Why Google Maps' New Biking Directions Could Be Huge
A post-announcement news round-up is on the way, but on the first day of Spring 2010 (now, the day after), I’m a bit too excited about one article in particular, that I just need to share it now — from The Atlantic (hyperlinks and bold mine):
Other websites already provide biking directions, including ridethecity.com and mapmyride.com. However, Google being Google, the introduction of Google biking will attract a larger audience, or at least anyone who Googles the word “bike.” Ideally, Google’s heft could also influence city planners to create more bike lanes and more-reluctant bikers to put on a helmet and get peddling. And coupled with the greatest biking incentive in the world — warmer springtime weather — Google biking looks like it picked the right time to get into gear.
This sentiment, that the simple introduction of bicycle directions on Google Maps, could actually influence city planners to…change their plans, is pretty amazing — and I think it’s spot on, and probably it is not nearly hopeful enough.
The influence of Google’s bike directions (and maps) will, I believe, be felt in increasingly wider circles (people, business, policy, culture), and in more manifold ways.
Said another way, I don’t believe we can really know what other positive influences these bike directions will have until they arise naturally over the next few months and years — the intermediate advances will have to be realized, first.
I think it’s not a stretch to suggest that Google’s introduction of biking directions has already ‘changed the game’. Being very explicit — I think Google’s introduction of biking directions helped sway Ray LaHood to issue his ‘sea change’ comments.
Think about it — one of the most influential companies in the world says, “You know what, y’all? We think bikes kinda rock, so we’re gonna go ahead and do this bike directions thing that will put biking, finally, on an equal footing with driving, transit, and walking.”
What happens a few days later? The Secretary of Transportation for the United States of America says, essentially, the same thing.
Maybe I might not be so crazy to think that Google Maps could have had that much of an influence already. Here’s the League of American Bicyclists’ Andy Clarke:
It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting… This new tool will open people’s eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding.
Even the car people seem to suggest a casual, if not causal, connection between bike directions and the ‘sea change’ comments from LaHood:
First Google Bike Maps, now this.
The next step, of course, is for us advocate-types to tilt the pendulum such that non-motorized transit is actually favored over motorized transit. We’ll get there.
Spring is here. Seemingly every car in existence is being recalled. And I need to go out and ride while I jam to an old, but new-to-me band, MGMT.
Happy riding! 
I agree. For as much flack that Google Bike Maps has taken they really are wonderful. It’s a huge problem that Google is tackling and I for one appreciate the effort.
I’m really curious how this will shake up the city planner thing. Now that there is this medium for distributing bike maps maybe we will see a big rise in bike routes through all cities, not just the really big ones like S.F.
1I think THE real game changer will arrive when we get turn-by-turn GPS naviagion software, optimized for cyclists. Google bike directions are definitely a huge step forward, but essentially we are at the same point now, as when mapquest was introduced for driving directions
2That being said, Google has already helped me on my morning commute – check out my blog for a quick review of directions in Chicago and suburban DC.
-Kevin
I agree with you Kevin. Since google doesn’t have the turn by turn GPS navigation software yet then I guess it won’t impact much with the city planner. but I am also curious how would things change once this happen.
3I think that attributing Mr. Lahood’s statement to Google is overstating their influence. Let’s give credit to the campaigning done by the League of American Bicyclists, many other grassroots organizations, and the leadership of Representative Earl Blumenauer from Oregon.
But, yes, anything that makes cycling more mainstream is a GOOD THING.
One impact that I hope bike directions will have: people will notice that the bike network is not that great. That green line on the map is really a narrow shoulder strewn with gravel and broken glass and cars zooming by inches away.
Or people will start to notice that there are some places you just can’t get to by bike. (Although Google thinks you can ride across the bay from San Francisco to Oakland on the dotted line that the ferries follow, I wouldn’t recommend it!)
Or people notice that getting there by bike is sometimes only possible by taking a long, circuitous detour.
And then they will rise up en masse and demand change! (Right?)
4Matt H – i agree with you on the ‘attributing’ thing. i’d be curious to get the full backstory on where the policy came from. how long had they been working on it? was it done in league with The League? etc.
i think when Big Business gets behind something, it allows a politician to speak more forcefully, so it might have helped there. not diminishing all the other work that goes on, of course.
5Great article, thanks for the info! I ride in NYC almost everyday and while I do love the excitement of riding in the streets along with cars, if I run across a bike lane, I also go for it. I especially like the new bike lanes that have a space or car barrier between the land and the road, so much safer!
Also, listening to music while biking is going to get you killed. Be careful!
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