ZingIT » Transportation

Google Adds Bicycle Routes to Maps

Craig — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:57:34 +0000

Google has added cycling maps to its list of map options. Look for the Bicycling option right along with the other transportation options: walking, car or public transit.

The route it comes up with from the Deli to the Bakehouse is pretty straightforward: link

Google does offer the following caveat: “Bicycling directions are in beta. Use caution and please report unmapped bike routes, streets that aren’t suited for cycling, and other problems here.”

Bike-Share World Map

Craig — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:25:41 +0000

Here’s a great mashup of data put together by MetroBike and the Bike-Sharing blog overlaid in Google Maps. It shows the locations of bike sharing programs across the globe: Check it out.

Tyvek® Bike Seat Cover

Craig — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:26:59 +0000

A present was awaiting me as I approached my bike parked outside of the deli. It was a handmade seat cover with an email address sharpied on it. I emailed the creator and thanked him. It turns out he’s become interested in unleashing some of the practical potential of Tyvek®. Aside from bike seat covers, he’s making doggie water bowls for runners. The cover works great, keeps my leather saddle dry in the rain and tucks away under the saddle when not needed. I can forward contact info to anyone interested.

Intelligent Transportation

Elph — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:00:12 +0000

We just wrote the following into the draft of our department two-year vision:

In the last few years we have had an even stronger focus on sustainability in our work. Taking into account power consumption as a criteria for computer selection has been very successful and we’ve found the vendors are starting to offer more choices in this. Managing the cooling needs of our server closets has helped us to lower costs. The IT staff fully embraced alternative, intentional, intelligent transportation, from car pooling to biking (following Craig’s lead.) We acknowledge the cost, difficulty, and time loss and after an indepth ROI found that the health of the planet outweighed the inconvenience. And we feel healthier as a result.

In the last couple of months Joe and Brian have picked up some nice commuter bikes and I’ve been talking to Erik Kauppi of REVolution Electric Vehicles about their upcoming REV-1 electric scooter. If I do that I’ll need to get a motorcycle helmet and what better add-on to a helmet then floppy animal ears?

Gmap Pedometer

Craig — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:12:42 +0000

Just in time for “Walking is Wonderful Week” of the Commuter Challenge, calculate your distance walked with the Gmap Pedometer. It is a great mashup of Google Maps, Runner’s World calorie counter, and USGS topo maps and elevation info.

Zipcars Coming to Downtown A2

Craig — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:22:24 +0000

We wrote a couple years back about our experience with the Ann Arbor Zipcar fleet residing on the University of Michigan campus. At the time we thought, wouldn’t it great if they were closer to the Kerrytown area and offered business rates. Well, that time has finally arrived. Businesses can join for only $35 and get $35 in free driving. (The Biz Website will be available on March 17, 2009) Nancy at GetDowntown has the full lowdown.

Google Transit for Ann Arbor

Craig — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:28:10 +0000

Just in time for the Ann Arbor Commuter Challenge, Google has enhanced their maps of Ann Arbor to now integrate the AATA bus schedules and routes. I’ve had mixed results with it so far–plugging in the Deli to Bakehouse yields a pretty interesting route, but I see a huge potential, especially if the UM buses and proposed commuter rail and AMTRAK train schedules were also integrated. Give it a whirl: Google Transit Ann Arbor.