Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expand to New Zealand

[MacRumors]

Apple Maps has expanded the availability of cycling routes in the southern hemisphere by adding support for New Zealand.

Apple first added cycling directions to ‌Apple Maps‌ in iOS 14, providing specific directions for bike riders with bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly routes that highlight steep inclines, stairs, and other obstacles.

Prior to this expansion, cycling directions in Apple Maps were primarily available in select countries and major cities across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. As for Oceania, the feature was previously limited to Australia, so the addition of New Zealand significantly enhances its coverage in the region.

Apple typically rolls out new features gradually, so users across New Zealand may see the cycling directions become available in stages. The company has not provided details about coverage within the country, but it is expected to include major urban areas and popular cycling routes. Apple maintains a list of all of the areas where cycling directions are available on its website, but New Zealand has not yet been added.

(Thanks, Josh!)

Article Link: Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expand to New Zealand

 

[orbital~debris]

Oh, using one of these routes would be idyllic, I imagine!
Like visiting another planet.

 

[jstsch]

I've been using Apple Maps for regular biking in the city quite a bit the last few months, in The Netherlands. Unfortunately it's not super accurate and will sometimes pick odd routes, navigate you over a pedestrian path or ignore cycling lanes. Will continue using it, since the integration with Apple Watch is much better than Google Maps. Hope they improve with time.

 

[Godspeed8230]

No, Apple does not really "maintain" that list. They might have forgotten it exists.
There are a lot of countries still misising, e.g. Austria, Netherlands and now NZ.

 

[lenger]

I've been using Apple Maps for regular biking in the city quite a bit the last few months, in The Netherlands. Unfortunately it's not super accurate and will sometimes pick odd routes, navigate you over a pedestrian path or ignore cycling lanes. Will continue using it, since the integration with Apple Watch is much better than Google Maps. Hope they improve with time.

I think it really sucks in Amsterdam. Tried it a few times but the routes never make sense.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I think it really sucks in Amsterdam. Tried it a few times but the routes never make sense.

Never been there, so my mental image of the city is based on tv and movies that show lots of local charm, so I was thinking that every route is a bike route, lol.

 

[Godspeed8230]

Never been there, so my mental image of the city is based on tv and movies that show lots of local charm, so I was thinking that every route is a bike route, lol.

Maybe that's too much complexity for Apple.

Anyway, I use BeeLine (the app, not the device) in Austria and I am quite happy with it. You can check it out:
https://maps.beeline.co/
You can choose between Fast, Balanced and Quiet routes. It also gives you extra info on liked (eg bike lane, safe route) and disliked routes (a lot of traffic, dangerous situations etc).

 

[Chungry]

I've been using Apple Maps for regular biking in the city quite a bit the last few months, in The Netherlands. Unfortunately it's not super accurate and will sometimes pick odd routes, navigate you over a pedestrian path or ignore cycling lanes. Will continue using it, since the integration with Apple Watch is much better than Google Maps. Hope they improve with time.

Funny you mention that, Ray from DC Rainmaker has called that out too. Seems you’re better off using a purpose-built device Like a Garmin bike computer or Fenix/ Suunto cycling watch for reliability.

Apple Maps is sporadically and randomly great but mostly awful in my experience. It’s the best in California where all of Apple’s execs live. But take Sedona- a simple highway trip to a natural park from a hotel? Yeah Apple Maps routed 45 minutes in the wrong direction, in the middle of the city! Not exactly the accurate spot for a trailhead in a national park. And there’s always apologists saying it’s good but my position is those folks should be getting paid for conducting the Apple Maps goodwill tour.

The worst thing you can say, and possibly the most damning, is Apple Maps is incredibly inconsistent and that can actually be dangerous. It’s why I don’t use it for routing (outside of checking in every so often to see if it’s improved)

 

[MisterBlueSky]

i hope it is reliable.

apple & google maps both had the audacity to send me somewhere else in the past.

sometimes i prefer an old fashioned map made of paper.

 

[jstsch]

I think it really sucks in Amsterdam. Tried it a few times but the routes never make sense.

So same in the area around The Hague it's really strange how it often takes a longer not more convenient route. A bit biased where cars seem to go, I feel. It's not a huge problem since I know the area well, so just curious to see how it will improve in the coming period.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I clearly haven't had enough coffee this morning; I mis-read the title as "Apple Maps expands cycling directions TO New Zealand" and I thought "did Apple Maps invent a route where I can ride a bicycle all the way to New Zealand?" 🤔

I better brew a pot before I try to pedal across the ocean. ☕

 

[allan.nyholm]

A popular cycling country such as my own doesn't appear to have anything related to what New Zealand now has....

