Washington, DC -- Appearing at the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, Mountain View-based Google 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.
http://maps.google.com/biking
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/annc/20100310_biking-directions.html
http://maps.google.com/biking
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/annc/20100310_biking-directions.html
