Ottawa is one of nine cities slated to have biking directions put up on Google Maps, and Canada’s Capital Region will be the first area to go online, according to the National Capital Commission.
The NCC and the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau have provided cycling information for the new biking directions section of Google Maps, the NCC announced Monday at a sustainable mobility conference
The program will be integrated with the other features provided on the NCC website and is set to be launched within the next few days, said Jasmine Leduc, an NCC spokeswoman.
According to a news release, the new bicycle layer of Google Maps will colour-code routes based on their sustainability.
Bike-only trails will appear in dark green and bike lanes along a road will be shown in lighter green. Dotted-green lines will indicate roads that don’t have bike lanes, but are still suitable to ride on.
The NCC said it hopes to expand the program with new information and encourages feedback from users.
“The City of Ottawa has always placed a high importance on encouraging residents to use sustainable transportation alternatives like cycling,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien in a news release.
“By having the city's paths, bike lanes and suggested routes available on Google Maps, we are providing a convenient, accessible technology for our residents to plan their cycling trips,” said O’Brien.