Love from Denmark in Scandinavia - not Denmark in United States.

edit.. okay, perhaps it does,, it has transit - I can live with that.. for now. I'll spank Tim's behind if he doesn't get to happening.

 

[Chungry]

A popular cycling country such as my own doesn't appear to have anything related to what New Zealand now has....

Love from Denmark in Scandinavia - not Denmark in United States.

edit.. okay, perhaps it does,, it has transit - I can live with that.. for now. I'll spank Tim's behind if he doesn't get to happening.

It’s funny- I’ve seen some folks in these forums claim this is OK because making maps is hard and the world is big! (Duh). My response is always that we’re talking about the biggest company in the world here, surely they can do a little better than sending me on a wild goose chase 45 minutes in the wrong cardinal direction. Staff up! This is solvable with good, old-fashioned boots (well cars and bikes) on the ground. Apple has no excuses as far as I’m concerned.

And to think, they fired a good CEO candidate as a sacrificial lamb for the image of Maps.

 

[fwmireault]

I really hope Canada will get full support and not only for the three biggest cities. It’s a shame how long it takes

 

[Futurix]

Apple’s cycling directions in my corner of France are ok but a bit odd - it seems to be focussed solely on the quickest route, as opposed to riding on dedicated cycling infrastructure.

I tested it and a bunch of others on a specific destination - every other app suggested a preferred route that uses a dedicated safe cycling route for the majority of the way (and then some quiet roads to the destination) and only after that they suggested some routes using local roads and pedestrian paths that are marginally faster (5 minutes out of an hour).
Apple Maps only offers the latter - the safest route is not there at all. I can only get it if I’ll adjust my starting point to be closer to the safe route so it becomes the fastest.
It doesn’t bother me much, as I wouldn’t need navigation for most of the route anyway - but the non-locals would probably be led towards the worse option.

 

[StoneJack]

Apple is really lazy in updating its maps. Anything is better than Apple maps

 

[dead flag blues]

Komoot works for me.

 

[Chungry]

Komoot works for me.

Excellent choice I’d encourage folks to look into this especially our overseas friends

 

[goshya]

One needs to be suicidal to use Apple Maps as a cyclists. Apple Maps switches automatically to driving directions from walking or cycling directions if one goes too fast, often without announcing the change due to a bug. I was led several times onto motorways (highways) in Manchester and in Japan because Apple Maps changed to driving directions without informing me. Super dangerous. The advice given in Apple Stores in the UK and in Japan is simply, ‘Use Google Maps’. Healthy advice.

 

[boss.king]

Great, I was wondering when they were going to finally figure out we had bicycles down here.

 

[jbc25]

Apple’s cycling directions in my corner of France are ok but a bit odd - it seems to be focussed solely on the quickest route, as opposed to riding on dedicated cycling infrastructure.

I tested it and a bunch of others on a specific destination - every other app suggested a preferred route that uses a dedicated safe cycling route for the majority of the way (and then some quiet roads to the destination) and only after that they suggested some routes using local roads and pedestrian paths that are marginally faster (5 minutes out of an hour).
Apple Maps only offers the latter - the safest route is not there at all. I can only get it if I’ll adjust my starting point to be closer to the safe route so it becomes the fastest.
It doesn’t bother me much, as I wouldn’t need navigation for most of the route anyway - but the non-locals would probably be led towards the worse option.

Interesting. For me, it's the opposite in North East American cities. Here it will suggest some convoluted out-of-the-way route that takes longer just because it's looking to put you on streets with bike lanes. I've had to stop using it and switch to driving mode (avoiding highways) because of that.

 

[Hank001]

And to think, they fired a good CEO candidate as a sacrificial lamb for the image of Maps.

Yeah, he may very well be not all that bad and have Maps evolve at a much faster pace than its current pace.

Unfortunately, we get this:

Maps: Cycling​

• Australia
• Barcelona, Spain
• China mainland
• France
• Germany
• Japan
• London, United Kingdom
• Montréal, Canada
• Toronto, Canada
• United States
• Vancouver, Canada

iOS and iPadOS - Feature Availability

iOS and iPadOS have so many amazing features. Find out which ones are available on iPhone and iPad in your country or region.

www.apple.com

 

[constantsnags!]

Unfortunately riding bikes here is a constant battle for survival.

 

[justperry]

Nice route… no-one is cycling for 19+hours

I should know, I cycled around the world.

 

[Nermal]

Nice route… no-one is cycling for 19+hours

It's Hobbiton to Mount Doom. You'd ride for 19 hours with ringwraiths at your back