Google Maps now features bike lanes
Ingle, Bruce
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35799063/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_
gadgets/
- Bruce
Thomas Martin
Now that GoogleMaps can generate bike routes, I thought that some may like this information, which I posted a year or two ago.
Create GPX route & Elevation Profile from Google Map (GMap) There is a web post at “Communications from Elsewhere” which provides and explains how to use the bookmarklet, GMaptoGPX, to create a GPX file from a GMap route. http://www.elsewhere.org/journal/gmaptogpx/#comment-291027 Unless it has already been done by someone else, create the route on GMap by entering the starting and ending points in <Get Directions>. Modify the route by clicking and dragging the original route so that it follows the desired or designated route. Click on the bookmarklet, GMaptoGPX, saved in your browser Favorites, which opens the GMaptoGPX applet on top of the GMap page. (If the applet doesn’t open on top of the GMap page, click on the <Get Directions> button and more viapoints will display on the map. Then run the applet again and it should open on top of the GMap.) The GMaptoGPX applet can display 4 types of code in its window: Route, Points, Track or Full. These different types are toggled by clicking on the buttons on top of the applet. If you point to these buttons, a brief description of the choice will appear. Note that only buttons for the three types that are not displayed will show on top of the applet, not the one for the type of code that is displayed, this can be confusing. If you just want to create a track route, click on the <Track> tab at the top. Cut and paste all of the code in the window and save it in a text editor or word processor as a plain text file (use default windows format). Close the text editor or word processor and replace the “.txt” suffix of the file name with a “.gpx”. This file can be loaded into Bikeroutetoaster.com if you would like to see an elevation profile. Tom |
Thomas Martin
I tested this new feature by creating a route between my home and my office. The route directed me down a long steep staircase on E Blaine St. I suppose it was marked as a road in their system. I used their notification system to let them know that I thought it was a mistake. I told them that I lived near Blaine and was wondering why I saw so many bikers carrying their bikes up those stairs this week!
I went back about 1/2 h later to recreate the route so I could try modifying it with their drag and pull function, which worked great!
When I recreated the route, it no longer took me down the steep stairs but directed me on a route that I would have chosen instead! Wow that was quick feedback! Please let them know when you encounter such problems with their routes and help them to fine tune them.
|
Ingle, Bruce
> I've been thinking about painting the frame of my Schwinn
> Varsity beater/commuter bike with reflective paint
I've painted several frames with paint and "painted" a few others with
reflective tape over the years. IMO, using the reflective tape works a
lot better -- it costs less, requires no frame prep, takes less time to
apply and is usually more durable than a rattle-can job (2-part marine
paint is tops for durability, but it's a PITA, the fumes are highly
toxic and it's not reflective). The main problem I've had with
durability is from clamping frame tubes in a workstand, and that's
easily circumvented by clamping the seat post or hanging the bike by the
saddle.
If you ever think you might want to remove reflective tape, put down a
base layer of vinyl electrical tape first.
http://www.identi-tape.com/eng-sr1.html
I'd recommend 1" or 2" wide white lengthwise along frame tubes, and 4"
or 6" white across the fenders. I use white for everything because it
has the highest visibility; if you feel the need for fore/aft
indication, I'd recommend yellow over red because of its higher
visiblity.
- Bruce
Robert Leone
Google doing a specialty version for cyclists is very good news -- just
ask the bike tourists! The technically adept and technologically
integrated among them have been wanting this for a very long time now.
I'm sort of tech adept but not integrated, as I've terrible luck
installing regular bike computers on my bikes (I keep snipping the probe
cables by accident, and I'm not going wireless because I've heard of too
many interference problems with them, wheel generators, high power
lights and other electronics).
On the other hand, this is still a beta product. One rider on the local
(sdr...@googlegroups.com) mailing list noted he'd attempted to see what
Google Bikes gave for his commute, and it took him over the Coronado
Bridge, a wonderful shortcut that is closed to cyclists except for very
special events. Many recreational cyclists, and I think a few commuters,
use ferries between the downtown San Diego area and the "Island" of
Coronado. Demand is such the ferry company, while it seems to be
restricting hours of operation, has also started operations from an area
near the Convention Center and Petco Park (baseball) as well as the
traditional San Diego location near the intersection of Broadway and the
bay itself. The distance between the two San Diego side landings is
about a mile, I'd guess. No big deal for cyclists, but significant for
pedestrians, particularly foot-traveling tourists.
Bummer -- my monthly bus pass USED to get me a discount on the ferry
fare (currently $3.25, with or without bike) but that went away several
years ago.
Local brevet and perm routers who do stuff that goes through Coronado
seem to include controls in the South Bay to make sure we ride around
the harbor and over the sandy spit to Coronado.
Robert Leone
Rob Johnston
Is the Identi-Tape in your link the reflective tape that you
recommend?
Rob
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "randon" group.
> To post to this group, send email to ran...@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to randon-
> unsub...@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/randon/
Ingle, Bruce
> Is the Identi-Tape in your link the reflective tape
> that you recommend?
It's what I use and prefer. The white version is the brightest
conformable retroreflective material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive
that I've tried, and it's heat-shrinkable to conform to compound
surfaces like mudguards.
I have a small roll of the 3M version; it might be brighter, but not a
lot, and Identi-tape's version is cheap enough to make wrapping a bike
affordable. Any bike wrapped with the white Identi-tape is definitely
seen in the headlights.
- Bruce
John Jost
"Reason is the first casualty of emotions"
From: "Ingle, Bruce" <Bruce...@gdc4s.com>
To: Rob Johnston <rjoh...@johnnyseeds.com>; randon digest subscribers <ran...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 10:43:26 AM
Subject: [Randon] RE: Reflective tape
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "randon" group.
To post to this group, send email to ran...@googlegroups.com
Ingle, Bruce
> shouldn't anything pointing backwards be red reflective tape
> (think taillight) not white?
A red rear reflector may be required in some jurisdictions and can be
added to meet legal requirements...but it will be less visible than the
rest of the bike, because red reflects less light than white.
I can't imagine anybody would ever require me to obscure the reflective
tape on the frame/mudguards to increase the relative visibility of a red
reflector. ;)
- Bruce