Cycling News

Bikeforall.net to change into BikeHub.co.uk

Site revamp will also include the creation of the UK's first bicycle journey planning app for iPhones (with other smartphones coming on stream later).

Bikeforall.net will be renamed BikeHub.co.uk, to tie in with the name of the UK's bike levy which owns and funds the site.

There will be an online journey planner but, critically, there will also be a smartphone journey planner. The first one is for iPhones but apps for other phones will follow.

The online journey planner and the mobile version will be of most use to new and hesitant cyclists.

Users will be able to toggle between maps provided by Google and the Department for Transport's journey planner but the default map will be provided by Cyclestreets.net. This is an open source mapping service developed via the OpenStreetMap.

Users can choose to be directed along quieter routes or, for more confident riders, along more direct routes.

There are lots of GPS and sports event tracking apps for smartphones but none for mobile route finding. The BikeHub app will be free. As well as working out routes, the app will be able to pinpoint nearest bike shops, and guide cyclists in via step-by- step directions. The bike shop data is provided by ACT.

The website is being created by Roundhouse of Newcastle. The iPhone app is being created by Tinderhouse of Kent. Both the website and the app will go live in time for Bike Week in June.

Published Wednesday 12 May 2010