Washington
– Appearing at the National Bike Summit in D.C., Google (NASD: GOOG) on Wednesday unveiled a
new addition to Google Maps that features step-by-step biking directions.
The
feature, still in beta testing, provides routes optimized for cycling,
highlighting bike trails, bike lanes and bike-friendly roads.
The directions
provide time estimates for trips based on an algorithm that takes into account
the length of the route, the number of hills, fatigue over time and other
variables.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit that creates networks
of trails from former rail lines, provided information on bike trails in more
than 150 cities.
Google said that bike-specific directions have been the most
requested feature on Google Maps.
A mobile version of the tools is also
planned.
Related Links:
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(Google blog)
