{"id":8603,"date":"2021-10-26T23:50:50","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T23:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1371197"},"modified":"2021-10-26T23:50:50","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T23:50:50","slug":"4-improvements-google-maps-should-make-for-cyclists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=8603","title":{"rendered":"4 improvements Google Maps should make for cyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google Maps has recently added<\/a> a number of cycling features as more people have taken to riding bikes, ebikes, and electric scooters during the coronavirus pandemic. And yet as much as I appreciate some of these updates, as I\u2019ve started to explore other cycling-oriented applications, Google Maps\u2018 limitations have become increasingly obvious.<\/p>\n

Here are just a few changes that I believe could make Google Maps far more appealing to cyclists.<\/p>\n

Let me plan and save routes ahead of time<\/h3>\n

I get it, Google Maps is mostly aimed at commuters and people taking the occasional impromptu trip. It\u2019s meant to get you from point A to B as efficiently as possible, to the best of the app\u2019s knowledge.<\/p>\n

But sometimes I don\u2019t want to just get somewhere as fast as possible. Sometimes I want to take the scenic route. Sometimes I want to go up unnecessary hills for a workout. Other times I want the opposite \u2014 to minimize sweating as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Yes, there are other apps that are meant to do this \u2014 my app of choice is Komoot<\/a> \u2014 and you can plan routes in Google Maps using roundabout methods. But Google Maps is often the most convenient, and unfortunately, the best you can really do with the mobile version of Google Maps app is add multiple stops and view your past routes.<\/p>\n

Allowing users to plan their route in advance would not only provide more flexibility, but also help users feel safer by being more confident in their route decisions. It also means you could save your favorite workout routes easily \u2014 and it\u2019s not hard to see how Google could integrate such functionality with Google Fit.<\/p>\n

Heat maps<\/h3>\n

Even if I am just trying to get from point A to point B, the best cycling routes don\u2019t always follow car traffic patterns or use bike lanes. In my own neighborhood, I know to avoid certain streets with shoddy bike paths. Sometimes I\u2019d much rather go down a quiet, wide residential street without a bike line than a busy road with an unprotected bike lane that leaves me just a foot or two from angry drivers.<\/p>\n

\"strava
<\/i><\/a>Strava\u2019s heat maps are a great tool to assist with route planning, especially in unfamiliar territory.<\/figcaption>