I recently had a coworker ask me how to find the best route from her house to work. Previously, I wrote about how to find a route to work, but it can be challenging when you are not familiar with the area and don’t have anyone to ask. When planning a route for you or someone else in an unfamiliar area, the internet can be of great help.
With the bike commuter challenge about to start, she wanted to commute using bike paths. For someone new to bike commuting, finding a safe route is probably the most important consideration when commuting to work. I was totally unfamiliar with the area near where she lived, but luckily I knew that Google Maps and Strava are useful in figuring out the best bike route. Using the informational overlays on both of these websites, I was able to find a suitable route for her, making the most of trails and quiet streets. These online tools are great for someone new to commuting, or for someone wanting to bike in a city they’ve never been in before. For experienced riders who already have their favorite route(s), it’s also interesting to see where other cyclists go. The following is how I go about figuring out a new route in an unfamiliar location.
Planning using Strava
Strava’s heatmap is a great tool for initially planning a route around roads that other cyclists actually take.
Strava’s heatmap compiles all the data cyclists have logged on their smartphones and is a good indicator of which roads are bike friendly and well traveled by other bicyclists. I use this as a guide when searching for or optimizing a route. I wish this type of thing was available back in 2011 when I started bike commuting. Recently, I didn’t realize I had other options on my route until I looked at Strava and found that a lot of people take a shortcut on one side street on my regular commute. Even with all of these years being familiar with the area, I had never explored or seen anyone take that street before, but the heatmap showed me that it was an option. Now I try to track my rides on my commutes as much as possible since I know my data will be used to help others when planning their route.
Google Maps for route planning
Google Maps‘ Bicycling function does a fair job of indicating roads which may be good for cycling. Just type in your start and end points and see the routes it suggests. Be careful though, since Google suggests the shortest routes that do not always make sense and may put you on busy roads when a longer route is safer. You can change and drag the route around, but I find combining Google Maps’ suggestions and Strava’s real world use is best.
I also switch to street view to visually gauge how the streets are laid out. Then you can virtually test your route. Rotate the map at intersections to see where trouble spots might be.
Final considerations
Once you’ve found a good route, then I suggest you try it out on your bike, ideally at approximately the same time of day you’ll be commuting. On a bike you are much more aware of traffic patterns and the actual road conditions (potholes, hills). If the road seems too narrow or dangerous, find another alternative. Bring your directions on your bike if you need it by using your smartphone or writing it on a piece of paper or a piece of tape. If you want to drive the route, the advantage is that is that you will see how much space you have when you share the road and also what drivers see from their perspective.
Above all, just relax and ride and trust your good judgement. Pedal out of your comfort zone and just enjoy the commute. With all of the knowledge you’ve acquired you’ll be much more confident while on your new route.