App: An offline bike map for Chicago
Consider this: You like to use the Chicago Bike Map but you don't always carry it with you. You want to be reminded of where the bike lanes and trail access points are. But you do carry your smartphone with you, all the time.
In April I launched my first-ever app, the Chicago Offline Bike Map. It works similarly to the Chicago Bike Map in that it shows the presence of on-street bike lanes, multi-use trails, and train stations. It works like Google Maps, though, where you can pinch and zoom to interact with the map.
A feature of the app is that it will not use your data connection. The app stores the map and all other information directly on your phone. It will not use the internet! It can even locate your position on the map – without internet.
Currently it's for iOS devices only (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad). I'm just getting started on a version for Android users.
It costs $1.99 (link opens the iTunes Store).
Last Saturday was a free day, when 101 new people download it. I'm working out the bugs right now in order to create v0.3. I expect to host future free days. I intend to update the app at least once every two months to ensure it has the latest bike lanes.
I'd ask for your feedback, but you obviously have to buy it first. I'll answer all your questions, though. For example, if you want to know if it has a certain feature or point of interest listed.
A note about the color scheme: Green was chosen to display bikeways because it is not represented by anything else on the map, and it's appearance is strongly apparent. The more dark green a line has, the safer a facility it's intended to be. In other words, the greater the distance from cars. Dark blue lines are Metra routes, and light blue lines are CTA routes. The blues match the agencies' respective logo colors, but will be made more distinct in a future version.
Views: 1897
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams 6.6 mi on -
I worked with Ning just enough to realize that it is the worst possible platform for doing a forum. I certainly could have missed something, but I sure don't recall noticing any kind of "deal with the devil" when I was learning about the platform. The closest thing (that I know of - and its been a while) is that the data isn't easily ported to another less crappy platform (less crappy would be any other platform of course.) But I seem to recall that even at the time - a couple years ago - there were ways to get it done.
James BlackHeron said:Blame it on Ning!
I was hoping with the revamp of the whole site and everything that The Chainlink could dump Ning! and find some other system and hosting. Maybe that isn't possible with the contract with the devil that was signed with them when they set things up. It could be that we are stuck with them for life.
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on -
I find it pretty easy to submit reports via that website, but for those looking for another – mobile-oriented – solution, try Chicago Works, SeeClickFix, and Fix 311.
BTW, everyone, version 0.7 will drop in a few days (it's waiting for review right now). It brings several improvements to the routing function (showing distance, estimated travel duration, and more usable results), reduced file size, and fixed CTA stations. There was also an issue with the screenshots being shown in the app store (they showed an outdated version).
Here are the 10 best new features of version 0.6 and the upcoming version 0.7.
Tony Adams 6.6 mi said:This would be great. It seems like there would be/should be an easy way for people to submit such reports, (glass or debris in a street) but I didn't see it at the newly revamped 311 reporting site.
-
Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on -
Even if it meant starting from scratch, losing everything, and everyone needing to sign back up again with a new system it would be worth it IMHO. But that is just my opinion. Ning really sucks.
Something free and open-source like Simple Machines would be awesome as long as enough ad revenues could be harvested from the site to pay for hosting and other costs what more would people really need?
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on
-
A calendar.
Please let this be the end of Ning versus Everything in this thread.
James BlackHeron said:Even if it meant starting from scratch, losing everything, and everyone needing to sign back up again with a new system it would be worth it IMHO. But that is just my opinion. Ning really sucks.
Something free and open-source like Simple Machines would be awesome as long as enough ad revenues could be harvested from the site to pay for hosting and other costs what more would people really need?
-
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams 6.6 mi on
-
The new icon is beautiful. Nice work! I can't seem to get the update to work, but I think that is because my phone lacks room for it.
I have no one to blame but myself, but I'm still mad at the dude at the Verizon store for not even mentioning the option of a phone with more storage capacity.
(a l m o s t got through this entire post without mentioning how crappy Ning is!)
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on
-
The next update, hopefully coming this week, has a slightly reduced file size (by 17 MB). You can check to see what other apps are taking up a lot of space by going to Settings>General>Usage. Photo and Twitter apps take up a lot of space. Music and Photos also take up a lot of space, and these can by synced in and out of your iOS device easily.
Thank you for the icon compliment.
Tony Adams 6.6 mi said:The new icon is beautiful. Nice work! I can't seem to get the update to work, but I think that is because my phone lacks room for it.
I have no one to blame but myself, but I'm still mad at the dude at the Verizon store for not even mentioning the option of a phone with more storage capacity.
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance
-
-
Permalink Reply by J.A.W. 15.08 km -
Ditto! Good luck.
Kevin C said:Voted. Good Luck.
Steven Vance said:
-
Permalink Reply by Steven Vance
-
Thank you for voting. You can vote every day ;)
50% of any profits I get from this long weekend (including today, Friday) will go to OpenStreetMap's fundraising efforts for new servers. Details on the blog.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- Next ›
© 2008-2013 The Chainlink Community, L.L.C. Julie Hochstadter, Director
Powered by
