St Georges Rd bike path to Miller St - Safer, popular connecting route should be accurately shown

21:31 Adrian 0 Comments

Summary: Regular cyclists often use bidirectional offroad paths, pedestrian crossings and other links inaccessible to motor traffic to find safer and more convenient ways to navigate intersections and less safe road conditions. Unfortunately, Google Maps Cycling layer and Directions don't currently incorporate or prioritise many of these routes.

The connection between the St Georges Rd offroad bike path and Miller St is an excellent example of where Google Maps doesn't show the safer, convenient, offroad route most local cyclists take.

Status: Reported to Google Maps on 30 June 2016 but not yet fixed.

Issue TypeIssue 5: Safer intersection and connecting links should be prioritised in Google Maps Cycling layer

Google Maps Cycling Directions:
The cycling directions heading south west from the St Georges Rd bike path to Miller St are incorrect because Google Maps does not allow the bidirectional offroad trail that fully connects these streets to be added properly.

Consequently, its Cycling Directions incorrectly advise having to walk your bicycle 230m south along St Georges Rd (as a shared path cyclists can ride the whole way). The directions also incorrectly advise that the right hand turn restriction onto Miller St may apply - this can't apply to users of the offroad path:

Cycling Directions - St Georges Rd bike path to Miller St

The offroad trail that forms a safer, preferred connecting route in both directions can be seen below. These are exactly the kind of unobvious, high-value features a useful Cycling map needs to have. Cyclists don't need a Cycling layer to see the obvious routes cars or pedestrians take. But finding useful cycling-specific facilities is highly-desired.

Instant Street View - St Georges Rd offroad shared path near Miller St