Google Maps ‘Bike There’

Montgomery Bicycle Advocates (MoBike) have an initiative called BikeZip.com that aims to help us get ‘Bike There’ directions, and it would be based on Google Maps - as a Google Maps mashup (a ‘mashup‘ is a generic term used to describe any application built using data and services from more than one source).

The effort seems similar to Bikely and other Google Maps-based bicycle route mashups. See other projects/efforts on the ‘Other Efforts‘ page.

While I think there are significant advantages to having Google Maps provide bicycle directions natively, we’re very happy to see so many people working so hard to make bicycle directions a reality via mashups. At the minimum, we’re getting more folks involved and we’re starting to consider the challenges of producting bicycle directions - which helps us become better-informed cyclists and better cycling advocates.

BikeZip’s accompanying ‘project’ page, BikeMapProject.org, talks about one of the key aspects for any bicycle directions solution:

GIS Data Sources

Government-based GIS databases contain plenty of street data, but when it comes to information useful to cyclists they are very limited, and what bike-related data they have is often inaccurate. They miss many routes and provide few details about suitability for cyclists.

Other scattered data sources exist but they too have problems relating to accuracy, scope and data format. Published bike maps like ADC’s in the Washington D.C. area are typically proprietary and may be based on spotty public data. Bike guide sites and advocacy sites contain lots of valuable information but cover limited areas and use a wide variety of data formats. In order to create a single map that meets our project goals, wiki-style collaboration is the ideal solution.

I can’t say I agree with all of this point of view on GIS/data, but it is a point of view that is expressed by many people, and it seems reasonable, and it is a big part of why many folks think that a wiki-style approach to bicycle directions is the best answer.

Montgomery County is just on the north side of Washington, DC.

MoBike works with various bicycle groups, including WABA, the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, and the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club.

Good luck, BikeZip!