Streetsblog Chicago is a new blog in the Chicago Bike Guide.
Version 0.7 dropped last Sunday. Here’s what’s new about it.
Updated routing
The first was an improved routing engine. I prematurely shipped version 0.6 with a routing engine that I wasn’t satisfied with. You can read about this in a separate post. This new engine (from MapQuest) comes with a new feature: distance and estimated travel time. I’m looking for feedback on the distance and estimated travel time popup. Does it stay up long enough? Do you want to be able to bring it back?
I’m also looking for feedback on the quality of the trip results: did you follow what it gave you? Was it a good or bad route?
Updated base map
The map tiles have been updated in the two weeks since version 0.6 was issued. I update the map tiles every time for two reason: the first is that there are likely new bikeways to add or change; the second reason is to make sure I include all the detail that’s available to the public on OpenStreetMap. OSM is the Wikipedia of maps and allows anyone to add and change features. When all of the buildings in Chicago were added to the map, the level of detail on the map really increased. People are also constantly making additions (like golf course greens) and corrections (misspelled building names).
See an issue in the map? Correct it yourself or suggest it to me in the comments. Here’s something cool I did in OSM for last weekend’s #editathon.
I adjusted the map quality (indiscernible on retina displays) to reduce the app’s size, by about 17 MB. There may be other opportunities to reduce app size. However, it increased threefold from version 0.5 to version 0.6 because I provided more map tiles to show beautifully on retina displays (most app users have a device with retina display).
New features
I’ve added Streetsblog Chicago to the list of blogs in the “Discussion & Blogs” page. I replaced the launch screen images with ones that fit into Apple’s design guidelines.
Corrected issues
Two people informed me they had installation issues with the update: the app would download over wifi but fail to install. I suggested that they connect their device to iTunes. The app is quite large and it seems iTunes will install it successfully. I wasn’t able to confirm with them that this was the issue as neither required additional assistance.
I fixed an issue that people would rarely encounter, that of ETAChicago.com loading the previously used location for which to retrieve bus and rail tracker times.
Upcoming changes
This is a sampling of new or changed features that will be coming in future versions:
- Separate the two Twitter feeds – #bikeCHI and #chiLFT – into their own panes so you can quickly assess the condition of the Lakefront Trail.
- Add some kind of stolen bike tracker. See information on the most recently reported stolen bikes in Chicago.
- Add a location search to the map screen instead of putting it two taps away.
- Add campgrounds to the map (this is pretty difficult because I can’t find any campgrounds near Chicago)
