News
EasyRoute 5.6 is out with fixes to the core routing mechanism.
As usual, contact me, with feedback.
What is EasyRoute?
EasyRoute is an app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch that allows you to create routes and courses for all kinds of outdoor activities. It was created by a runner (me), but has proven quite useful for cyclists and walkers as well.
About EasyRoute
I created EasyRoute because I wanted to be able to create a running route using an app on my iPhone or iPad.
There are some popular fitness websites which offer run/bike/walk route planning, but web-based route mappers have not always worked well on iOS devices. EasyRoute is a fast, smooth, native app designed for simplicity.
EasyRoute gets you to the map as quickly as possible and I worked hard to keep it as straightforward as can be. You are one touch from viewing or creating a route and I wanted nothing to get in your way when working with the map. It does not require you to sign up or create some kind of account to use it.
Why drag out the laptop or turn on the computer before heading out the door when you can pull your iPhone out of your pocket or pick up the iPad to accomplish the same thing? (…and in some ways, accomplish it more easily and effectively.)
I feel EasyRoute is the best way to plan running routes on an iPhone or iPad because I actually use it.
The EasyRoute iTunes page contains a complete list of features.
How it Works
When EasyRoute launches, it will prompt you to choose a place to view on the map. You can enter the name of a place or use your current location.
Once you’re looking at the map, you start your route by tapping. You create the route by tapping roads and places you would like to go. Want to go by a lake or river? Just tap there.
There are some places you won’t be able to route unless you ignore roads. This is easy to do — you can switch between following roads and ignoring roads with one tap using the toolbar. The good news is that many paths that are not roads, like park trails and bikeways, are recognized by EasyRoute.
If you don’t like the path it makes, just press undo and you can try something different.
EasyRoute will auto-title your route using the distance, but you can make your own title too. In addition to the title and distance, the towns your route passes through will be shown on the main list of routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered here, ask me directly.
Android
This is “almost done”. It’s feature-complete, works pretty well, but is still a little too rough to release to the public at this time.
Dragging the Route?
Done! You can now modify the route by dragging portions of it starting with version 2.3!
Long press the part of the route you want to change, you will see it turn into straight dotted lines. Drag to where you want to re-route and wait for a moment. A new, proposed route should appear. If you release it, you will accept it. You can keep moving it, but if you release it while no proposed route is showing, it cancels the drag.
Dragging is undoable just like everything else, so feel free to experiment.
Following the Route or Recording/Tracking an Activity?
You can now follow your route with EasyRoute using your iPhone or Apple watch. (Or even your iPad, if that works for you.)
EasyRoute can optionally record a workout on Apple Watch and it will be included in the iOS Health and Activity apps. You can also just have it navigate you while you run another activity-tracking app. Your choice! (Note you can’t do both at the same time though. Only one app is allowed to run a workout on the watch at a time.)
If you want to use EasyRoute alongside any other app, start your route with EasyRoute, start the other app, and EasyRoute will notify you when it’s time to do something.
Also don’t forget:
If you have a Wahoo ELEMNT or ELEMNT BOLT bike computer, you can export routes to it pretty easily. According to DC Rainmaker’s post, you can do this with Garmin’s bike computers too, but you’ll only get turn-by-turn with Wahoo. (I should also mention I work for Wahoo, so I was able to smooth out some minor issues to make it work really well.)
More Features?
Yes! While developing and testing EasyRoute, I thought of a number of cool features. Stay tuned!
Feedback?
Most of the features I’ve added since EasyRoute’s initial release are there because users asked for them. Use my contact form to let me know your thoughts. Have an idea? Feel something is missing? Just want a virtual high-five? Let me know.
Acknowledgements
EasyRoute features a Mapbox map thanks to the Maps SDK for iOS.
Finally, the most thanks go to the handful of people that tested EasyRoute and provided extremely valuable feedback.
