For anyone following this thread, just to let you know we have now implemented a new route editing feature to make it easy the delete the first/final leg of a route leading to your house, for anyone concerned about privacy. It is called "Delete Homestretch" and you can find it under the Plot menu in the route planner (only on the desktop site not the mobile site).
John
Just thinking about the Privacy Zone idea....I think this could be quite confusing when people come to view routes if the full route is saved but only a partial route is displayed to other people, as all of the attributes for the route (distance, total ascent, % uphill, etc.) would be calculated from the full route and wouldn't correspond with the route being viewed. I'm wondering if it is better to provide a simple editing function so that you can delete short sections from the start and/or end of a route before saving it if you are concerned that people might be able to identify where you live. This would also mean that you could vary how much of the route to delete each time, instead of choosing a specified radius around your house, where it would still be possible for a determined person to work out the centre of a privacy zone by looking at several of your routes. We do already have a "Delete Section" function for anyone wanting to do this now but we could probably develop a simpler one for deleting the first/last x hundred feet/m of a route.
John
I don't use Strava so have no idea how they have implemented it.
Perhaps if someone sets a route for the public to view a dialogue box for a privacy zone could be incorporated.
Privacy zone Y/N ?
If selected then set distance from start/finish to be obscured.
Hide start Y/N ?
Hide finish Y/N ?
Depending on those answers blank appropriate part of route including any instructions generated by the program.
Is this OK Y/N ?
If yes then save route, if not UNDO to put back to original.
We can certainly have a think about how we might be able to implement this. Any suggestions on how you would like a Privacy Zone featue to work if we were able to add this?
By they, not sure if you are aware, but you can share private routes with selected people if you wish (people you follow on the site). Just tick the relevant box on your My Account page to do this and then ensure that the people you want to share your private routes with are on your "Following" list (on your Home page after signing in).
John
Nearly all my routes are private for that reason.
Its a shame a privacy zone is not available, it's about the only feature I think is missing.
as in strava if you make your routes public people can see where you live. strava has an option to create a privacy zone around your home. even the police are warning people against publishing as bike thieves can then come and take your bikes. i have just started using plotaroute and like it so far.
i suppose you could always start your routes down the road a bit which would have the same effect.
Hi Ellie - Sorry, there isn't a way to hide the start and finish markers. Do you mind me asking why you would need to do this?
John
Hi -
Is there any way that I can remove the pins (A, B etc) from a route that I have drawn?
Thanks for your help, Ellie