After discovering that my carefully planned new route out to Shawfair is a complete disaster in rush hour (and feeling a bit vulnerable on a bike where my head is lower than the bottom of most car windows), I bought the cycle streets app for my windows phone last night.
Duly armed with a new bit of software, yet another gadget for the handlebars (elegantly attached with parcel tape), I set off this morning from Shawfair with it programmed to get me to Chesser on the 'quietest' route option.
Have to say it was excellent - took me off the A7 immediately and went through places I never knew existed, then up the innocent railway, across the meadows and onto the canal towpath. Seems to have knowledge of all the bits and pieces of cycle path throughout the city. The route is maybe 2 miles longer than the direct one but was much more enjoyable. I'll see how it feels on the way home tonight but it's definitely going to be a lot quieter.
Only negatives about the app I can think of (and I'm nit picking as it only costs about £1.50), the screen 'pages' instead of scrolls and your position tends to lag a little behind where you actually are on the map, so it's easy to overshoot junctions that are just off the screen. Other than that, a fantastic little bit of software, well worth the price of a cheap coffee. Recommended if you are looking for a decent route and are not quite sure of the roads.
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