Comments on: Google Engineer Scott Shawcroft Explains the New Bike Map http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: chris mcnally http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-217851 chris mcnally Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:06:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-217851 David, there is a map that displays bicycle parking, at least in NYC, and it's a map you can edit, so you can add new bike parking if you find it: http://opencyclemap.org/?zoom=17&lat=40.71202&lon=-73.99331&layers=B000 OpenCycle map. It also shows bike lanes and foot paths. I'm surprised that ridethecity.com does not display the bike parking since it's available in at least one public db. David, there is a map that displays bicycle parking, at least in NYC, and it’s a map you can edit, so you can add new bike parking if you find it:

http://opencyclemap.org/?zoom=17&lat=40.71202&lon=-73.99331&layers=B000

OpenCycle map. It also shows bike lanes and foot paths.

I’m surprised that ridethecity.com does not display the bike parking since it’s available in at least one public db.

]]> By: Josh Lipton http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216611 Josh Lipton Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:01:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216611 It would seem that if Google fully tunes their cycling directions and cyclists embrace them, this could unleash a whole new dynamic for the growth of cycling and cycling infrastructure as a whole. http://www.utilitycycling.org/2010/03/google-bike-there-directions/ It would seem that if Google fully tunes their cycling directions and cyclists embrace them, this could unleash a whole new dynamic for the growth of cycling and cycling infrastructure as a whole.
http://www.utilitycycling.org/2010/03/google-bike-there-directions/

]]> By: Joseph E http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216591 Joseph E Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:08:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216591 For those of us in Southern California and other cities with limited bike facilities (routes, lanes, paths), this really shows how much work we have ahead of us. Compare Portland (http://tinyurl.com/ybghhqb) and Los Angeles (http://tinyurl.com/ycz7apq). Fortunately, now we can get directions to Sacramento, CA, to demonstrate for laws and funding in favor of bikes! (http://tinyurl.com/yakmg2s) For those of us in Southern California and other cities with limited bike facilities (routes, lanes, paths), this really shows how much work we have ahead of us. Compare Portland (http://tinyurl.com/ybghhqb) and Los Angeles (http://tinyurl.com/ycz7apq).

Fortunately, now we can get directions to Sacramento, CA, to demonstrate for laws and funding in favor of bikes! (http://tinyurl.com/yakmg2s)

]]> By: david http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216581 david Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:02:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216581 This might be asking for too much, but it would be great if they also provided an overlay of bicycle parking (covered v uncovered, on-street, secure, etc.) and other end-of-trip facilities (showers, lockers, etc). I know cities like Portland, NYC, and Seattle have a good handle on their asset inventory for bicycle parking in a GIS environment already, and I suspect other municipalities do, as well. How cool would it be if the routing tool directed you to your end destination AND told you where you could conveniently park your bici?! The other information (lockers and showers) could pretty easily be supplied by individuals, business owners, campus buildings & grounds folks, and building managers, and would be a pretty amazing resource for employees of and visitors to those sites. This might be asking for too much, but it would be great if they also provided an overlay of bicycle parking (covered v uncovered, on-street, secure, etc.) and other end-of-trip facilities (showers, lockers, etc). I know cities like Portland, NYC, and Seattle have a good handle on their asset inventory for bicycle parking in a GIS environment already, and I suspect other municipalities do, as well. How cool would it be if the routing tool directed you to your end destination AND told you where you could conveniently park your bici?! The other information (lockers and showers) could pretty easily be supplied by individuals, business owners, campus buildings & grounds folks, and building managers, and would be a pretty amazing resource for employees of and visitors to those sites.

]]> By: Justin Lee Miller http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216541 Justin Lee Miller Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:11:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216541 Just tested the routes I use in various cities, e.g. Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Mostly, it mimics my routes EXACTLY. The one exception would be where I ride on a sidewalk for 50 ft to get under a highway in Houston. Their route takes a giant loop to avoid the highway. I'm very impressed. My old way was to take the "walking" option and sort of figure it out from there. Even with kinks, this is great. Just tested the routes I use in various cities, e.g. Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Mostly, it mimics my routes EXACTLY. The one exception would be where I ride on a sidewalk for 50 ft to get under a highway in Houston. Their route takes a giant loop to avoid the highway. I’m very impressed. My old way was to take the “walking” option and sort of figure it out from there. Even with kinks, this is great.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216491 Alon Levy Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:50:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216491 gm: I'm not sure the number is as remarkable. Silicon Valley has a pretty high bike mode share. In Palo Alto it's 43%, but Palo Alto is unique because of Stanford. Besides which, it's possible Google is calculating mode share differently - it could be counting anyone who uses a bicycle for part of the route, instead of for the plurality of the route as required by the American Community Survey. gm: I’m not sure the number is as remarkable. Silicon Valley has a pretty high bike mode share. In Palo Alto it’s 43%, but Palo Alto is unique because of Stanford.

