[Snipped from the Centerlines e-newsletter #216 published by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking]
COME ON GOOGLE -- GET MORE CYCLE-FRIENDLY!
According to the Nov. 27th Life Cycle UK newsletter, "A global campaign is underway to persuade the planet's favourite search engine to be more cycle-friendly. Many of us use the wonderful Google maps to find our way around. The maps show a street plan, or at the click of a button, an aerial photo to help you get a feel for the terrain. Another click and you can summon up live traffic info, and car drivers can get detailed directions from A to B. For the USA and some other countries Google has also added a mass transit directions option which tells you how to reach your destination by bus, tram or train. Now cyclists are asking for a Bike There feature.
"The organisers of the campaign say: 'By implementing the "Public Transit" option, Google and the Google Maps team have shown themselves to be concerned and capable world citizens. A "Bike There" feature would be the ultimate statement in support of sustainable development, self-reliance, exercise and healthy living: that's bicycle directions.'
"Campaigners envisage the "Bike There" feature showing cycle lanes, bike paths and other infrastructure, and giving cyclists the option of seeing either the most direct route or the quietist and safest. The feature would make cycling easier and more pleasant for millions of people around the world. It would empower world citizens to adapt their lifestyles to face the challenges of global climate change and it would help Google fulfill its mission of "organising the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful. More than 40,000 people have already signed the on-line petition. Add your voice to the campaign now!"
To learn more, go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html
In case you signed the petition for Google to get a move on a "Bike There" feature in Google Maps, there has been an official announcement made by Google.. it's coming (at least in the United States so far)
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/10/your-world-your-map.html
http://googlemapsbikethere.org/
http://googlemapsbikethere.org/ http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/14/google-bike-routes-almost-here/
David Wieser http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/14/google-bike-routes-almost-here/
On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 6:35 PM, Beth McKechnie < beth@resourceconservation.mb.ca> wrote:
[Snipped from the Centerlines e-newsletter #216 published by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking]
COME ON GOOGLE -- GET MORE CYCLE-FRIENDLY!
According to the Nov. 27th Life Cycle UK newsletter, "A global campaign is underway to persuade the planet's favourite search engine to be more cycle-friendly. Many of us use the wonderful Google maps to find our way around. The maps show a street plan, or at the click of a button, an aerial photo to help you get a feel for the terrain. Another click and you can summon up live traffic info, and car drivers can get detailed directions from A to B. For the USA and some other countries Google has also added a mass transit directions option which tells you how to reach your destination by bus, tram or train. Now cyclists are asking for a Bike There feature.
"The organisers of the campaign say: 'By implementing the "Public Transit" option, Google and the Google Maps team have shown themselves to be concerned and capable world citizens. A "Bike There" feature would be the ultimate statement in support of sustainable development, self-reliance, exercise and healthy living: that's bicycle directions.'
"Campaigners envisage the "Bike There" feature showing cycle lanes, bike paths and other infrastructure, and giving cyclists the option of seeing either the most direct route or the quietist and safest. The feature would make cycling easier and more pleasant for millions of people around the world. It would empower world citizens to adapt their lifestyles to face the challenges of global climate change and it would help Google fulfill its mission of "organising the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful. More than 40,000 people have already signed the on-line petition. Add your voice to the campaign now!"
To learn more, go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/bikether/petition.html
AT-Network mailing list AT-Network@lists.umanitoba.ca http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/at-network
-
Beth McKechnie -
David Wieser