Subscribe now and choose from over 30 free gifts worth up to £49 - Plus get £25 to spend in our shop
There are a couple of worthy projects called:
[url= http://www.opencyclemap.org/ ]Open Cycle Map[/url] is a free map that emphasises cycling routes (typically urban cycles lanes, Sustrans and NCN routes, but some fireroad type stuff too) as well as facilities (lockers, pubs, bike shops). The map data from this is also used by various free/cheap GPS apps for phones etc (e.g. MotionX GPS on iPhone)
[url= http://www.cyclestreets.net/ ]Cycle Streets[/url] builds on that map data to attempt to create a free UK cycle route planner.
Both of these projects are only really as good as the map data they have, which is a little patchy in places.
So if you like maps, you want to put your GPS to some good use, or you just want something to do on a Friday afternoon, then take a look at [b] http://www.openstreetmap.org [/b] which is the ultimate source of their maps. It is an attempt to build a free-to-use, crowd-sourced map.
Have a look at your area: if there is a cycle route you use which isn't marked then stick your GPS on next time you ride it, then import the route and mark it on the map.
It's strangely addictive.
Oh and if you can't be arsed with all that then there is loads of easy tracing work to be done without leaving the comfort of your PC.
Ordnance Survey have released basic street maps of the whole of the UK, so if streets that you know don't currently appear on the map then you can use the online editor to trace them in from the OS map. (then mark on bike lanes, pubs etc if you like).
I thought you weren't allowed to trace in OS maps - or has that changed since the OS 'royalty freed' some of it's data?
You can use the os opendata recently released to trace from. The os opendata licence is actually less restrictive than the open street map
Yep, wot ebygomm said (tho I don't that the [url= http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ ]CC-by-SA licence[/url] used by OSM is particularly restrictive)
Exactly how the UK guys will/should use the OS data is still under discussion here:
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ordnance_Survey_Opendata
and discussed at length in the GB mailing list.
But basically you are free to use it to trace from as you see fit, though GPS/ground survey confirmation is strongly encouraged, or at least sticking to areas that you know, otherwise any errors in the OS data just get duplicated - plus the OS image isn't always very clear and doesn't have interesting bits like pubs, bike shops etc.