App: A bike map and guide for Chicagoland

Consider this: You like to use the Chicago Bike Map but you don't always carry it with you. You want to be reminded of where the bike lanes and trail access points are. But you do carry your smartphone with you, all the time. 

In April 2012 I launched my first-ever app, the Chicago Bike Guide. It works similarly to the "Chicago Bike Map" (the City's printed one) in that it shows the presence of on-street bike lanes, multi-use trails, and train stations. It works like Google Maps, though, where you can pinch and zoom to interact with the map. 

Divvy, train stations, directions, The Chainlink, Twitter, points of interest, it's all right here. 

Available for Android and iOS. 

Routing on the Chicago Bike Guide

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 7, 2013 at 8:15am

Thanks. I'm nervous to see how it goes because I've just opened it up to a bigger market, for more issues, but also more revenue. 

J.A.W. said:

That's awesome!

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 16, 2013 at 12:50pm

If you would like to be an alpha tester for Android and my app, join this Google+ community and then buy the app. You'll be pushed updates before they're published. 

https://plus.google.com/communities/116126830770280444289

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 16, 2013 at 3:43pm

Congratulations! You also need to be on Google+. I tried adding you directly by the email I have for you and it told me you aren't a member of G+. 

h' $550 said:

I am an Android user as of about 60 minutes ago.

Looks like you need an invite for this

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on October 17, 2013 at 2:39am

There goes your anonymity

Steven Vance said:

Congratulations! You also need to be on Google+....

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on October 17, 2013 at 8:47am

I bought Steven's app this morning.  It's well worth the 99 cents it cost.  I expect I'll be using it a lot.

Permalink Reply by JimmyD on October 18, 2013 at 3:39am

I just bought the app as well for my Droid Bionic. Thanks for bringing this to the world of Android, Steven!

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 18, 2013 at 8:36am

Thank you JimmyD and Thunder Snow. You can sign up to be alpha/beta testers on Google Plus – when I have a new version I want people to test, it will be seeded to your Android device (I wish Apple had this). 

Now's a good time for feature requests. Currently I'm working on a bug that causes it to crash iOS devices prior to iPhone 5 when you load Divvy (however, it seems to only occur on iPhone 4S, and not iPhone 4). This bug is related to you choose a Divvy station in the list and the wrong Divvy station being zoomed to on the map (or no Divvy station is zoomed to). I'll simultaneously be working on new features, like Instagram photos tagged with #bikeCHI, brewery listings to go with the burritos, and a better search function. 

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 18, 2013 at 10:12am

Steven, do you have an option for a multi modal trip planner? I feel like that is the only thing missing from google directions.  

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 18, 2013 at 10:19am

Nope, unfortunately, as no third-party service offers a public API to which I can connect. The RTA provides GoRoo which has a multi-modal trip planner. 

http://www.goroo.com/goroo

Julie Hochstadter said:

Steven, do you have an option for a multi modal trip planner? I feel like that is the only thing missing from google directions.  

Permalink Reply by Ashley Tanner on October 18, 2013 at 10:52am

When you start your route does it have audio so I can listen to my directions while riding?

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 18, 2013 at 11:23am

No, it doesn't. I see the convenience of this feature, but it's very difficult to code and I don't want to promote listening to headphones while bicycling. 

Ashley Tanner said:

When you start your route does it have audio so I can listen to my directions while riding?

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on November 4, 2013 at 6:30am

I've introduced a "companion" app that's free to download (it will always be free): Chicago Bike Laws. Download now for Android. The iOS version is coming soon as it's "waiting for review" by Apple. 

Chicago Bike Laws is a pocket reference to Chicago and Illinois bicycling laws with select driving and pedestrian-related laws. 

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