Does this exist - mapping tool for planning commute

https://www.plotaroute.com

OS map?
Route plotters are fine for getting from A to B but a proper map is better for seeing whats around either side.

You don't need to make it entirely off-road, just safe roads. They do exist, but you need to think maybe a bit differently. You can't always tell from a map if it's going to be safe or not, and from what I see a lot of riders don't necessarily know how their risks actually come about. I'm not trying to victim blame here - no-one is at fault for simply following the rules - but the rules and the reality aren't the same unfortunately.

If you post your rough start and end points the forum might be able to help point out safer options?

If it's only 8 miles or so, maybe go and walk a few routes prior to riding them?

I’d like to ride to work again, so have been looking at Strave to see if I can plot an entirely off road route. Trouble is I don’t really know the geography that well

You need to check the route Strava (or anything else) gives you against a proper OS map. Try streetmap.co.uk to check your route.

I was told about this the other day, sound like its what you're after: https://cycle.travel/

RideWithGPS any good?

Set routing to 'cycling' or 'walking' and click away, there are various map options on the top right drop-down to pick up bridleways/footpaths etc.

When I had a 12 or so mile commute a couple of years ago, I used to challenge myself to figure out routes to work that used as little road as possible. I found that there was always going to be some road riding to link up the off road stuff, but I was always able to do that with fairly quiet roads.

I got most value out of plotting routes from scratch using OS Maps with Google Maps aerial and street views to confirm any ambiguous bits. To be honest, I used to enjoy creating the routes almost as much as riding them afterwards - so sites like Komoot and cycle.travel which automatically create routes for you take that bit of the fun away IMO.

don't know if it's a Premium feature or not (could always just sign up for a free trial?) but I find the Global Heatmap feature on Strava REALLY handy for finding viable off-road routes! (Obviously this will require manually finding/plotting the route, not auto)

Garmin Connect has Heatmap information as well. I rarely use it but if you go in to the app, then Training > Courses > Create Course >Sport > Custom it will take you to a map. If you go to the layers and select 'Hybrid', then check 'Popularity Heatmap' other users routes will appear. Not sure if the tracks are based on the sport you've chosen. Once you get staretd plotting a route you can actually 'Snap' quite long chunks together with very few waypoints.

For only 8 miles I would go and explore.
Sure you can do some ID of the off-road sections by Kommoot (shows lots of places folk ride) and Strava or OS maps, but IMO there's no substitute for a nosy around. I find that things like pedestrian cut throughs are not shown so well in maps.

example: I cycle across the university site. It takes proper nosy or local knowledge to know there is a gate through the back wall of the site, across a muddy path but avoiding going down to the main road and roundabout. All the cycle infrastructure and marked routes ignore the back gate (s), and bring you in to one of the two main entrances or by the sports centre - all on the busy road.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oy1ErUnYRPxUKMpWA

As per ogden - https://cycle.travel/Allowed me to plot a wonderfully quiet route for a recent cycle tour. As with any route planning it's always worth playing around - I'd rather cycle a quiet road than cross a main road, for example.

Added edit ;
The planning link above utilises Matt's hole-in-the-wall too !
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/358113

No mapping is a substitute for local knowledge & it sounds like that's what you need.

Can you post an approximate start and finish point for your proposed commute? I'm sure that there will be some good local knowledge on here to help you without having to disclose where your home and work address

Yeah, will need to be a mix of maps, apps, and local knowledge.

Maps will only get you so far in terms of plotting a realistic route. For example, if it shows public footpaths (and you are happy riding footpaths), it won't tell you whether a footpath is actually rideable in reality. Or what the conditions are throughout the year. Also, maps may not show you plenty of viable paths, tracks, trails through the woods that exist on the ground, but don't show up as an official footpath or bridleway.

I commute around North Leeds, loads of different options for quiet, mostly off road loops, taking in singletrack through small sections of woodland, paths across golf-courses, alleyways, quiet roads, public parks and designated cycle paths. Some of that will come up on eg Komoot (what I usually use) or Srrava heatmap if trying to plot a route, but not all.

Whereabouts are you OP?

