New App for the Cyclist’s Best Route

This is very exciting! “Google it” just took on a whole new meaning for a whole lot of cyclists today. Google Maps launched a “bike directions” application. It took place today at the National Bike Summit in Washington. The New York Times reports:

Much like the driving and walking directions on Google Maps, the service selects a route and calculates estimated cycling times after a user provides start and end points. The routing algorithm attempts to select optimal directions that avoid freeways and busy roads and intersections, and take into account bike paths, bike lanes and bike-friendly streets. They will seek to route around hills, whenever practical. Google Maps will also offer a “view” geared for cyclists that will display bike-friendly routes. A mobile version is likely to follow soon, said Shannon Guymon, a product manager for Google Maps Directions