Collection of Cycle Concepts 2012.pdf - Fietsberaad

ROAD SIGNAGE, MAPS, CYCLE ROUTE PLANNERS, AND ITS
CYCLE ROUTE PLANNERS
The internet, cell phones, smart phones, and
GPS devices (and doubtless future technologies
as well) are new options for providing cyclists
with information on choice of route, points of
interest, etc. Cycle route planners are also known
as journey planners or trip planners. They are
developed for several different platforms, not
merely the internet, but also smart phones, for
example, to accommodate different user groups
and generations of cyclists.
Albertslund cycle
route planner for
cell phones uses
Android. 11.14
Cycle route planners can simplify cycling, making
it more accessible to daily cyclists and tourists.
They raise the status of cycling and in the long
run may even encourage more people to cycle
if continuous cycling routes are integrated with
public transport.
Odense has offered cyclists an on-line cycle
route planner for several years. It shows the
shortest and safest route and includes many
fixed destinations. Aalborg has a similar, first
generation cycle route planner 11.15 with a good
route calculator. However, it is being shut down
(at the time of writing) since the graphics and
flexibility are not up to current standards. The
firm which developed the cycle route planner
updated the cycling infrastructure on a regular
basis for a fee.
In 2011 Fredericia began offering a cycle route
planner which updates automatically, based on
Google Maps. 11.16
Aalborg cycle route planner, now
outdated.11.15
Some cheap versions of cycle route planners
are also available on-line in Denmark. They are
usually based on a motor vehicle journey planner;
motorways are merely deactivated and motorway
cycle tracks are not shown, rendering them
rather useless.
Developing cycle route planners
When a local authority wishes to offer a cycle
route planner, the available products and their
function should be carefully considered. Several
consultancies would like to enter the cycle route
planner market, but are not usually able to
provide the full package.
Since the field is undergoing rapid development it
is worth considering the free cycle route planners
that are expected to be put online (Google,
Naviki, etc.) as an alternative to the more
traditional planners.
Fredericia’s newly developed cycle route planner, 2011. 11.16