Biking directions in the U.S. for Google Maps

Google has added biking directions in the U.S. to Google Maps and will be unveiling the new feature at the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC. This new feature includes: step-by-step bicycling directions; bike trails outlined directly on the map; and a new “Bicycling” layer that indicates bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly roads.

Google has also added information about bike trails, lanes and recommended roads directly onto the map. This can help you get a better sense of your route, or let you find trails nearby for a recreational ride. When you're zoomed into a city, click on the "More" button at the top of the map to turn on the "Bicycling” layer. You'll see three types of lines appear on the map:
+ Dark green indicates a dedicated bike-only trail;
+ Light green indicates a dedicated bike lane along a road;
+ Dashed green indicates roads that are designated as preferred for bicycling, but without dedicated lanes

Visit http://maps.google.com/biking to try out this new feature. Biking directions for Google Maps is currently in Beta.