Alternative routes with Google maps

jinnan_tonnix

Hi all,

I've had some fun with Google maps recently. My commute can either take me along a 5 mile stretch of canal towpath plus 1 mile cycle track, or through a busy suburban commute.

If there weather's bad, and when it's dark and horrible, I tend to use the roads, but I've had a few near misses with the Mr Heads driving home in the evening. The early morning drivers seem better, for some reason.

Anyway, I had a good look at Google maps and plotted a few different ways to and from work. It took a few trials and lots of errors, but I've got a great route to and from work which is so light on traffic it's a pleasure. I was able to plot my trip through parallel streets, alleyways and backroads which I didn't even know existed even though I've been cycling the journey for over 3 years.

Even though it feels a MUCH longer journey, I was really surprised to find it's only 3 or 4 minutes longer.

The fly in the ointment is a big hill - a lung burster and I ride a single-speed. Good training, though.

I can't wait until the evenings brighten up (end of January is normally the happy turning point), then it's back on the canals.

What's the point of this post? Well, I don't know, really. Try varying your journey, I suppose. That's all. Enjoy.

Citizen Smith

Hey Jinnan,

Two days a week I commute from Tooting, SW London to Paddington, put my bike on the train to Reading and then cycle to the office at the other end.

Once the weather gets better, I do have the intention of occasionally doing the proper commute to Reading and I have found Google Maps as a great way to plot my route. At 45 miles it's a bit of a whopper!