"Anton S." <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> Has anyone seen or heard of a web based interactive commuting map, where you choose your start and
> endpoints and it figures out the best route based off of traffic flow, elevation, road condition,
> etc ? Or anything even close to this description?
I've seen comments as to the need, but I know from experience that it's HUGE project, even for a
small city, much less the entire USA ?.
Many cities have planning groups, often including cyclists that develop cycling maps (often
available on-line in PDF format). NYC is typical, as are the surrounding suburbs, all have which
bike maps. These don't attempt to show the suitability of every road, but usually have a good
selection that allow a reasonable route to be selected.
But computer generated ?. Not likely. I've never had any luck with the on-line stuff and even my own
mapping software from Garmin leaves a lot to be desired. I have yet to find any kind of data base
that includes all the required data that would allow a computer to make the correct choices. Much of
the requisite info. is in government data bases, but used for different purposes and is generally
not in a suitable format to give you the information needed to make correct choices. Other info.
seems to be scattered amongst the assorted for-profit mapping companies that are mostly proprietary
and don't allow sharing of info.
I've also found it necessary to field check any computer generated routes as the databases often
have major errors in street signage and the actual condition and suitability (for bikes) at
intersections, that may look just fine on a map, but in real life are not a good choice, thus the
need to read the map, then go ride it, in both directions.
My $.02
Steve B.
