Web database project on bike route advocacy



D

Donga

Guest
I know this list is inhabited by a lot of 'puter legends, who happen to
love cycling. I'm looking at developing a website database for
reporting bike route problems (in a specific district) and helping
interested people address the problems positively and monitor progress.
The trouble is, I'm not an IT specialist.

The particular application has some scope for commercial sponsorship
and government grants, to provide for professional services, e.g.
database design and other IT resources. I have just started ploughing
this field.

Please get in touch with me on or offline to discuss this. I'd be
grateful if you could point me towards examples. I'm also looking for
someone with the requisite skills and interests in web database
programming. Ideally you will be in Brisbane, but this is far from
essential.

Donga
 
On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 02:43:54 -0700, Donga wrote:

> I know this list is inhabited by a lot of 'puter legends, who happen to
> love cycling. I'm looking at developing a website database for
> reporting bike route problems (in a specific district) and helping
> interested people address the problems positively and monitor progress.
> The trouble is, I'm not an IT specialist.
>
> The particular application has some scope for commercial sponsorship
> and government grants, to provide for professional services, e.g.
> database design and other IT resources. I have just started ploughing
> this field.


I've been thinking of something similar. However with more of
a safer-path(TM) routing database. I don't trust the government
to produce the pacific bicycle path to be any sort of path people
would actually want to ride on. (Given that the NSW RTA labels the
break-down lane of one of the most major highways in NSW as a
"bikepath")

For Germany you can get ADFC (German Cycling Federation) maps
which have most roads colour-coded for their bicycle friendliness.
It's bloody fantastic (even better once we realised black meant
"don't ride here" (doh!)).

Anyway, I've always imagined a website with routing information
where locals could post cool rides and touring-style routes
that would allow other people to ride a nice path through their
locality. Overlaid on a google map or suchlike this would be
fantastic.

One you have the route database done, you can add any sort of
meta-information to be overlaid on it. This would include your
"problems" - but if you can add user-supplied information, like
"Vicious Dog at #35",
"muddy after rain",
"Only safe on weekends",
"Pothole reported to council 2006-04-13",
"Bicycle friendly B&B"
lots of really cool stuff is possible

So... I know a great (quiet) route from here down to Wyong.
Perhaps with my GPS, I would ride the route, then upload the
trackpoint (breadcrumb trail) data. Mark it as a semi-sealed
quiet, touring-style path. Someone wanting to avoid traffic
and not requiring a direct route, could download it, try it
out. They might note that it's too rough for skinny tyres,
and add an addendum to the route - "no road bikes".

Similarly you might ride the fantastic bikepath from Chittaway
Bay, round to The Entrance. You'd mark it as a fantastic flat
route, great for bike-noobs. You'd add a "stupid obstruction"
marker at the new bollard things on the first bridge though.

Routes should be available in any format imaginable - PDFs
with map & comments, GPS track logs with waypoints, etc. etc.

Ok, I'm starting to rave...

The database design for this sort of thing is fairly straight
forward, it's having the time to do it is the issue. I can
offer technical expertise and a web+database server on a reasonable
connection.

Anyone else care to contribute?

-kt

--
Kingsley Turner,
(mailto: [email protected])
http://MadDogsBreakfast.com/ABFAQ - news:aus.bicycle Frequenly Asked Questions
 
Donga said:
Please get in touch with me on or offline to discuss this. I'd be
grateful if you could point me towards examples. I'm also looking for
someone with the requisite skills and interests in web database
programming. Ideally you will be in Brisbane, but this is far from
essential.
Donga

well I'm a software developer, so I can offer some help there if you need it, I have a web hosting account, which has heaps of bandwidth and space that I have available for use, if you want to use that, they will even host the domain name for free. However, being as busy as I am at the moment, my time would be limited, but would be happy to help where possible for free.

good luck... and sounds like a great idea... if you can get it going, there is a lot of mapping software available these days, that Im sure you could produce some good mapping routines to use.
 
Donga said:
Please get in touch with me on or offline to discuss this. I'd be
grateful if you could point me towards examples. I'm also looking for
someone with the requisite skills and interests in web database
programming. Ideally you will be in Brisbane, but this is far from
essential.

