BikePlanner.org

[JimF22003]

I thought I had figured out a great “secret” way from home to work using the back roads, but this program suggested almost exactly the same route I use. Great minds think like a computer, I guess.

I’m not clear on how to make suggestions or improvements though. It looks like you have to go to edit an openstreets map somewhere else.

[5555624]

@Greenbelt 28060 wrote:

Looks like the Post has picked up on this story, and is running that great picture from the Tim Johnson ride featuring the forum’s pinkest cyclist!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/a-bike-map-for-washington-and-eventually-by-washington/2012/08/11/1b6dee18-e30e-11e1-98e7-89d659f9c106_story.html?hpid=z9

The print (or e-Replica version), on the third page of the Metro section, has a different headline (“Trail-blazing technology for bicyclists”) and lacks the picture.

[Arlingtonrider]

This should be a great tool once we figure out how to modify it. I’m looking forward to the tutorial and video that are mentioned on the related site. (Volunteering here to be one of the testers to give the tutorial an “idiot” test. If I can understand it, anyone can. :p ) It’s awesome that we get to be the test market – for free.

[vvill]

Tried something in Chantilly, and got this:

Quote:

Trip is not possible. You might be trying to plan a trip outside the map data boundary.

Boo

[happynicky]

I resemble that comment.

[DCLiz]

This is such a great idea in theory. In reality, the route it just suggested for my commute to work is terribly off, for both using my own bike and bikeshare. I’m not sure how editing the open city map would help, either, since it obviously knows where the bike paths and CaBi stations are. Suffice to say that my current commute from Capitol Hill to downtown near Farragut is entirely on bike paths, primarily the Pennsylvania Ave and 15th St cycle track, but also making use of a couple on Capitol Hill. There is only three blocks at the end when I’m on a street with no lanes. The route it suggested had me going some cockamamey way across 2nd St, on D in front of Union Station, and eventually winding up on very highly trafficked, non-bike lane streets around McPherson & Farragut. It didn’t change the route even when I changed the slider entirely to bike friendly.

Furthermore, when I switched to bikeshare mode, it ignored the two stations that are each about 3 blocks from my apartment, and instead suggested picking up a bike much further away (that might have been because one of those stations was bike-less the time I did my first search, because it did pop up the 2nd time–however, the other nearby station is always nearly full at this time of day). The drop-off station was a little bit better, but again, I know of 2 other stations that are closer to my destination and usually have spots.

So, based on this experience when I know the best route, I would be very hesitant to use this tool to plan a trip on an unknown route. I look forward to hearing how it develops, but it’s too beta for me right now.

[mstone]

I think it needs more transparency about the data it’s using. E.g., put all the bike lanes, etc, right on the map instead of just the chosen route. Then it would be easier for people to understand why it does what it does things and add corrections.

[thucydides]

Here’s a little quirk that might confuse some folks. (Or perhaps just me.) If you go to http://www.bikeplanner.org rather than bikeplanner.org it takes you to a similar site but for the Montreal area. You apparently can’t use this map if you did take the trouble to scroll down to our region. But, hey, next time I’m in Montreal….

[Tim Kelley]

@DCLiz 28553 wrote:

This is such a great idea in theory. In reality, the route it just suggested for my commute to work is terribly off, for both using my own bike and bikeshare. I’m not sure how editing the open city map would help, either, since it obviously knows where the bike paths and CaBi stations are. Suffice to say that my current commute from Capitol Hill to downtown near Farragut is entirely on bike paths, primarily the Pennsylvania Ave and 15th St cycle track, but also making use of a couple on Capitol Hill. There is only three blocks at the end when I’m on a street with no lanes. The route it suggested had me going some cockamamey way across 2nd St, on D in front of Union Station, and eventually winding up on very highly trafficked, non-bike lane streets around McPherson & Farragut. It didn’t change the route even when I changed the slider entirely to bike friendly.

Furthermore, when I switched to bikeshare mode, it ignored the two stations that are each about 3 blocks from my apartment, and instead suggested picking up a bike much further away (that might have been because one of those stations was bike-less the time I did my first search, because it did pop up the 2nd time–however, the other nearby station is always nearly full at this time of day). The drop-off station was a little bit better, but again, I know of 2 other stations that are closer to my destination and usually have spots.

So, based on this experience when I know the best route, I would be very hesitant to use this tool to plan a trip on an unknown route. I look forward to hearing how it develops, but it’s too beta for me right now.

My guess would be that, although the program knows where the bike paths and CB stations are located, your starting destination may be throwing it off. For example, with being routed to a further CB station, it may simply not know that the sidewalk is there (and yes, it won’t route you to an empty CB station). In the same vein, if there is a bike lane or path but there is something in Openplans keeping you from getting to an access point, then you get routed all the way around. That being said, it genuinely could be an error somewhere, but it’s probably worth your time to see if you can solve the problem.

[DCLiz]

@Tim Kelley 28599 wrote:

My guess would be that, although the program knows where the bike paths and CB stations are located, your starting destination may be throwing it off. For example, with being routed to a further CB station, it may simply not know that the sidewalk is there (and yes, it won’t route you to an empty CB station). In the same vein, if there is a bike lane or path but there is something in Openplans keeping you from getting to an access point, then you get routed all the way around. That being said, it genuinely could be an error somewhere, but it’s probably worth your time to see if you can solve the problem.

I think you are right. I go through the U.S. Capitol Grounds to access the Pennsylvania Ave cycle track. These sidewalks and parking lots are generally open to bicyclists with the exception of events like 4th of July, State of the Union, etc. The system probably doesn’t recognize this as a potential route.

Still flummoxed by the bikeshare suggestion…even if I followed the suggested route, it has to be faster to pick up the bike at the closer location (Eastern Market–TONS of bikes there in the AM)…the actual distance travelled will be slightly longer, but more than made up for in the difference between less walking and more biking.

Liz

[Certifried]

Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?

[eminva]

@Certifried 28611 wrote:

Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?

And if The Hunt for Red October references weren’t too much for you . . . .

[DismalScientist]

I think part of the overall issue has to be that there is a default speed (which is adjusted for elevation changes) and safety level defined for each type of street and path. I don’t see how this can be fixed without allowing users to set a speed and safety adjustment for every street and path segment in openmaps.

I noticed that some western parts of the W&OD don’t show up as cyclepaths in open maps at all.

[chris_s]

Warning: Editing OpenStreetMaps can be extremely addicting. Also it isn’t nearly as difficult as I expected it to be.

[Tim Kelley]

@chris_s 30374 wrote:

Warning: Editing OpenStreetMaps can be extremely addicting. Also it isn’t nearly as difficult as I expected it to be.

Tell us more, please!

[Author]

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