majormajor42 Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 (edited) Just heard that google maps has a new feature. they have added another "more" option to their maps. in addition to photos and wikipedia markers, you can now choose to show bike trails. They seem to be up to date. I've noticed some are missing in my area of NY but it is still a nice feature, especially for out of towners who want to get an idea of where to bike. many of their bike trails were already listed on other websites that serious bikers probably check in with, but google has once again compiled and simplified information for the masses. I like it. so, I'm wondering if geocaching.com might somehow include these bike trails on their maps? Right now, I think the four options they have are enough - map, satellite, terrain, and mytopo. I would not request to add a fifth tab. wouldn't want it to get too cluttered up and eventually their would be eight or ten tabs, who knows. But, what is the true difference between "terrain" and "mytopo"? I usually use mytopo when I want elevation data for my geocaching hikes. there is more information and detail there, I think, at least where I live in NY. "terrain" is nice, it gives you a more 3D appearance with the shading but doesn't let you zoom in much. On google maps, the bicycle option, allows you to show the green line bike trials over a map, satellite image, or terrain. The terrain map with the bike trails is very similar to the terrain map without the bike trails. therefor, what if geocaching.com was able to replace the terrain tab with a terrain (with bike trails) tab? then we can easily see geocaches that are along bike trails. PS: looks like the bike trails are only in the USA so far (looked at Canada and around London), but I wouldn't be surprised if that is just a temporary. I didn't realize that there were such long trails (rail to trails I gather) in some parts of the country - DC to Pittsburgh, Minnesota/Wisconsin, and Seattle east among others. Edited March 12, 2010 by majormajor42
+beejay&esskay Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 These aren't, strictly speaking, bike trails but routes to take if you are on a bike. (What I am seeing is mostly just following regular streets, avoiding the interstates or larger highways.) Since you have the option to switch to "bicycling" when the Google Maps are displayed, is there a reason to have a separate Groundspeak option?
majormajor42 Posted March 13, 2010 Author Posted March 13, 2010 Hmm, lots of bike only trails showing up in NY where I live. granted, there are some roads that are mix use, cars and bikes as well, and they show up as a dotted line or another shade of green. Take Richmond, IN for example. Thanks to the new bicycle feature, I can quickly see that you have what looks like a great five mile long rail to trail that cuts through town north to south. It is showing up on the google bicycle maps as a dark green line. In the middle of downtown, there is about half a mile where, as you say, regular streets that bikes must use to get to the other half of the trail. Now, going back and forth between the geocaching map and the google bicycle map, I can see that there are about 10 geocaches right on the bike trail. cool.
+beejay&esskay Posted March 13, 2010 Posted March 13, 2010 Take Richmond, IN for example. Thanks to the new bicycle feature, I can quickly see that you have what looks like a great five mile long rail to trail that cuts through town north to south. It is showing up on the google bicycle maps as a dark green line. Yeah, when I first looked at that map I didn't notice the green line. That's an old railroad bed. If you look to the northwest towards Muncie you'll see the green line again. I think they are filling in the gap this year.
+pppingme Posted March 13, 2010 Posted March 13, 2010 These aren't, strictly speaking, bike trails but routes to take if you are on a bike. (What I am seeing is mostly just following regular streets, avoiding the interstates or larger highways.) When I turn on the bike routes I see two different things. A dashed green line, seems to be what you are saying, and a solid green line, which are true bike/pedestrian paths and routes (not accessible to cars at all). Are you seeing both or just the dashed lines? Since you have the option to switch to "bicycling" when the Google Maps are displayed, is there a reason to have a separate Groundspeak option? The gs google maps can show multiple caches, where the real google maps only show one cache.
Pajaholic Posted March 13, 2010 Posted March 13, 2010 Quick question as I can't find an option to show bicycle trails in Google Maps. How do you choose to show bicycle trails? FWIW, under the More... drop down I have Photos, Videos, Wikipedia, and Webcam only. If it's via the More menu, I guess bicycle trails aren't available in UK (even if we do have a national cycle network). TIA, Geoff
majormajor42 Posted March 13, 2010 Author Posted March 13, 2010 PS: looks like the bike trails are only in the USA so far (looked at Canada and around London) right, so it doesn't look like you guys have this feature available yet over there. if you want to see the option looks like you'll have hover over the USA for now. hopefully, as with other things, google eventually gets worldwide coverage for this new feature. there are some great bike trails in Europe.
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