indicate a dedicated bike-only trial, lighter green is a bike lane along a road and a dotted green line means roads that do not have bike lanes but tend to be used by cyclists.
Riders will also be able to provide feedback to help the system.
This is wonderful news. I had been wondering how long it would take to get this in Windsor, as it will make my cross-city route planning a lot easier.