Google Maps has extended the coverage of its directions for cyclists to cover several more European countries, including Germany, France, Poland, Ireland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
If you live in any of those areas, you can now get Google Maps to give you directions for bicycle friendly roads, trails, and streets with bike lanes.
Google’s biking directions algorithm lets you avoid hilly roads and busy streets, and can even provide turn-by-turn navigation, just as it would in a car. Check out how it marks the mostly car-free scenic route along the French coast instead of the inland road more appropriate for cars:
You can also check out the biking directions legend for a quick look at the bike-friendly routes in your city, and let Google know of routes not shown on the map via the “Report a problem” link on the Maps screen, or via Google MapMaker.
Other European countries where biking directions are enabled for Google Maps include Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.