BestBikingRoads.com - Improvments to roadbook share

[Rabbitson]

I'm just putting the finishing touches to the first draft of the new roadbook sharing feature on my site BestBikingRoads.com.

Using the new system, it's now possible to upload gpx files and share them, then view them automatically on GoogleMaps and download them for use.

I've tried to stick to the existing organised structure of the site (the main advantage, I believe with this system is that the routes and roadbooks can be reviewed and rated by others in an organised way).

Have a look and see what you think, but please in bear in miund that it's only just been put together so it's entirely possible there might be a couple of problems for a bit (let me know if you find any though and I'll be happy to fix/amend them.)

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcyclegpsroadbooks.php

Comments and feedback also welcome.

David

 

[araspitfire]

Cool feature... I missed an easy way to have a look at the routes before... this will be great...

Just a UI note... I got confused, because on the first map on The Netherlands front page... I clicked on a route near Rotterdam... then after Clicked on the next nearest one... near Utrecht... and thought I found a but, because the same route map appeared on both pages... of course this was both ends of the same route... perhaps you could color code the links on the main map (like on the secondary maps) so that this isn't so confusing...

I believe a common way to use the routes on your site is to say "I am here..... or going to be there.... where are the closest Best Biking Roads nearest to that point.... of course the first two points you click on will end up being the same route most likely...

Al...

 

[Rabbitson]

Useability

Thanks for the comments, it's such useability feedback that I need to improve the site (As you can probably tell, I'm not really a UI person )

The colour coding idea might work for NL, where there are currently only about 9 routes, but the problem is that for some regions, there are about 60 routes . . . so not really sure what should be done overall (as I want a scalable solution)

for example:

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/show_routes_in_selected_province.php?code3=1206

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/show_routes_in_selected_province.php?code=268

If you have any other ideas, I'd be interested to hear.

David

 

[araspitfire]

Yea... I see your point...

(didn't there used to be more routes in The Netherlands?... I've followed a couple of awesome routes that are not on your site...???

I think that I'd vote for just one marker per route on the regional map... then use the two color coded markers for the route page map...

I know that this will create mild confusion if people try to zoom in on the regional map, (won't see one end of the route on the big map) but since it's not clear where the routes stop and start on there anyways... it's best to 'force' them onto the route page anyways...

Al...

 

[ebbo]

GPX routes is a great idea, saves ages searching for the roads involved

But can I suggest some kind of voting system to rate the routes, as the one I just looked at could lead to some disappointment

 

[Rabbitson]

But can I suggest some kind of voting system to rate the routes, as the one I just looked at could lead to some disappointment

Just click on the 'add a review' button at the bottom of the page when viewing a route, this allows you to rate and review the routes.

David

 

[Rabbitson]

Some of the queries for this were slowing the site right down (as some of may have seen), I've enhanced the queries now so that site performance has improved, however the drawing of the roadbook for a preview on the map is still quite slow (especially when the roadbook contains much data) but the upload, download and comments all work fine.

David