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plotaroute admin Monday 15 Feb 2021 05:07:35
Following a review of our mapping providers, we have reluctantly had to take the decision to discontinue using Google's maps, which were previously available to Premium members using the desktop version of our route planner. We understand this will be disappointing for those of you who like Google's maps, but sadly Google's licensing restrictions prevent us from offering services that we want to provide. It has also become clear over time that maintaining two route planners with different technologies is not sustainable and limits the development of new features.
We know that a number of you like to use Google Street View when researching new routes and will miss this feature in particular, so we've amended our Map Inspector tool to give you direct access to Google Street View on the Google Maps website. You can use this to quickly check Google Street View for any road on the map.
While this change closes one door, the good news is that it also opens up others - the first of these we are pleased to announce today.
New Premium Maps
Adding Ordnance Survey® maps to the website has been one of the most voted for requests on our Feature Requests list, but we have previously been unable to make these available due to incompatibilties between Ordnance Survey and Google contract terms. Following today's changes we are very pleased to say that this is now something we can offer and that Ordnance Survey's iconic leisure maps will now be available to Premium members in the desktop route planner.
In addition, we can also announce that we've added AccuTerra™ maps to the desktop route planner for Premium members in the US. These are regarded by some as the best recreational maps available for the US, combining data from the nation’s national parks, national forests, federal lands, state parks, local parks, and high-use recreation areas, alongside data from the OpenStreetMap community.
Both of these new premium maps have been introduced on a trial basis while we evaluate them, but subject to trial results we hope to also make available through our mobile app in due course.
New Standard Maps
We're also pleased to announce that we've added USGS Topo maps to the desktop route planner for all our users in the US. These maps are a signature product of the US Geological Survey and show many detailed features that help with planning recreational routes.
Lastly, as part of these changes, we've upgraded our Trails Map (previously named "Paths Map"), Cycle Map and Transport Map to use higher resolution map images where applicable, making them pin-sharp on devices with high pixel density screens, like retina displays.
In total there are now up to 11 different types of map to choose from when plotting a route on plotaroute.com.
While we're sorry to lose Google maps from our website, we're excited about the new opportunities this opens up and look forward to announcing more new features in the coming months.
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Laurent LARUAZ Monday 15 Feb 2021 07:40:59
Hello
Let me speak frankly about this news : you spoilt my day ! Although I understand the reasons about this, I fear it will make plotting a route a little bit less of a pleasure . By the way I think you realize that adding new maps is of no use for those of your users outside of the US.
However I keep being sure about the fact that plotaroute.com will stil be the best tool around ; I only will have to change some habits (and perhaps to open Google Maps in another window on my desktop). Adding access to Street View in the Map Inspector is great.
Out of curiosity and not being a specialist of what stands behind the scenes, I would like to ask you what you mean by "maintaining two route planners" ?
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Fred Hiking Monday 15 Feb 2021 07:42:45
That is not good news. I'm disappointed.
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alfonso sanzone Monday 15 Feb 2021 11:25:12
This is disappointing, no choice then but to move to Ride with GPS next
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Colin Jones Monday 15 Feb 2021 12:06:05
Wow, well I am pleased. Thank you so much for providing OS Maps, that is appreciated, and I understand that you could not previously, due to Google! Can't have them all, there we go.
Thank you again for updating and providing the best plotting service on the web
Colin
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TC Darabuka Monday 15 Feb 2021 12:58:50
Of course we'd like to have it all, but I'm no more than marginally disappointed; I use the 'Cycle Map" and "Satellite Map" within Plotaroute much more often than Google Maps which I usually use to search for essential services like "Pub" or "Cafe" in a seperate window. The updated "Cycle Map" looks nice. I wonder whether there would be a benefit in 'My Settings' to have an option to select the maps shown in the drop down window as there is.now, I regret, a number which I'm unlikely to ever use.
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Peter Laszlo Monday 15 Feb 2021 14:19:38
I can no longer see the advantage of using the premium service
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Michael Raider Monday 15 Feb 2021 22:11:51
Google Maps lack of trail mapping limits their products usefulness to me as an MTBer in the USA. Street view can be useful but I prefer to use that on a separate window anyways.
I'm looking forward to trying the new map options.
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Leigh Williams Monday 15 Feb 2021 22:22:09
This is extremely disappointing, I have been a long time user and advocate of Plotaroute, with Premium Membership, and up to now its been a very useful planning tool.
Being located in Australia your inclusions of Ordiance Survey, USGS Topo and Accu Terra are totally useless to me.
You have given us nothing to replace Google products with in Australia, can I suggest that you incorporate Hema Maps from Australia asap or myself and may others will be cancelling our Premium subscription very soon.
As Peter Lazlo says "I can no longer see the advantage of using the premium service" and I totally agree.
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Jeanne Miller Tuesday 16 Feb 2021 03:46:26
I am a Trailmaster with a local walking club that is a member of a national organization. I am a Premium subscriber for two reasons: 1) the ability to make my routes private, in accordance with requirements by the national organization; 2) the ability to use Google Maps. I plot 5k and 10k routes and the sharpness of the Google background and the identifiable landmarks are perfect for walkers.
I'm not clear on the "two route planners with different technologies" issue. While I do appreciate the new sharpness of the "Trails Map" (formerly "Paths"), it doesn't make up for you taking away Google Maps as a base layer.
By the way, the Google Street View feature was pretty much unusable for what I do; I just opened up a new tab with Street View in the area of concern and flipped back and forth as needed.
Please consider *DECREASING* your Premium Subscription price, since the base layer maps you're providing do not print legibly for my 5k and 10k walkers.
Thank you.
