Google Maps sucks

[ColinJ]

Local knowledge is about the safety and suitability of a road/lane etc for riding.

For example near me is a spot named Samlesbury Bottoms. For a long time it was a regular route to get out into the Ribble Valley. It was always a tricky descent with a tight 90⁰ lefthand bend at the bottom. Today that descent and bend are covered in potholes and a broken up surface.

We do a 3-4 mile detour to miss it. That's local knowledge.

I have ridden down there a few times. I wouldn't avoid it because of the surface; I would ride very carefully or walk the worst bit, but your point about local knowledge is still valid.

I use the Old Roman Road between Read and Spring Wood when riding to the Forest of Bowland. One section is very steep (downhill in that direction), has a couple of tight bends, and has a terrible surface. I still go that way but descend very carefully. I do this to avoid using the A671, which has a terrible safety record...

Both are examples of using local knowledge.

When planning new routes, I use Streetview to check every unfamiliar road in detail.

 

[presta]

I haven't heard of plotaroute but whether or not something is missing is irrelevant.

Local knowledge is about the safety and suitability of a road/lane etc for riding.

For example near me is a spot named Samlesbury Bottoms. For a long time it was a regular route to get out into the Ribble Valley. It was always a tricky descent with a tight 90⁰ lefthand bend at the bottom. Today that descent and bend are covered in potholes and a broken up surface.

We do a 3-4 mile detour to miss it. That's local knowledge.

Given that paper maps don't have that information either, I don't see how that sort of issue has anything to do with mapping. You ride everywhere in the hope that the road surface will be satisfactory, and the knowledge that it might not.

 

[PaulSB]

Given that paper maps don't have that information either, I don't see how that sort of issue has anything to do with mapping. You ride everywhere in the hope that the road surface will be satisfactory, and the knowledge that it might not.

I haven't suggested any form of mapping offers local knowledge. I've been responding to the criticism of Google maps that it doesn't have local knowledge.

Of course it doesn't!!!

 

[PaulSB]

I have ridden down there a few times. I wouldn't avoid it because of the surface; I would ride very carefully or walk the worst bit, but your point about local knowledge is still valid.

From my direction, the Chorley side, it's 100% a road to avoid on a bike. I've ridden it regularly for perhaps 15 years before abandoning the route. It's part of the most direct route to the Ribble Valley. From your direction, Blackburn, the descent is OK but the surface on the climb after the right hand bend is shot to pieces.

If you did come this way today, you'd be well advised to choose an alternative.

 

[ColinJ]

From my direction, the Chorley side, it's 100% a road to avoid on a bike. I've ridden it regularly for perhaps 15 years before abandoning the route. It's part of the most direct route to the Ribble Valley. From your direction, Blackburn, the descent is OK but the surface on the climb after the right hand bend is shot to pieces.

If you did come this way today, you'd be well advised to choose an alternative.

Yes, I have always done it from the Blackburn side, east to west.

The Streetview car photographed it in April this year. It does look horrid, but not really any more horrid than the Old Roman Rd that I mentioned above, or (unfortunately!) any of the other crappy roads round here.

I would sometimes choose a slightly longer alternative route for its better road surface as long as the traffic on it wasn't too bad.