Bicyclists in Eugene have a new reason to commute to school and work by bicycle, and it’s on the Internet.
On Wednesday, Google released a new feature that gives directions using bike paths and bike lanes in Eugene. Many bicyclists are celebrating this new addition to Google Maps.
“It’s going to be a good tool for the community to use,” said David Roth, transportation adviser for the City of Eugene.
Bicyclists simply plug in their address and destination into the Google Maps Web site and receive directions using the city’s bike trails and bike lanes. For example, the directions from the campus Duck Store to Alton Baker Park use the Ruth Bascom bike path. Route options are available based on time and convenience.
“You can decide what you’re comfortable with,” Roth said.
Some issues have arisen with the new feature, however. Sue Wolling, president of the Eugene cycling group Greater Eugene Area Riders, entered her route from home to work. The Google directions told her to use the Beltline Highway, which is, needless to say, not the safest road for bicyclists.
Besides minor complications, many bicyclists are impressed with the accuracy of
Google Maps.
“Compared to my normal routes, it’s almost the same,” said Mike Seager, editor and Web master of the Eugene community bicyclist Web site, We Bike Eugene.
Many bicyclists and University students had not yet heard of the new feature, but said it seems like a promising tool.
“I might use it for getting somewhere unfamiliar,” said Joan Russick, mechanic at Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life bike shop in Eugene.
Bicyclists were not surprised that Eugene was chosen for the new Google Maps feature. Gary Larson, a technician at the REI store in Eugene, said Eugene has a very “bikey” population.
Russick agreed, saying “the town is infamous for its bike culture.”
Google partnered with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit group that created a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines, to provide information on bike trails in more than 150 U.S. cities, including Portland.
Google used publicly available city documents for the program to maintain accuracy and up-to-date information, according to its Web site.
“Google is recognizing that bicycling is a good way to get around,” Wolling said.
Fifty-seven million people in the United States ride a bike, according to Google’s
press release.
As a nationally recognized bicycling capital, Eugene received a gold rating from the League of American Bicyclists in 2009.
“This is a really exciting thing. It allows visitors and new cyclists to bridge the gap,” Seager said. “If you’ve never ridden a bike in Eugene, and don’t know the routes, Google removes a lot of barriers.”
Lee Shoemaker, coordinator of the Eugene Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, was concerned that there is no legend on the Google Maps Web site that explains what the different lines mean.
Google issued a press release and an accompanying video Wednesday to showcase the new feature. According to Google’s press release, dark green lines indicate bike-only trails; light green lines indicate bike lanes along a road; and dotted green lines indicate roads without bike lanes.
Errors and comments can be submitted by following a link on the Google Maps Web site.
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Avid bikers rejoice: Google Maps adds Eugene routes
Daily Emerald
March 14, 2010
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