Please see message below about asking Google to include biking options in their mapping services.
Also, this message was sent as a follow-up: "Also be sure to check out the Google Maps "Bike There" web site: http://googlemapsbikethere.org/. They have an online petition with almost 50,000 signatures to get "Bike There" on google maps . They also have lots of good links to other bike routing and mapping services." Robbie Webber Bike Walk Madison Steering Committee www.bikewalkmadison.org Join our group on Facebook! From the brilliant folks at Marin County Bicycle Coalition: *Ask Google Maps to generate bike route maps * It has come to MCBC's attention that a request for Google to create maps for the best cycling routes in any particular area has been posted on their "Suggest It" page. MCBC thinks this is a great idea as well - a tool in virtually every cyclist's interest. And we're asking you to flood Google with requests for it. Explicit bicycle maps are useful for several important reasons: 1. Cyclists need routes that minimize the use of congested roadways. No extant Google (or competing) maps do so. Many cities and counties (including Marin!) have gone to considerable labor and expense to mark bicycle routes. These would be the obvious heart of the Google bicycle map database. 2. Many cities have created dedicated bicycle lanes or bike/ped facilities through dense developed areas, such as the Bay Trail and the Ohlone Bikeway from Richmond to Berkeley. More people will use them if they can map their locations and connections! 3. Transit maps often indicate walking routes to and from terminals/stops - but not cycling routes, which vastly increases the range of travel for cyclists. Bicycle maps should be integrated with the transit maps. *Here's how you can help: *1. Go to * http://maps.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=suggestions.cs *2. Scroll down the list to the *Route Information* section 3. *Click the "Suggest It" button* after the last choice - "*Add bike trail information and biking directions"*. If you want to do more than click a request, you need to write to the discussion forums and hope Google staff pays attention. If you choose to take this extra step, feel free to use the above talking points. Thank for helping! An onslaught just might get Google's engineers in gear.
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