Google Maps Now Shows Cycling Routes in Estonia
Text Timo Raussi Photo Visit Estonia / Ken Mürk and Google
Over the weekend, Google added Estonia to the list of countries where its Maps application now separately provides cycling routes, navigation instructions, and estimated travel times for cyclists. In many other countries and cities around the world, this feature has already been available for years.
About a year ago, the mayors of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius sent a joint appeal to Google requesting the addition of cycling routes to the mapping service, as repeated requests from cycling communities had not produced results.
Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan welcomed the change. “In my opinion, this is a very positive development. New cycle paths and light traffic routes have already been built in Tallinn, and will continue to be built for tens of millions of euros. Of course, the impact is broader, as information about cycling infrastructure across the country is now available via Google. So if you are planning your next trip to Tallinn or Estonia by bike, you can do it in Google Maps,” he told the Estonian public broadcaster ERR.
In recent years, Tallinn has indeed expanded cycling lanes, including along busy main roads in the city centre. In practice, this has been done either by narrowing car lanes and adding one-way cycling lanes at the edge of the road with markings and, in some places, physical separators, or by converting one traffic lane entirely into cycling use on multi-lane streets.
City authorities prepared a more detailed map base for Google covering the new routes, although the data are still not completely error-free. For example, Google Maps estimates that a cyclist can travel at 25 km/h on the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, which is not realistically achievable in terms of comfort.
Some cycle lanes in the city centre have also been created on wider pavements using only road markings. This has caused frustration and near-miss situations, for example near bus stops and shop entrances, between pedestrians and fast-moving cyclists and electric scooter users. Without taking a position either way, The Baltic Guide editorial team recommend that visitors pay attention to and respect the markings to ensure safe and pleasant walking in the city centre.
Based on a quick test, Google Maps also appears to suggest cycling routes quite effectively in other Estonian cities, provided that light traffic paths previously used for pedestrian navigation are properly mapped. At times, the app may still suggest cycling on roads even when a cycle path runs alongside, but the main benefit for travellers is likely the improved travel time estimates and the convenient hands-free voice navigation.
Read also about cycling routes across Estonia recently added to the Komoot app, which we reported on at the end of March.
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