Cyclists in Washington, D.C., home to Capital Bikeshare, have another tool at their disposal to help them navigate the nation’s capital on two wheels.
Today, techie non-profit OpenPlans launched BikePlanner.org, a District-focused program that routes bike trips according to the user’s preferences. It’s the first software of its kind in the U.S.
The website’s bright, clearly discernible map allows visitors and locals alike to set a path for throughout the Washington metro region, and modify the route based on a preference for the flattest, safest or quickest path (or, if you like, somewhere between these three options). Right now, the city’s bike share program stretches into Arlington County, Va., but it plans on extending to Alexandria, Va. and Rockville. Md.
BikePlanner also gives you the option to mark locations of the city’s nearly 2-year-old bike share system, while tracking the number of available bikes and docks at these locations in real time. This should come in handy for avoiding empty stations when you need to pick up a ride, and full docks when dropping one off.
The site joins a growing number of open-source technologies designed to encourage urban travel by alternative means, such as Walkshed, which maps destinations along walking paths. BikePlanner distinguishes itself as one of the first to incorporate bike share, and to allow users to edit and modify routes based on their own experiences.
Here’s a screenshot of what BikePlanner’s interface looks like:
Credit: OpenPLans