Cripes. Where do we start? There are existing online stuff from local councils. ie: I've placed permanent links to these on our YarraBUG site:

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/roads/potholes.asp
http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/roads/potholeform.htm

As part of the Yarra Councils Bicycle Advisory Committee , we are given a Network Progress Report as part of each months agenda. I'm currently fiddling around with a Access database in an attempt to collate whats going on in our area. ie: get an inquiry from a BUG member, plug in a search and can then give an answer yes / no / maybe / in regards to bicycle issues and infrastructure. This is taking me some time, as it's been years since I've seriously utilised Access ... ;)

Other (hopefully useful) links:
http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=7&b=35&c=122
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne...0241C31-1355D0C88C123B4ECA256FFE001C0989?open

So from a Vic perspective, there are existing databases for VicRoads, although I know practically nothing about their management. Oh bugger, you requested to discussion this offline. Sorry I forgot.
 
cfsmtb said:
Cripes. Where do we start? There are existing online stuff from local councils. ie: I've placed permanent links to these on our YarraBUG site:

http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/roads/potholes.asp
http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/roads/potholeform.htm

As part of the Yarra Councils Bicycle Advisory Committee , we are given a Network Progress Report as part of each months agenda. I'm currently fiddling around with a Access database in an attempt to collate whats going on in our area. ie: get an inquiry from a BUG member, plug in a search and can then give an answer yes / no / maybe / in regards to bicycle issues and infrastructure. This is taking me some time, as it's been years since I've seriously utilised Access ... ;)

Other (hopefully useful) links:
http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=7&b=35&c=122


[url]http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrne5nav.nsf/childdocs/-B8F8655488907260CA256FD300241C1A-9967A7D105D1F72DCA256FD300241C31-1355D0C88C123B4ECA256FFE001C0989?open

So from a Vic perspective, there are existing databases for VicRoads, although I know practically nothing about their management. Oh bugger, you requested to discussion this offline. Sorry I forgot.

unless the commercial application is a priority, ( at this stage anyway to get a funding model in place first maybe...) but this forum could be kept in the loop and contribute methinks... but upto progenitors...

great site, in fact, it begs the question, with all the sites out now with their overlapping bits and contrasting shortcomings, we we havnt such a site already..I guess I could answer this anyway but up for discussion so we might nail this and move with it...its because most i=users of the interent access it for free info and are loathe to pay...revenue streams drive some away and pop ups and placements are a discouragement to credibility at times...

however, a proper advocacy/service/support/ifo database that is interactive and contains all the things we want, could be the a strong driver to industry sponsors, apart from peak body groups...

the high profile retailers, manufacturers and promoters could be on board...

food for thought...food for the table...and food for the "bike kitchen", "ghost bikes", WoJ", and a line to drive influence to the power brokers who wag the legislators tails too...

watch out world the cyclists are coming to get you!...woohoo Bring It On!
 
Donga wrote:
> I know this list is inhabited by a lot of 'puter legends, who happen to
> love cycling. I'm looking at developing a website database for
> reporting bike route problems (in a specific district) and helping
> interested people address the problems positively and monitor progress.


a) How does this differ from the work Cameron shorter is doing?
( as mentioned in a previous thread )

[And yes, I'm just as lost as to how I set this up on my home computer
as well - I can never find out how people digitize paper maps in]

b) can it be done under google earth/maps?
(requires high powered PC of $$$$ OS)

c) Can it be done under the "google local" that is availabel OS atm.
Has anyone played with it os?
[wonderinhg if it is worth wearing my bib and brace to a sydney
presentation for smoozeing {:) ]

..
>
> Please get in touch with me on or offline to discuss this.


Naah, keep it online.
I'm bored with lycra based discussion {:)

> I'd be
> grateful if you could point me towards examples. I'm also looking for
> someone with the requisite skills and interests in web database
> programming. Ideally you will be in Brisbane, but this is far from
> essential.


If you want to cover my expenses, i'd be happy to commute up and test
one of my bicycle trailers on the way {:).
 
