Scooter Route Planning Using Google Maps
May 4, 2011 7:23:01 GMT -5
creeper, TheAmishSasquatch, and 1 more like this
Post by 90GTVert on May 4, 2011 7:23:01 GMT -5
I've been looking around for quite some time trying to plan a trip on my 49cc class scooter. The problem I had for a long time is that on my GPS (Garmin Nuvi 1300) and online driving directions sites I can't seem to avoid highways with much success or without plotting tons of extra points to force the directions off of major highways. I tried using the avoid highways and avoid tolls features, but for the trip I wanted to take all of the services put me right on a major interstate highway for 75% of the route.
It's not that I can't be on the highways on the shoulder, but I would prefer not to be. I know a lot of scooters that are to be registered as motorcycles, such as 150cc scooters, often can't or struggle to maintain 55+ MPH cruising in all conditions. It may be advisable to avoid major highways with speed limits of 55MPH and above for those as well.
I had tried all of the online services with little success, but I decided to give Google Maps another try just the other day. I assume they must have made updates, because now it is working well for me.
When you visit Google Maps, you should see a "Get Directions" option. Choose that.
You should see a small tab appear with icons showing a car, a bus, a pedestrian, and a bicycle. Click on the bicycle. That should plan your trip in a way that avoids all major highways.
Enter your starting and destination addresses and click "Get Directions".
Google Maps will generate a route for you. You can look over the path it has chosen and, if you prefer to go a slightly different way, you can click on a point of the route and drag it to adjust the route.
Below is an example of a route I created using this service.
goo.gl/maps/J1uI
Visit Google Maps at the link below.
maps.google.com/
The time that it shows will likely be very long. If you are on a schedule and need to figure out how long the trip will take use the mileage and your average speed. If you are using a Sigma bicycle speedometer or GPS or similar device, it may tell you your average speed. You can use that as a rough estimate by dividing the trip distance in miles by average speed in MPH.
Example :
150 mile trip
30MPH average speed
150 / 30 = 5
5hrs estimated time.
If you don't know your average speed, don't assume it's the same as your average cruising speed. For example, if you can reliably cruise at 40MPH, that doesn't mean that your average speed will be 40MPH. Any time you stop at a signal or sign or slow down for curves or hills or anything your average MPH drops. On a recent trip, I cruised between 45-55MPH and didn't have to stop very often. My average speed was 40MPH according to my GPS for the trip. Don't forget you'll have to fill up with fuel on long trips, possibly multiple times. Account for rest stops as well. If you have to be there at a certain time and aren't familiar with your average speeds, play it safe and allow extra time.
It's not that I can't be on the highways on the shoulder, but I would prefer not to be. I know a lot of scooters that are to be registered as motorcycles, such as 150cc scooters, often can't or struggle to maintain 55+ MPH cruising in all conditions. It may be advisable to avoid major highways with speed limits of 55MPH and above for those as well.
I had tried all of the online services with little success, but I decided to give Google Maps another try just the other day. I assume they must have made updates, because now it is working well for me.
When you visit Google Maps, you should see a "Get Directions" option. Choose that.
You should see a small tab appear with icons showing a car, a bus, a pedestrian, and a bicycle. Click on the bicycle. That should plan your trip in a way that avoids all major highways.
Enter your starting and destination addresses and click "Get Directions".
Google Maps will generate a route for you. You can look over the path it has chosen and, if you prefer to go a slightly different way, you can click on a point of the route and drag it to adjust the route.
Below is an example of a route I created using this service.
goo.gl/maps/J1uI
Visit Google Maps at the link below.
maps.google.com/
The time that it shows will likely be very long. If you are on a schedule and need to figure out how long the trip will take use the mileage and your average speed. If you are using a Sigma bicycle speedometer or GPS or similar device, it may tell you your average speed. You can use that as a rough estimate by dividing the trip distance in miles by average speed in MPH.
Example :
150 mile trip
30MPH average speed
150 / 30 = 5
5hrs estimated time.
If you don't know your average speed, don't assume it's the same as your average cruising speed. For example, if you can reliably cruise at 40MPH, that doesn't mean that your average speed will be 40MPH. Any time you stop at a signal or sign or slow down for curves or hills or anything your average MPH drops. On a recent trip, I cruised between 45-55MPH and didn't have to stop very often. My average speed was 40MPH according to my GPS for the trip. Don't forget you'll have to fill up with fuel on long trips, possibly multiple times. Account for rest stops as well. If you have to be there at a certain time and aren't familiar with your average speeds, play it safe and allow extra time.