Thanks all - really helpful advice and links. I agree that getting out and peicing things together is the best bet but I never seem to have any time! Part of the reason I want to cycle to work is to at least get out on my bike regularly!

I'll have a play with all the suggestions above.

I agree that I should look at quiet roads rather than try and avoid all roads - I cycled every day for around 8 years on a very busy route until the day I got properly knocked off (I had countless scrapes/SMIDSYs/near misses etc prior to this) and I think I was so conditioned to the traffic that it just didn't bother me.

Rough start and end points are Himley (DY3) to Oldbury (B69) There are canals for part of the way at the end, a railway track that I can jump onto near home so I know some of the off road bits...I could probably figure something out with a bit of patience and a beer!

Thanks again everyone

Komoot will plot a traffic-free route if it can do it in your area.

Not an area I know at all I'm afraid so no direct help - as mentioned above though it'll be a mix of local knowledge, OS maps (try streetmap.co.uk for free OS) and OpenStreetMap base that the likes of Strava, Komoot, RideWithGPS etc use.

All the mapping tools will vary slightly - what one regards as fair game, another might refuse to send you down so it's worth tying that in with Google Streetview for an idea of where trail entrances are, what roads are like etc.

Some ostensibly "quiet" roads / country lanes can actually be worse than "busy" roads due to blind bends, the speed at which traffic can go along them but that is something that you really only find out by using them.

In a previous job, I had dozens of possible commute options including a full canal towpath (only crossing two roads). However, while it was nice in summer, it was also quite slow, had some dodgy bits and in winter or anytime after rainfall, it became a complete mudbath.

Cyclestreets is really good for this:

https://www.cyclestreets.net/

ogden

I was told about this the other day, sound like its what you’re after: https://cycle.travel//blockquote >

Thanks! Never heard of that, but just had a look and it seems to work really well!!

 

I've used Cyclestreets before, but as said local knowledge can't be beaten.
If I plot my commute on cyclestreets it shows [i]almost[/i] what I do, but there are a few notable right turns onto main roads that my actual route avoids. Also, my home route is much longer but the roads are so quiet they are a pleasure to cruise along 🙂 . And I now have a choice of 2 or 3 different journeys, it's nice to mix it up.

Thanks! Never heard of that, but just had a look and it seems to work really well!!

It's run by one guy, Richard Fairhurst. He's on the Cycling UK forum a fair bit, there's a long thread of feedback, questions etc here:
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=128273

(note that it started years ago - it's not worth reading the whole lot, just go to the last page!)
He does respond in person fairly regularly.

I use a combination of...
- OS Maps
- OpenStreetmap (as used on CycleStreets etc)
- Google Maps route planning in "walk" mode.
- Google Street and Sattelite
- local knowledge and exploring.

Stava stalking can also help, especially the "fly by" feature and the heatmap.

I often have one of the above open in each tab of a browser for finding a new route

Strava route planner/heatmaps on one screen and OS maps on another for me. Then go out and ride it and find out which bits are half way decent and which bits are never to be ridden again.

Just out of curiosity I put your route SCXC into cycle travel on 'gravel mode'. It sends you down something called the Netherton Tunnel, which... er..... looks 'interesting'!

Having had a quick play, https://cycle.travel/(pretty easily guessed my route, apart from the wee cut through from my office) is much much better than
https://www.cyclestreets.net/(which sent me on a circuit around the local town to avoid the main road, only to lob me onto the mainroad for a section anyway...).;

Strava is absolutely rubbish for off road planning, it doesn't even know the difference between bridleway and footpath. The only good bit is the heat map.

I use RidewithGPS with the OSM Cycle layer as it shows bridleway, footway, contours and official cycle routes. You can switch between satellite view and even see streetview to check what type of road you are plotting along or check out an off-road route as it leaves the highway.

The auto routing can be a bit flakey, I tend to use walk mode along with 'straight lines' where it doesn't think two paths intersect.

I was going to suggest...jump on the lines to Pensnett, (cycle path mostly) pass Russells Hall the pick up the Dudley canal by Scotts Green island...through the Bumble Hole and Netherton Tunnel which will drop you out on the Birmingham canal near Oldbury.