Kingsley wrote:
> I don't trust the government
> to produce the pacific bicycle path to be any sort of path people
> would actually want to ride on.


They didn't. They only kicked in $30,000(?) for the printing and were
(sort of) paid back {:).

> (Given that the NSW RTA labels the
> break-down lane of one of the most major highways in NSW as a
> "bikepath")


Blame the dutch. They keep riding on them[1].

>
> For Germany you can get ADFC (German Cycling Federation) maps
> which have most roads colour-coded for their bicycle friendliness.


This has been an ongoing goal for decades. The problem for Australia is
population for area to be covered.

On-line, print your own has been proposed since the early 80s.

The on-going problem is that no one can afford to buy map components
(road centrelines, rivers/watrerways, contours, etc, etc, etc).
Unfortunately in Australia, you have to do this.



> It's bloody fantastic (even better once we realised black meant
> "don't ride here" (doh!)).


That debate (which colour to use for what) has been going on since the
80's too. Roughly divided between schemes by those who have no
topographic maps training and those who do.



> but if you can add user-supplied information,


That is the major problem "user-supplied".
It is really depressing waiting for user reports.


> Routes should be available in any format imaginable - PDFs
> with map & comments, GPS track logs with waypoints, etc. etc.


Yep.

>
> Ok, I'm starting to rave...


Nope, you've just caught the disease.

>
> The database design for this sort of thing is fairly straight
> forward, it's having the time to do it is the issue.


I've retired. {:)
I ride a bicycle
I love touring.
Anything to avoid all the projects my wife has in mind[2]

> I can
> offer technical expertise and a web+database server on a reasonable
> connection.
>
> Anyone else care to contribute?


Yes.
Is a list wanted?
Or do it here?

[1] Well, the few groups I stopped to talk to were all dutch.

[2] am I so glad that swmbo doesn't read this list. I'm also
procrastinating on correspondence assignment too.
 
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:34:57 +1000
MikeyOz <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> good luck... and sounds like a great idea... if you can get it going,
> there is a lot of mapping software available these days, that Im sure
> you could produce some good mapping routines to use.


First job - make it browser independent. Second job, make it fast.
People on old machines and slow connections, or who don't use IE, they
ride bikes too...


Zebee
 
Donga said:
I know this list is inhabited by a lot of 'puter legends, who happen to
love cycling. I'm looking at developing a website database for
reporting bike route problems (in a specific district) and helping
interested people address the problems positively and monitor progress.
The trouble is, I'm not an IT specialist.

The particular application has some scope for commercial sponsorship
and government grants, to provide for professional services, e.g.
database design and other IT resources. I have just started ploughing
this field.

Please get in touch with me on or offline to discuss this. I'd be
grateful if you could point me towards examples. I'm also looking for
someone with the requisite skills and interests in web database
programming. Ideally you will be in Brisbane, but this is far from
essential.

Donga

did something that 'may' be relevant a couple of years ago (In flash tho) which is a whale-spotting map of the oceans around Oz/southern seas.
You can enter location, coords, comments etc and marries up to a DB

probably not quite the thing you are after, altho the ability to compile it into a list/DB may be just as important as visual recordings

Also the bigger issue of who 'owns' ar admins it?
Who gets to decide which entries are given priority and addressed etc...
 
flyingdutch wrote:

> did something that 'may' be relevant a couple of years ago (In flash
> tho) which is a whale-spotting map of the oceans around Oz/southern
> seas.
> You can enter location, coords, comments etc and marries up to a DB


This sort of system would suit for a pot-hole/bicycle obstacle reporting
system, but you would need a system (maybe detailed google maps) where
the users could zero in and click a point to show where the pothole,
parralel drain cover, load of lumber, etc, etc is.

woops, I'm thinking of that POS google Earth.



> Also the bigger issue of who 'owns' ar admins it?
> Who gets to decide which entries are given priority and addressed
> etc...


The trick would be to enter it into another system that used google maps
or google earth as the base map.

Unfortunately, I don't think the community Mapbuider (display client)
project does this. So the problem becomes finding a base map for a
server that meets this criteria.


>
>