Biking Directions in Google Maps for Android in 10 New Countries

Google has been adding more and more biking data to Google Maps. It started out with the US but has since expanded the coverage to other countries. Still, more data is added, some by regular users via Map Maker, and now Google is making that data available in Google Maps for Android.

"Whether you’re a seasoned century rider or a casual beach cruiser, finding the best biking routes can be a challenge. That’s why today we’re bringing mobile biking directions and navigation to the 10 countries where we launched desktop biking directions last month," Google explained.

Bikers in the 10 targeted countries got a big surprise last month when Google enabled biking directions there. Now, along with driving, walking and public transport directions, bikers had a way of determining the fastest and the safest routes in their cities and around them.

But having the feature available on the site is one thing, having it available in the Google Maps app is a lot more useful. Bikers on the go can now get directions, see if they're on the right track or find new places to go with their phones.

"Today, there are more than 330,000 miles (equal to more than 530,000 kilometers, or half a gigameter) of green biking lines in Google Maps," Google boasted.

"Dark green lines on the map show dedicated bike trails and paths with no motor vehicles, light green lines show streets with bike lanes and dashed green lines show other streets recommended for cycling. Biking navigation even helps you avoid steep hills," it explained.

Bikers in the 10 new countries, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, don't have to do anything, the feature should be enabled in their Maps app now. What's more, if they don't find their favorite bike trails or spot some errors, they can use Map Maker to provide more accurate data.

Via: Biking Directions in Google Maps for Android in 10 New Countries