Google announced today that it has half a gigameter (or half a billion meters) of biking navigation on Google Maps for Android. Google is adding mobile biking directions and navigation to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK (the countries where desktop biking directions were already available).
In addition to that, Google is adding voice-guided (turn by turn) navigation to Google Maps Navigation in every country with biking directions (which also includes the U.S. and Canada).
“We know there are lots of ways to get from here to there, which is why in 2010, we added biking directions to Google Maps in the U.S. and Canada, and continue to work to bring more biking features to more places,” says Google Maps software engineer Larry Powelson. “Today, there are more than 330,000 miles (equal to more than 530,000 kilometers, or half a gigameter) of green biking lines in Google Maps. Dark green lines on the map show dedicated bike trails and paths with no motor vehicles, light green lines show streets with bike lanes and dashed green lines show other streets recommended for cycling. Biking navigation even helps you avoid steep hills.”
“Where Map Maker and biking directions are both available, riders can add bike trails, lanes and suggested routes to Google Maps, helping to create a more comprehensive map for everyone living in or visiting their community,” adds Powelson.
Google says it has added bike data for hundreds fo cities and trails in the past two and a half years thanks to contributions from members of the biking community and nonprofits.