Just out of curiosity I put your route SCXC into cycle travel on ‘gravel mode’. It sends you down something called the Netherton Tunnel, which… er….. looks ‘interesting’!

Yeah, I don't fancy that every day! 😂

Put aside some time to explore very early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, or late evenings to get a feel for whether various sections of your route are do-able.

Be curious about where dog walkers go - dog walkers generally know their local area very well and know things like which cul-de-sacs are blocked or have un-marked alleyways you can get through.

Also, some schools often have relatively good infrastructure in their vicinity (low traffic/traffic calmed) and there's often some shortcuts between housing estates that the kids use to get to school.

I was going to suggest…jump on the lines to Pensnett, (cycle path mostly) pass Russells Hall the pick up the Dudley canal by Scotts Green island…through the Bumble Hole and Netherton Tunnel which will drop you out on the Birmingham canal near Oldbury.

Cheers Daz, I looked at getting from the lines then over Barrow Hill by St Marks then up through the bit of green by Milking Bank...I just don't fancy the tunnel.

Last time I ran down the lines it was unpassable by Ham Lane because of fly tipping...no comment!

Scotts Green Island..is that the pegasus one? Where can I get on the cut from there? (incidentally it was that very island that I had my near death experience!)

Put aside some time to explore very early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, or late evenings to get a feel for whether various sections of your route are do-able.

This is what I'm going to do...

Yeah Pegasus island, can’t remember exactly where to pick it up as it’s been years but think you head down Clee Road until you find the crossing point…canal is just the other side.

I wasn’t sure about the tunnel definitely being open tbh, heard it can be sketchy in the dark but not as bad as Scott’s Green! Maybe there’s a route over Oakham and down through Tividale but I don’t know the area, might be worth having a recce of the tunnel and maybe explore over the top one of the mornings see if you can drop down onto the B’ham canal using the side streets.

You can leave the lines and cross Barrow Hill towards Milking Bank easy enough just don’t know where I’d head from there…

+1 for cycle.travel. Seems to be pretty intelligent and now has an unpaved feature.

Cheers again, using a combination of all of them I think I'm getting there - will check it out tomorrow morning.

(@Haze I'm thinking lines - milking bank - wrens nest nature reserve which will bring me out on the Birmingham Road just up from the Gongoozler pub/Dudley Canal Trust. If I can jump on the canal there I can get to Oldbury)

Gotcha, may be a little nicer than the tunnel route!

Strava is absolutely rubbish for off road planning, it doesn’t even know the difference between bridleway and footpath. The only good bit is the heat map.

Yes of course. Strava is based on open street map which doesn't have the concept of access rights, so anything based on that (which is most things) won't know. The heat map is the entire point - don't trust any off-road auto routing in the UK, it's just not going to work. There are too many cut throughs, permissive paths, non-existent RoWs and bizarre road layouts.

The heat map shows all though, as it contains everyone's local knowledge.

The heat map shows all though, as it contains everyone’s local knowledge

It does, but it's not a safe bet as people sometimes forget to record their walk/run/ride as the right activity type, and whilst one person might be ok with a cheeky footpath, the next would rather know it's a legit bridleway.

There is a spot near me that looked popular in the heat map and it turned out to be a nature reserve with stiles. I reckon a local night ride must take a route through there but you'd be mad to attempt it in the day!

Just tried Ogden's link for the cycle.travel URL

Thankyou!

What a find. Used it yesterday on a 62 mile gravel ride. If anyone's into staying off the roads for the most part it's absolutely brilliant.

A hidden Gem!

Does you local council have a cycle paths map? That is worth looking for in they have one. One of the best bits of path I use to commute is about 3 miles of path alonside the A1085 dual carriageway from Redcar. It doesn't appear on Sustrans or Google maps but is quiet, v. few others on it and makes a large section of the ride stress free. It also shows lots of snickets through from one estate to another,links to schools, etc. that help plan routes avoiding direct roads. There is also another council on showing all the permissive bridleways which adds to possiblities.
Tees valley map linked as an example.