My Wheels are Turning

Google launches bike route maps. Mostly good. Geared towards recreation, but will improve over time.

News Chatter:

• With help from Rotary, Grand Vision implementation begins
• BATA gets $1 million for upgrades
• TC Mayor makes some corrections
• You could get $$$ in the MI Pothole photo contest
• DriveMI, ask them if they support Complete Streets
• City of New Haven integrates SeeClickFix
• They are biking year-round in Iceland (no excuses Michigan)
• LA Police Chief to bike commuters “We need to do better for you“
• Detroit homes on the cheap get recognized
• While Mayor Bing navigates the shrinking
• And some embrace the ruins
  
• “Kilometerheffing” gets rolling in The Netherlands
• And possibly, Texas? Fuel tax to Mile tax
• And the big news for bicycling this week: Google celebrates the Bicycle route

And, Traverse City is one of the first 150 cities to be included. My first attempt with Google bicycle routes was a little disappointing–it took me several blocks out of my way, similar to the cynical bicyclists perspective.Yet, improvements are coming, and in typical Google fashion they rolled it out in Beta (for more tweaking) and they launched it at the 2010 Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.

But, let’s remember. It’s all for fun. Even when your trying to get somewhere. This week People for Bikes was launched in hopes to cover the full gamut of the experience as this PSA expresses…

“If I ride…I will grow a heart so strong, that hospitals will take Tuesdays off…”

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