Create your own cycling route with Google Maps

Creating a cycling route with Google Maps is ideal, because it allows you to immediately add addresses of places where you want to stop along the way. Museums and terraces, for example. But how exactly do you do that?

1. Open Google My Maps

   Google Maps can be used as a cycling route planner. You use it for that Google My Maps : you will then see the following home screen.

2. Create a new map for your cycling route in Google Maps

   Click on the red bar: + CREATE NEW CARD. Search the map for the area where you want to plan your route. Have you already saved many pinpoints in Google? Then open Google Maps in a second tab, so you can easily copy them.

3. Below you see the tab that is open with Google Maps

   All addresses are stored here under your account.

4. Save addresses in Google Maps

   First find a starting point. For example, look at any saved pins on Google Maps for a nice address to drink coffee.

5. Select the address

   If you place the cursor on it, you will see a text appear: Copy address. This also includes an icon that refers to copying. Click on that to easily copy the text.
   

6. Now you go back to the tab in which you want to create your route.

   Paste the copied address into the Google My Maps search field.

7. Press enter.

   

8. At the bottom of the field containing the address, you will see a line: + Add to map.

   Click that to include the address on the map in Google My Maps where you are working. You can also add text to this, for example something tasty you saw on the menu: “Good place for sandwiches” or “Eat apple pie here”. Continue in this way until you have all the addresses that you want to include on your route on the map. You can also save addresses directly from Google My Maps. Search the map for the location you want to include, click on it and then select + Add to map again.
   

9. If you now zoom out you will see that a lot of pins have appeared in Google My Maps.

   

10. Plan a cycling route in Google Maps

    Have you collected all your addresses? Then it is time to map out the route. Always smart to do immediately: save your card! You do this by giving the route a name.

11. Map out the cycling route

    You can plan the cycling route by clicking on the line with connection points under the search box in Google My Maps. If you hold the cursor over it, the text: 'Draw a line' will appear. Then select bike to create a cycling route.
    

12. Start of the route

    The route starts at the coffee shop in Koudekerke. If you click this, an A will appear here: this is point A in your route (from A to B).
    

13. How you want the route to run

    You can take the route anywhere. Useful: first connect the selected points (the addresses you have chosen) and then see how exactly you want the cycle route to run.

14. Your next point has now become point B on the map.

    

15. Add points

    Simply add points to your route by clicking Add Destination on the left of the screen. Once all addresses are checked, you end the route at the starting point.
    

16. Easily correct mistakes in the cycle route

    Did you make a mistake in the order? That's easy to solve. Scroll to the left of the screen with the letters of the order. In the example, C and D have now switched places.

17. Change the cycle route

    Does the order match how you envisioned the cycle route? Then it's time to look at the route itself. Perhaps there are many main roads and you prefer to cycle on country roads. You can easily adjust the route sections by dragging points in the route. If you hold the cursor over a point in the route, you will see a dot appear with the text: Drag to change route. Here you can drag the points in the route to where you want them.

18. Example of a change in the cycle route

    In the example, the route has been adjusted: you no longer follow the main road from Zoutelande to Westkapelle, but the cycle path just behind the dunes.

19. This way you retrace the entire route until it is exactly as you intended it.

    

20. Share your Google Maps cycling route

    Once the route is ready, you can share it. Choose who can see your route. Even if it is a route for your own use, it can still be useful to share the route. You may log in with your smartphone from a different Google profile. Don't want others to see your route? The way to solve this is to check the following: Anyone with this link can view the map. Whether you email the link to yourself on another account, or to someone you know: you can always access it. You can easily copy the link by clicking on the copy icon next to the URL.
    Are you okay with others being able to see and use the route? Then check the second option. If you want your name and photo to be visible on the internet for this route, check the third option.

21. Open the route on Google My Maps

    If you now enter the Google My Maps link again ( https://www.google.com/maps/d/ ) or you use Google to search for Google My Maps, the route you have created will appear at the top of the screen. Can't find the route? Make sure you are logged in with the correct Google account, which you can see from the icon at the top right.

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