Regretfully, in my last post I used the byCycle.org disclaimer as an example the difficulties faced by cyclists using maps online without looking into byCycle itself more carefully or presenting the positive aspects of their project. The disclaimer is a good (and honest) statement to make on such a site; it also happens to sum up the risks of using internet maps for biking in a very concise way. But, after more searching, I can see that byCycle is bornout of the same concerns I was expressing. More information about the project can be found on the byCycle blog or in this Portland Tribune article about byCycle. Much of their Portland data is from Metro, which makes sense. This is all from about two years ago, so I am clearly rehashing old news.
The feature that suggests to me that byCycle may be different is the option to follow a “safer” route. When I map my commute on byCycle, it avoids the intersection of NE Broadway & N Williams Ave, which is not safe. In fact, it takes me off of NE Broadway completely. Instead it would send cyclists:
Right – NE Multnomah St – 0.80 miRight – NE Wheeler Ave – 0.17 miLeft – N Winning Way – 0.19 miRight – N Larrabee Ave – 0.04 miLeft – N Broadway – 0.05 miCont. – Broadway Brg – 0.35 miLeft – NW Broadway – Broadway Brg Ramp – 0.18 miCont. – NW Broadway – 0.19 mi
Right – NE Multnomah St – 0.80 miLeft – NE Wheeler Ave – 0.10 miLeft – N Interstate Ave – 0.05 miCont. – NE Lloyd Blvd – 0.05 miRight – Eastbank Esplanade – 0.38 miLeft – Bikepath – 0.25 miCont. – NW Couch St – 0.35 miRight – NW Broadway – 0.06 mi
