How to Plan a Bike Route with Google Maps

I go through how to read the bicycling layer of Google Maps and how to best take advantage of it to find a fun bike route! There are lots of tips you likely don't know about. Anything I missed? Mention in the comments!

0:00 Intro
0:20 Activating Bicycling Layer
1:21 Different Types of Bike Lanes
5:04 Off-road trails
6:18 Secret Bike Friendly Roads
7:29 People First Streets
8:24 Biking Directions
9:19 See Elevation via Biking Directions
10:12 Beware of "Almost Flat"
10:52 Example in Nashville, TN
13:10 Satellite view in Ashville, NC
14:15 Other Routing Software

[JFearless]

They need to tie it all together. It’s insane that I can see the bicycle layer, highlighting some pretty amazing trails that let you cut across most central east bay cities in half the time it takes a car to get across, (and they’re usually scenic too), yet when I navigate a cycle route, even if it gives me multiple options, they often ignore those entirely and have me taking left turns onto 4 lane highways. It’s worse when a clearly visible (on the map) off street trail runs near parallel to the busy road yet it doesn’t map it.

The second most annoying thing you already pointed out, is that the route preview blue lines cover up all the bicycle layer markings. That’s just idiotic. If I gotta pick between 3 bad routes at least give me the ability to to make an informed decision, especially when the bicycle layer is right there and would allow me to do so. Boneheaded.

Lastly - why not allow the option to force Google to take trails? This seems to be a no-brainer. I’m always happy to bike a bit further to get a better route. I’m sure most would. It would be nice to tap on a trail to include it in the route. I think it’s Russel st in Berkeley (don’t quote me lol) that cuts all the way across the city with a protected bike lane that passes through multiple parks or shared use greenways etc. and is fast, safe, fun and pleasant, yet my route has me 2 streets over. Since it’s already marked on the bicycle layer, can I not tap it to include it?

I feel they have added many of the things they need to make it an amazing app for cycling, but need some actual cyclists to work with them on the implementation you make it genuinely useful. It’s good rn, but it could be really great.

[Our__Earth]

The step
I cannot find is. START. I can send the route to myself but there’s only preview… I cannot start navigation once I’m at the start of the trail.

[VideoNOLA]

I'm hoping to replace "Bike With GPS" (mobile app) with Google Maps, for the purpose of mapping my routes as I ride. Meanwhile, the app makes you pay for route PLANNING, which is silly, if that can be done for free with Google Maps.

[amykitchens]

I don't see this option on the app. Is this only available in the browser version?

[misterbadguy]

Openstreetmaps / OsmAnd / Brouter > google