More Apps for the Green Cyclist

Last week, Tiffany asked if you were a Go Green Cyclopath in a blog post that discussed a new, open source wikipedia-of-sorts for cyclists. The project, she explains, is a collaborative effort to help cyclists map routes, based not just on "shortest route" as most online mapping programs offer, but also on "best bikeability." The Cyclopath project demonstrates the ways in which technology and environmental sustainability can go hand-in-hand. It also points to the ways in which the cycling community is very committed to sharing knowledge with one another. As a cyclist and as a geek, I thought I'd share some more tips.

So here are some other tools for the tech-oriented cyclist:

Google Maps: The go-to mapping tool, Google Maps allows you to select cycling (along with car, public transportation, and the ever-popular walking) as your transportation option.

Bikely: This website is a crowdsourced service that allows you to plug in your zip code and find what other cyclists in your area recommend as the best bike routes. Some of the routes are oriented towards city-based cycling, but others are more oriented towards trail-based rides.

Bike Gear Calculator: If you rely on your bicycle for transportation, you'll find yourself quickly learning some of the basics of bicycle repair. The Bike Gear Calculator helps by calculating gear ratios, inches, development and gain ratios using your bike's measurements.

Arkon Bike Mount: Arkon manufactures a mount so that your iPhone will fit on your handlebars. Of course, you should never text-and-drive, even if you're driving a bike. But with the GPS-capabilities of smartphones, it can be very handy to have your maps accessible on your bike's "dashboard."

Runkeeper: This iPhone app utilizes the device's GPS abilities to track the distance you ride. Perfect for tracking your cycling miles (or your other exercise routines).

And while I'm pretty comfortable with my old Schwinn, I can't help but write about the Bik.e, Volkswagen's new electric bike. The Bik.e folds up into a flat disc and can be charged via a typical AC outlet. The Bik.e lacks pedals and tops out at about 12.5 miles per hour. As its prototype was just released, there aren't details on prices yet.

Cycling is a great way to stay healthy and to stay green. As the summer months arrive and more and more people pull their bicycles out of our garages, hopefully we'll take advantage of all these tools to make cycling fun and safe. And hopefully, in turn, the tech industry will continue to product cool apps to help us track our miles and our routes!

Photo Credit: Flickr