Sustrans on line mapping

www.sustrans.org.uk/map

Sustrans have their own mapping utility. You can draw a route on as with bikely - I found that quite easy to use.

Bikely uses the same base maps as Google maps, which seem to have been getting a lot more accurate lately. Paradoxically Sustrans worked with Google to produce the new facility on Google maps to calculate cycling routes, but the base maps used on their site are OS ones and one of the first things I noticed was that the footbridges over the railway lines near me aren't shown.

The Sustrans maps do show National Cycle Network routes which is useful. Sustrans tell me that they are crowd sourcing info for the maps (not just user added routes). Thus we have yet another apping utility seeking out inormation and competing with all the others.

They also use the term "train station" instead of the usual British English "railway station".

Cycle Route Planning

As you may have noticed, Google maps now has a "get directions" option using cycling, to add to its walking, public transport and driving options. The feature is "in beta" meaning that it's being tested in real life use. Google are openly crowd-sourcing correctiona and improvements. This is not a bad thing in itself, except that

(i) Google's map layers are on a bas map created by TeleAtlas, which also accept corrections/amendments.

(ii) There are several other "get directions" options on the web, which having come into existence before Google's offering, have already made much progress with gathering user generated information.

In addition to Google, some contenders are: Cyclestreets.net, transportdirect.info and tfl.gov.uk/cycling. (This excludes cycle route maps, both on line and offline. These show predetermined links on a base map, to help you piece together a route in the traditional way.)

These each have their merits  and demerits, but I personally think cyclestreets.net is the pick of the bunch.

What's clear is that there should be collaboration here, rather than rival/parallel offerings.