Open Cycle Map
Cyclists can use the Open Cycle Map to look up cycling paths across Europe.
Open Cycle Map is a website with updated cycle paths across Europe. Cyclists can use the online Open Cycle Map to zoom in and out of specific locations and select cycling paths. The paths are numbered and have different colours according to whether the cycle path is a national, regional, or local cycle route. Thereby, the map also shows icons for relevant services such as bicycle shops, rental stations, toilets, cafes, drinking water fountains, shelters, hospitals, and post boxes.
The open data sources that have been used to develop the Open Cycle Map, such as height data from NASA, have been listed on the website. The map is set up by ThunderForest and Open Street Map. It is free to use under and provides information for developers. Users can edit the map under the open license.
A main benefit of the map is that it can be used for free if someone has access to a laptop or mobile phone. Thereby, cycling initiatives, that are available for the general public, stimulate a relatively affordable, healthy and sustainable way of transportation and recreation. Cycling is stimulated in the post-lockdown strategy of many European countries as it is also safe way of transportation in comparison to public transport while COVID-19 is still in circulation.
OpenCyclingMap is one of the over 650 use cases published on the European Data Portal. If you are aware of another inspiring use case, share your experience and knowledge on different applications and websites using open data with the EDP via mail, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.