Today Kent points out Bikely. Bikely is a cycling route finder that is simply a Google maps-based mashup in which cyclists can create, share, and find cycling routes. Thus far the number of quality routes is quite anemic. There are a few quality routes, but not enough to make me go back to use it. Hopefully this will change in time.
I went ahead and tested their route creation functionality, and wasn't very impressed. I went through the process and created a route for Honey Run that starts where you leave Bidwell Park, and ends at Peet's Coffee downtown. It was also the first route anyone has created for Chico - but I'm not surprised at that.
The Bikely experience is even less refined that Gmaps Pedometer, and Gmaps is still pretty rudimentary. I won't go into detail about the user experience here; I rant about user interfaces on my other blog, Push Button For. But just to use one example: Why can't I print detailed maps of a route? The printed map is the most obvious thing I can think of that would actually make Bikely useful, and it isn't there...
I will again say that the opportunity is ripe for someone to create the killer app in this space. The key is setting up an experience that is so easy - to use AND to create new routes with - that the cycling community will feel compelled to use it, and even feel like they can no longer live without it. Only then will the user base grow large enough to contribute enough content for an app like this to be truly useful. Any VC folks, feel free to get in touch. :-)
It's cool to see so many of these homegrown versions popping up though - it means someone will take it by the reigns and do things the right way!
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4 comments:
I tried out Bikely and after looking at a couple of routes thought it was pretty cool.
Then I tried to make a route that I could use next week while in Half Moon Bay. Not so good. I started at the campgrounds in HMB and plotted a course down HWY 1 to San Gregorio where I would take a left on HWY 84 heading back to Woodside.
The problem I found was that when plotting the point from HMB to San Gregorio, it went in a straight line, not with the highway. So, I guess on a windy road, you need to plot a point on each curve.
It would be nice if you could us the mouse to draw the line from point to point. Pretty cool otherwise, I'll get back to making the HMB route and link it in a second comment.
I tried out Bikely and after looking at a couple of routes thought it was pretty cool.
Then I tried to make a route that I could use next week while in Half Moon Bay. Not so good. I started at the campgrounds in HMB and plotted a course down HWY 1 to San Gregorio where I would take a left on HWY 84 heading back to Woodside.
The problem I found was that when plotting the point from HMB to San Gregorio, it went in a straight line, not with the highway. So, I guess on a windy road, you need to plot a point on each curve.
It would be nice if you could us the mouse to draw the line from point to point. Pretty cool otherwise, I'll get back to making the HMB route and link it in a second comment.
OK, it took some time and there was some latency when attempting to plot points. But, it did work and now I'll see what I might be able to do with it. Here is the link:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Half-Moon-Bay-loop
I agree - the creation process is really painful. Also, you can't print, there are no road surface indicators, and on and on I could go about how poor the Bikely experience is. I guess it's a start though.
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