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Anyone else having issues with Bikehike?
Page loads fine but the map has 'For development purposes only' written across each tile and there's not option to switch to cycle or satellite views either.
Happening on two different computers and both Chrome and Edge.
Yep, looks like it's exceeded its google maps usage limit
"You have exceeded your request quota for this API."
Normally has a switch for osm maps but can't see it at the moment, guess it'll will reset in a while.
The site hasn't been updated in a long time. I believe Google changed the way their maps API works a few months ago so you can't use it anonymously anymore. Either that or, as above, they've simply exceeded a temporary limit. Good news is there are loads of good alternatives available these days!
This was raised on BearBones. Google have changed their charging model for maps and forced this on sites that use their maps by updating their API and site keys. It looks like BikeHike among others are still using the older version of the API and associated keys.
To get rid of the "For dev purposes only" they'll have to sign up to the new API, which involves giving Google details of a chargeable account so that if your site uses more than the free limit of map data they can charge you.
Been covered loads I know, but whats the current go to having always used Bikehike.
I've done a few times around this subject, but I now use plotaroute.
It does a few things that bikehike doesn't do, namely:
- snaps to bridleways and footpaths
- has decent editing tools (ever tried to re-route the middle of a plot in bikehike?)
- allows saving of routes
- More export options, point reduction etc.
- Really good mobile website for doing plotting on the phone.
I miss the OS maps (I would pay for it in an instant to get them!) and the two-window approach, but I've been doing most of my plotting here recently, and will probably keep doing so.
Where's The Path is similar, allows side by side views of OS and satellite imagery etc.
https://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm
Am I missing something, despite saying "for development purposes only" on the maps they work just fine, just a bit dark!
@daern @thepurist thanks, I'll check those out.
@njee20 they do but I can't see a way to go to the cycle maps which are handy for off road routes.
Ah fine, I’ve always just used OS on the right for off road, which were fine.
Ah fine, I’ve always just used OS on the right for off road, which were fine.
There's a couple of downsides to using the OS maps for route plotting:
- They are raster maps, so don't have metadata for snapping to a route. This means you need to plot the whole route by hand, which is pretty painful for a long or complicated route
- Strangely, they're not actually that accurate. OS maps are designed to be human readable on a sheet of paper, which means that they will always sacrifice ultimate accuracy for readability. You tend to only see this when you overlay GPS data onto them and realise that, at best, they are only passably accurate.
When you're out in the hills and want to know where you are though...nothing else even comes close!
they do but I can’t see a way to go to the cycle maps which are handy for off road routes.
Open up the Javascript console in your browser and type:
gMap.set("mapTypeId","OSM")
Either it is my work laptop or there has been a change. It now defaults to opening with the OSM maps so it is useable again.
If you click on the google logo on the map it opens up a new window so you can flick back and forward.
Still can't flick back to google/satellite on the page which was handy to see if your path was a well defined one or just an imaginary line over a hill - but I think there is a fix in progress. Will donate some money later today to keep things running. Didn't realise how much i rely on this site. Commuting and travelling a lot by bike I tend to use it for direction/route finding when going somewhere new even on a short journey.