Besides which, it’s possible Google is calculating mode share differently – it could be counting anyone who uses a bicycle for part of the route, instead of for the plurality of the route as required by the American Community Survey.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216451 gecko Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:16:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216451 With 430 million cyclists and an additional 120 million on electric bikes wonder if Google is considering China? . . . a total mindblow! And, a really graphic vision of the future. With 430 million cyclists and an additional 120 million on electric bikes wonder if Google is considering China? . . . a total mindblow!

And, a really graphic vision of the future.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216431 gecko Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:11:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216431 #6 gm, "Something for Google to brag about." Yes. Seriously agile and sensible transport does provide an edge! #6 gm, “Something for Google to brag about.”

Yes. Seriously agile and sensible transport does provide an edge!

]]> By: gm http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216421 gm Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:55:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216421 the Google guy mentions that 10% of Google employees bike to work and they helped debug before the public beta. That's a really high share of workers biking. Probably the highest of any Fortune 500 company. Maybe SF Streetsblog can do a follow-up story on that. Something for Google to brag about. the Google guy mentions that 10% of Google employees bike to work and they helped debug before the public beta. That’s a really high share of workers biking. Probably the highest of any Fortune 500 company. Maybe SF Streetsblog can do a follow-up story on that. Something for Google to brag about.

]]> By: Ian Dutton http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216391 Ian Dutton Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:49:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216391 Also, I wonder about all the green lines downtown, like on Exchange Place and Stone St. It won't let you use those streets for start/finish or as a route. Those streets are off limits to traffic but I've been on my bike there. If the intent is to make them appear as "no bike" streets, it's too bad they chose the same symbology as bikeways! Also, I wonder about all the green lines downtown, like on Exchange Place and Stone St. It won’t let you use those streets for start/finish or as a route. Those streets are off limits to traffic but I’ve been on my bike there. If the intent is to make them appear as “no bike” streets, it’s too bad they chose the same symbology as bikeways!

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216371 gecko Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:44:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216371 Quite literally, puts cycling on the map. Quite literally, puts cycling on the map.

]]> By: Ian Dutton http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216351 Ian Dutton Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:42:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216351 Interesting to hear that even factors as road grade are considered. I've already submitted a few corrections to Google - seems that some things, like the Manhattan-side access to the Manhattan Br., is not quite there yet. Still, what potential this unleashes... Interesting to hear that even factors as road grade are considered. I’ve already submitted a few corrections to Google – seems that some things, like the Manhattan-side access to the Manhattan Br., is not quite there yet.

Still, what potential this unleashes…

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216341 gecko Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:41:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216341 Pretty amazing. A small overpass was not included in bike routes early this morning and was added later in the day. Great stuff! Pretty amazing.

A small overpass was not included in bike routes early this morning and was added later in the day.

Great stuff!

]]> By: NattyB http://www.streetsblog.org/2010/03/10/google-engineer-scott-shawcroft-explains-the-new-bike-map/comment-page-1/#comment-216331 NattyB Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:27:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=165911#comment-216331 I like this, obviously. But, one of the best parts of riding a bike in the city is getting lost. Because it's the best way to get to someplace you've never been before, which is cool, because you're like an urban explorer. I spent a summer in London and I had a 6 mile commute. I knew the general direction I had to go and just took a different route each day. And I got to learn the layout, the hills, the side-streets, the hidden gems . . . oh so well. But yah, this is a good development by Google and again showing why they're the creative leaders and how frickin Microsoft and Yahoo will just remain in their dust for the time being. I like this, obviously.

But, one of the best parts of riding a bike in the city is getting lost.

Because it’s the best way to get to someplace you’ve never been before, which is cool, because you’re like an urban explorer.

I spent a summer in London and I had a 6 mile commute. I knew the general direction I had to go and just took a different route each day. And I got to learn the layout, the hills, the side-streets, the hidden gems . . . oh so well.

But yah, this is a good development by Google and again showing why they’re the creative leaders and how frickin Microsoft and Yahoo will just remain in their dust for the time being.

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