iOS 14: How to Get Cycling Directions in Apple Maps

[Konigi]

cycling directions in Apple Maps are limited to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Beijing.

I'm less enthusiastic now that it's only coming to a select few cities. It wasn't clear during the WWDC show. Otherwise I'm really hyped and I was hoping I could use it a little bit in September and October before having to park my bike for the winter in Montréal.

I very much prefer Apple Maps compared to Google Maps, and I'm a biker so I was looking forward to see what they have to offer.

 

[justperry]

Note that at the time of writing, cycling directions in Apple Maps are limited to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Wow, just wow, 5 cities.
Underwhelming, same goes for other Apple Maps features like Look around, it's amazing but limited by the few places where it is available.
100's of billions in cash yet utterly unable to release such features for most of this planet, Google did it with less cash, why can't Apple.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the rest of Apple Maps.

 

[normwood]

Portland, OR should have definitely been one of the first cities with these directions. Come on Tim!!!

Yes!!! Right after Minneapolis!😎

 

[LeadingHeat]

Google Maps has featured detailed cycling directions for almost a decade now, and with the arrival of iOS 14, Apple Maps is finally introducing its own.

wow, if that isn’t the snidest thing I’ve read today I don’t know what is 😅

 

[zorinlynx]

Not helpful regardless. I don't understand why g maps or Apple Maps can not actually find good safe bicycle routes. Good maps will just send you on a route that is OK for bikes but maybe dangerous. The Maps should be able to tell which routes are "preferred" by actual bicyclists rather than those for which bicycles are able to drive

They really should partner with Strava. Strava has decades of archived data on what roads cyclists prefer, including shortcuts, grade information and so on. You could probably create an AMAZING cyclist navigation platform with this data.

 

[MozMan68]

iOS 14: How to Get Cycling Directions in Apple Maps

1) Live in San Francisco
2) Close the app and ask someone

Apple Maps' new bike-route feature is off to a terrible start

LOL.

mashable.com

Nice try...that article came out the day of WWDC and it was quite clear to every single person watching it (except for this idiot posting his clickbait) that Apple chose the route featured so they could show both the elevation and stair feature.

Apple simply clicked the “avoid busy roads” to get that preferred route. All the other suggested route options match Google options.

 

[alexandr]

I'm in NYC but I get "Cycling Directions Not Available. Cycling directions are not currently available in this area."

Does anyone have any idea why?

'cause it's too damn hot.

 

[hondo77]

I don't understand why g maps or Apple Maps can not actually find good safe bicycle routes. Good maps will just send you on a route that is OK for bikes but maybe dangerous. The Maps should be able to tell which routes are "preferred" by actual bicyclists rather than those for which bicycles are able to drive

The route you get from Google Maps is just a starting point. You have to use Street View to double-check the route (and then make adjustments).

In Google's defense, though, I'm sure they get some of their bicycle route info from cities. I've seen many official bike route maps for cities say that such-and-such a street between here and there is a bike route and it turns out to be a shoulder-less/riding alongside car doors/four lane/rush hour hellhole.

 

[bluespark]

I’ve been using biking directions on Google maps for years now, never needed a tutorial. So much for Apple’s “just works.”

Also: it’s not out of left field to expect a beta 3 today, is it?

It's every bit as straightforward as Google's implementation.

 

[RaceTripper]

Apple providing cycling maps? LOL That was solved many years ago. Good job Apple. A pound short, a day late, and useless now. 🙄

 

[parisi2274]

I live in NYC, and so far I have tried about 30 different destinations from my apt using the Biking option and each time it says that directions in my area are not available. I assume that this will change when iOS14 actually releases in the fall.

 

[zorinlynx]

I live in NYC, and so far I have tried about 30 different destinations from my apt using the Biking option and each time it says that directions in my area are not available. I assume that this will change when iOS14 actually releases in the fall.

Like I said earlier, this is probably mostly server side. The fact that Apple is tying it to the iOS update is absurd.

 

[MozMan68]

Like I said earlier, this is probably mostly server side. The fact that Apple is tying it to the iOS update is absurd.

The release of NYC not tied to the iOS update. Not sure why you think that. But cycling as an option in Maps is tied to iOS 14 as there are settings associated with it...Not everything with Maps is server side updates.

If the cycling option is turned on for NYC at the same time iOS 14 is released, it will either be a coincidence or simply a marketing move to capitalize on the press around the iOS 14 launch.

At the end of the day, one needs the iOS 14 beta to use it anyway, so getting it anytime before it is released to the public this Fall is just a bonus.

 

[iMacDragon]

Severely disappointed that generic cycling directions aren't being allowed outside the detailed regions..

Not everyone cycles in a big city. I can but hope that this is merely start and once the city directions are deemed working they do a generic rollout.

Driving directions aren't suitable, and walking directions switch too easily to driving automatically when go fast enough.

 

[yurc]

Well, when coming to bike I am rarely relying service like this, I prefer dedicated Garmin GPS, still sucks sometimes but at least useable, no internet, and able to routing into non pavement trail, suitable for gravel bike. Google is not so terrible when come in bike routing, but I lazy to picked up my phone when riding.

I know today smartphone can replace everything, but for more specific task dedicated devices is still go ya for sure. I still had dedicated Walkman and iPod when doing epic ride to resort my phone just for communication only tool.

 

[nitramluap]

It must be designed for hipsters on single speeds if it recommends taking stairs... 🙄
[automerge]1595399825[/automerge]

Google Maps has featured detailed cycling directions for almost a decade now, and with the arrival of iOS 14, Apple Maps is finally introducing its own.

Yeah, except they're still terrible. I'd *never* ride the routes Google recommends in my city.

 

[todd2000]

I’d settle for being able to open Apple Maps! Crashes every time.

 

[MozMan68]

I’d settle for being able to open Apple Maps! Crashes every time.

Have never heard of that happening...ever!

What hardware/iOS are you on?

 

[todd2000]

Have never heard of that happening...ever!

What hardware/iOS are you on?

iOS 14 beta 3 on an XR.

 

[MozMan68]

iOS 14 beta 3 on an XR.

...and you've done a hard restart?

 

[JaJaWa]

I just checked and this works across the whole of China, provided you use Apple Maps via a Chinese IP address (this switches to the version of Apple Maps powered by AutoNavi 高德). There’s also an option to swap cycling directions for e-bike directions (higher speed).

 

[Ben Solomon]

Why does this have to be a feature that requires a new iOS release? Much of the Apple Maps infrastructure is server-side; you'd think they could just push this to everyone.

Just Apple forcing people to update and making older devices more obsolete.