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Online mapping: Help

Journey Planner Help

Help index

How to use Journey Planner

These are the steps for planning a your journey:

  1. Click on the map to set a start point
  2. Search for a place name
  3. Choose the type of route you want

Click on the map

Click on the map to choose a point where you would like to start or finish your journey. You might want to zoom the map (using the slider or [+] and [-] buttons on the left) or drag it around to choose this point more precisely.

Choosing a Start or Finish in journey planner

The blue marker is the nearest point on the network, the other end of the yellow line is where you clicked.

Search for a place name

The way journey planner search works changed on 17 September 2007. In addition to results from the database of routes and photographs provided by contributors, the search can now provide results from a full map index. This means postcode and address search. (Please note that due to some unfortunate legal reasons the postcode search will only give a rough location.) However bear in mind that the journeys provided are still limited to the network of routes added to our system by contributors. In September 2007 the system has detailed knowledge of cycle routes in Cambridge and Wolverhampton, but very little beyond. The search now works as follows, but please provide feedback if the results are not what you want:

Choose the type of route you want

Choose Bearing

The journey planner uses the photo library to generate a picture storyboard of a journey e.g. Railway Station to Shire Hall

Clicking on the map, or choosing from the search suggestions, places a blue marker Blue Marker over the map. The marker appears at the nearest point to the route planning network, with a dim yellow line drawn from the point where the map was clicked. The name of the street should also appear on the right. This is the nearest point that planning can start from. If you are happy with that click "Start" or "Finish", and either a green Green Marker or red Red Marker will appear in its place.

When the Start and Finish points are set you are promted for a departure or arrival time. Using the drop-down lists you can specify a time within the current day, accurate to 5 minutes. Journey planner contains knowledge of where congestion is likely to build up, and when cycling restrictions are in place, and so the recommended route will avary according to the time of day.

There are options for setting your precise cycling speed, and whether you want the journey planner to consider routes in which you are expected to dismount. Note this latter option might mean journey planner cannot suggest a route.

When you're happy with the suggested start and finish points and departure time, choose the type of route you want. You'll have to wait a few seconds for the result.

The quality of the route presented depends on how much knowledge the journey planner has about your area. If you don't get a satisfactory route, or if route planning wants to start a long way from where you clicked that is because the journey planner hasn't got sufficient detail (or there genuinely isn't a good route). You can add detail as described in the section Edit Network.

Once a route is displayed you have more options:

New
Clears the route and markers ready to start over.
Vary
Clears the route but leaves the markers behind, enabling you to quickly plan another route type.
Return
Clears the route but swaps the Start and Finish markers, ready for you to plan a route back.

Types of route

The journey planner uses the network and details of the different types of cycling provision to suggest cycling routes. The following route types are available. Each type may include some sections where you have to dismount and walk with your cycle. For these the walking speed is assumed to be 6km/h.

Fastest
Displays the fastest route according to the expected average speed on each type of link. (It assumes you can cycle at those speeds.) Some routes include a time penalty, e.g. where there are traffic lights, Toucan Crossings, or even crossing roads. See detailed list of provision types. These routes may rarely include a section where you have to walk your cycle because it is faster than cycling there another way.
Shortest
Displays the most direct route by distance along any walkable or cyclable link. Usually these routes will be slower, and busier as they are more likely to include sections where you are required to dismount and walk with your cycle.
Quietest
Some cyclists prefer quiet routes, away from busy traffic. They are prepared to travel further along back streets, and paths across a park to avoid more direct routes along busier roads. Find out how quietness is measured.

Journey Planner will try to suggest fastest and quietest routes that avoid roadworks because of the danger and delay that they bring. However shortest routes are only affected by roadwork sections when a new diversionary route is in place. No routes are offered through closures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why has it produced a circuitous route?
This can happen for a number of reasons. Journey Planner is only as good as its knowledge of the routes. Some route data may be wrong, for instance a one-way street may be the wrong way round. Route data can be added to using the Edit Network tab. However there may not be a direct route for your journey. Choosing "shortest" should find the most direct walkable or cyclable route.
Another, perhaps interesting case, can occur when the suggested route does a "dog leg" - exiting a roundabout then rejoining at the next entrance. This can happen when the user has asked for the Fastest Route through a roundabout that has traffic lights. The traffic lights introduce a delay, and while may well be technically quicker to follow the suggested route, it is certainly would be a great deal more effort!
Why does it only do Cambridge?
This is the area of the country we know best.
Camden Cycling Campaign are now (Dec 2007) trialling the use of our routing engine on their site: That work is experimental and developing and we can't give any assurances about the quality of the routes it generates.
There are other sites offering route planning for cyclists, e.g see: Also try these map sites There is also something known as the Definitve Map, which lists rights of way, a version of this is linked to from this page.

How do I fly in Google Earth?

You need the Google Earth software. When a Journey has been successfully calculated you are provided with a link to "Fly in Google Earth". Use your menu click button (usually the right mouse button) to Save the contents of that link to a file such as fly.kml. Then open this file directly or from Google Earth. It will display the region of the route overlaid on a map of the Earth. Find the button to play the route: it is usually visible at the bottom right of the middle panel on the left handside of the Google Earth program. Alternatively try choosing: Tools > Play Tour. If you did it correctly it should take you along the route as an animation. The animation speed can be controlled by some of the settings in Google Earth. Choose Tools > Options... > Control then adjust the Tour Settings. Best of luck!

Congestion, Roadworks and Closures

Journey Planner takes into consideration the legality, delays and danger casued by these currently known hazards. Please help us keep this list up to date via the feedback page, or by making changes yourself. See also Roadworks.

Type Name Schedule
Temporary Closure Cantelupe Farm (private road, please ask for permission) until further notice
Temporary Closure Emmanuel Street This route appears now to be closed (20 May 2008) we are investigating. until further notice
Roadworks Hills Road Bridge until further notice
Roadworks Hills Road Bridge until further notice
Roadworks Hills Road until further notice
Temporary Closure Fields Bumpy track alongside railway until further notice
Temporary Closure The Triangle Development until further notice
Temporary Closure Fields Closed while a bridge is built? until further notice
Temporary Closure Old Railway Line Closed for Guided bus works until further notice
Temporary Closure Cavendish Laboratory until further notice
Temporary Closure Route past Arts Picturehouse Cinema until further notice

Schedules

This section lists all schedules.

Id Name Description Status
1 Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday, between 10am and 4pm Inactive
2 Morning Rush Hour Every weekday morning between 8 and 10am. Inactive
3 Evening Rush Hour Every weekday evening between 4 and 6pm. Inactive
4 Constructing Riverside Bridge New bridge opening 5th June at noon Inactive
5 The junction of Emmanuel Road, Parker Street and Drummer Street Closed from 7pm on Saturday until 6am on Wednesday, February 13. Inactive
6 Oxfam Walk Routes will be heavily congested by walkers 20 May 2007 Inactive
7 Midsummer Fair Busy fairground on Midsummer Common Inactive
8 Cambridge Folk Festival Last weekend in July Inactive