Google Maps added a “bicycle” option! Now they’ll help you find the best route by car, public transit, on foot, or by bicycle. The bike function is still being tested, and Google is asking for users’ feedback to guarantee their routes are actually bicycle-safe.
I just tested it by asking for a map of the best bicycle route from my house to my friend’s house across town. I wouldn’t say it chose the absolute best route, as it sent me up a busy street when I know of a couple of safer, more enjoyable routes. But it was a much better route for biking than the way they recommend for cars. So it’s definitely an improvement.
Check it out!
And speaking of bikes, I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that my son is crazy about them. He runs and find his bike first thing in the morning, and he squeals “Vroom vroom” every time someone rides past on a bike. He’s also a big fan of wearing his helmet and riding in his bike trailer.
In this nice, peaceful stretch of time before he starts making everything into guns, I must also say, it’s thrilling to see how much he loves reading books, or “nanomes” as he calls them, and smelling flowers, or “floofs”.
And yes, he’s also big on making up his own words.
#1 by heather on March 11, 2010 - 9:45 am
That’s pretty neat! I cant wait to get out on the trails this spring…if only with a stroller and dog on a leash
#2 by Rose on March 13, 2010 - 4:14 pm
It seems like Google will soon have the solution to every question. Adorable photos! Can’t wait until our daughter is big enough for the strider bike.
#3 by renee @ FIMBY on March 14, 2010 - 6:16 am
very sweet. Can’t wait to get our bikes out. For the third year in a row now I’m vowing to do more errands on bikes with the kids this summer. Maybe I’ll actually follow through this year!