New on the web is a site where GPS users can upload their own walking, running and biking routes and download other people's for their own use. It's free and you can win prizes too.
There's a new routes site on the block and it's aimed
specifically at the growing number of GPS users, if you think a sort
of fully legal and free GPS Napster, then you won't go far wrong.
The name, routeswap.com pretty much says it all. The idea
is that GPS users can upload their own GPS data to the site and
access other's uploads through a searchable database. The routes are
available in a variety of formats including CSV, GPX and Garmin
MapSource gdb and others.
Currently routes can only be uploaded in GPX which is a common
format across most GPS software and hardware, but routeswap plans to
allow uploads in other formats in the future.
Deep Sea Fishing?
The routes are broken down into six categories including walking,
running and mountain biking though there are also options for deep
seas fishing, no less, and road cycling.
And yes, we were wondering too, but apparently sea anglers are
also keen GPS users, so there you go.
Right now the bulk of the routes already uploaded are aimed at
mountain bikers, simply because the guys behind the site come from a
cycling background, but as the site grows there should be more
walking stuff, though that's down to you...
Win Prizes
To encourage you to upload, routeswap is offering prizes of sports
equipment for the best routes of the month, more details promised on
the site.
Not A GPS User?
The search facility works pretty nicely and rather neatly, the
route pages include a link to a Google map of the route, which might
give non-GPSies some ideas, but isn't really adequate for
navigational purposes, so while it might encourage you to buy a GPS,
it's not really much use if you don't have one already.
Site developer Matt Parker says: ' Cyclists, runners and all sorts
of people are now using GPS receivers. Now all these enthusiasts can
share and rate each others' routes free of charge. They can make much
better use of their time away without having to worry about finding
new routes or trying to navigate from difficult route cards and
maps.'
Well, we don't know that maps are really 'difficult' and you'll
still need one in case your technology goes techs up, but we reckon
routeswap is a great idea for GPS users.
Where is it? Oh, www.routeswap.com
