A New Way to Design a Bike Network

Boston's nascent bike program turns to Google Maps for inexpensive help.

1 minute read

March 9, 2008, 1:00 PM PDT

Streetsblog reports on the efforts of Nicole Freedman, Boston's recently appointed bike czar, to build a bike network from scratch.

"A planner and one-time professional cyclist, Freedman was charged with building a bike network out of nothing, in a city routinely ranked among the nation's worst for bicycling, on a shoestring budget.

"Well, you know what they say about necessity. Freedman invented a rather ingenious method of planning a bike network. Her team created a modified Google Map that enables cyclists to log on and trace the routes they ride every day. Watch the data pile up, and voila -- sensible bike routes. "We found out where the actual desire lines are," she said. "Using existing technology was great."

"In addition to figuring out where to stripe lanes, Freedman is using Google Maps to rate streets on bike-friendliness."

Thanks to Ben Fried

FULL STORY: Bike Network 2.0

Thursday, March 6, 2008 in Streetsblog

Technology Transportation New York

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.