9°c A few clouds
8°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
City bike routes going on Google next week
KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
Google Maps will soon let the city's hardy bicycle riders find bike routes buried under the snow. / NOV. 22 2010 ���v����v?���v� Stdup Winter has arrived and cycling season will be over for most bike riders . In pic several bicycles were still locked in place on Sherbrook St at Wolseley Ave on Monday morning with more snow coming
The snow and ice suggest otherwise, but life for the Winnipeg cyclist just became a little easier.
In an announcement at the Sustainable Mobility Conference in Ottawa Monday, Internet search engine giant Google has added Winnipeg to its list of Canadian cities that will have bike routes available online for those looking for the best path to take on two wheels.
Related Items
With Google Bike Directions, scheduled to be added to Google Maps during the next week, users can pore over city-fed bike maps using the popular web atlas to chart a course for their daily commute.
Comprehensive maps of various bike routes and paths are already available on the city's website, but Winnipeg Trails Association director Janice Lukes was thrilled to find out Google has added the city to its new mapping feature.
"We have all this new infrastructure and many people don't know where it is," she said. "This will encourage those who are looking to get out on the weekends or do a little riding after work."
What has the cycling community excited about the Google Maps addition is the reach it will have to those contemplating ditching their vehicle for a bike.
Jeff Martin, owner of Alter Ego Sports, feels the undecided might finally decide to switch to a two-wheeler permanently, thanks to Google Maps. Not every trail or dedicated bike lane is visible from behind the wheel, he notes, so not everyone is up to speed with the layout of the city's active transportation framework.
"For the serious cyclist, they're going to ride their bikes regardless," he said. "But for the inexperienced rider, this will show them they can get from point A to point B in a safe way, especially for winter riding."
Google Bike Directions works like this: A click on the bicycle icon shows a dark green line indicating a bike-only path. A lighter green line signals a dedicated bike lane and a dotted line shows a city street that doesn't have a dedicated bike lane, but could still be suitable for riding.
The city planned to spend $20.4 million dollars on 36 bike-and-pedestrian projects under a federal stimulus program this year. Cold weather cut six of those projects short, with completion scheduled for 2011.
Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Gatineau and Waterloo are the other Canadian cities involved in Google's announcement. Bike-trail data for U.S. markets was added to Google Maps earlier this year.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 23, 2010 A5
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- WWE's Jericho breaks code in Brazil
- Every year 4,000 children reported missing in Manitoba
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- Union Station to receive $6.5-million makeover
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- A SHED is not enough
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Severe storm warning issued
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Ex-Hydro boss slams closure
- His life made our world a better place
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- At 100, she's still winning friends and winning at bridge
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Ex-Bomber sued for $4.8M
- Prairies top preventable deaths list
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Weeding out the chemicals
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.