Jon WorthApr 20, 2025

Ok, I need an alternative to Komoot for #CrossBorderRail 🚲🗺️ this summer

@spacehobo suggested cycle.travel that looks good, but on two shorter trips I’ll evaluate this and other options

NEEDS
- route planning and saving on a computer and easily on an iPhone
- ability to share routes with others with a link, and export routes as GEOjson or equiv file
- turn by turn navigation (I have an old iPhone on a handlebar mount)

Show threadJon WorthApr 20, 2025

IMPORTANT
- works anywhere in the EU, and Moldova and edge of Ukraine

IDEALLY
- community driven and/or open source

And sorry, solutions only in a web browser are unlikely good enough. An app based solution for saved routes strikes me as important.

And why am I leaving Komoot behind? As @osma documented, the founders sold out to big money enshittifiers 😭

Show threadJon WorthApr 20, 2025

Based on suggestions from a bunch of people, 3 apps are to be assessed more closely

cycle.travel
Ride with GPS
Organic Maps

Show threadJon WorthApr 21, 2025

First test: home to a friend’s place in a neighbouring village

There are two routes: a longer flat route along the canal, and a shorter hilly route on a road with cars

cycle.travel gives me the canal
The other two the hilly road

First win for cycle.travel

Show threadEricApr 21, 2025
@jon For my cycle holidays from NL to Norway, Spain and Serbia I created .gpx-files in Openrouteservice and transferred them to my Garmin Edge.
Depending on the type of bicycle you choose, it suggests different routes and it also gives a lot of info on surface, hill grades etc.
https://classic-maps.openrouteservice.org
Openrouteservice Maps

Openrouteservice is a open source route planner with plenty of features for car, heavy vehicles, hiking and cycling.

Show threadJon WorthApr 21, 2025
@eric Sure. But 1) I have no Garmin Edge. And 2) being able to route on a phone was a criterion
Show threadEricApr 21, 2025
@jon With many phone (map)apps it is possible to import gpx-files and use them for navigation.
Downside is that it takes more effort, but you're not dependent on the route choices from the phone app.
Show threadJon WorthApr 21, 2025

@eric 🤷‍♂️

It’s regularly I’m on #CrossBorderRail and I’m stuck on one side of a city and need to get to the other side. I’m not arsing around with GPX files for that. Sorry!

Show threadEricApr 21, 2025
@jon For these unplanned situations I just use the Garmin navigation or Google Maps.
Show threadJon WorthApr 21, 2025
@eric the latter is what I’m seeking to avoid 🙂
Show threadEricApr 21, 2025
@jon The 3 options you mentioned above are all based on OSM, but their default routes are clearly based on different approaches about what is the best route. I would just enter the destination on all 3 and decide on the spot which one to use.
My experience is that in many/most cases OSM is superior to other maps like Google Maps or Garmin for cycling and walking routes.
Show threadJon Worth
@eric Sure, the map quality of OSM is better. That’s obvious. But the default choices for routes and how they are calculated are important!
Apr 21, 2025 at 2:13pmWeb