Despite the available technology, finding our way around the city can still be challenging. While drivers have Waze to rely on, people on bicycles don’t have a dedicated navigation app. So, here’s a guide on how to use Google Maps for bike-commuting.

The advantage of Google Maps is that it has options for different modes of transport such as cars, motorcycles, walking, and public transit. While other countries have in-app cycling routes, we don’t. So we have to make use of what’s available and adapt it to our needs.

One big difference for bicycle users is that they don’t have to consider real-time traffic conditions because they aren’t affected as much by it. That’s why the safest starting point is to check the directions for motorcycle riders. These give the most direct route without leading into limited-access roads such as expressways and toll roads. However, there may be a need to modify it.

Be wary of interchanges, flyovers, bridges, and tunnels if you must go through them. When biking on major thoroughfares such as EDSA, take a service road or a ground-level crossing when possible to minimize risks of conflict with motorists.

Although people on bicycles aren’t allowed on expressways, they can act like pedestrians. To find the shortest route on Google Maps, check the directions for walking and compare them to the motorcycle route. There might be a shortcut that can be used on foot.

If you have to go against the flow of vehicular traffic or cross the street, there is the option of using the sidewalk or the pedestrian crossing. Just remember to yield to pedestrians because they have priority. Do not shoo them out of your way, or ride at a speed that could put them at risk.

Another important tip: Move slowly and carefully when filtering through standstill traffic or crowds. If you don’t feel comfortable pedaling in tight spaces, use the bike like a kick scooter or dismount it and walk. And don’t force yourself into gaps that could abruptly close.

By combining pedestrian and vehicular routes, you can come up with a better way. Eventually, you’ll learn that distance doesn’t tell the whole story, and that some routes are more pleasant than others.

But that can only be realized through experience. I used to bike on C5 when going to and from Libis. However, I found that taking a side trip through Lanuza Avenue and Green Meadows Avenue is more leisurely.

Despite the gradient by Christ the King Parish, there is less traffic to worry about because the area is a residential street. And passing there reduces the time spent on C5.

When going from the Kapitolyo-BGC bridge to J.P. Rizal Avenue, drivers will have to make the soonest possible U-turn on 8th Avenue in BGC. But on a bicycle, you can take the off-ramp to Kalayaan Avenue, use the pedestrian crossing to get to the other side, and then go downhill to J.P. Rizal Avenue.

Now, if you’re on the road and you need to check your phone for directions, find a safe spot to pull over and stop predictably. Some choose to attach phone holders to their bikes.

They aren’t essential, and I’d prefer to go without one. It will just complicate things and put my phone at risk of damage or theft. Also, I ride a bicycle to enjoy the journey, not to glance at a screen while moving.

As mentioned before, people on bicycles aren’t hindered as much by traffic jams, so they have a consistent travel speed. And when you figure yours out, you can roughly estimate how long it will take to go somewhere.

According to Strava, 15km/h is a safe reference point for me. Sprinting in an all-out dash won’t save much time when you’ll eventually stop at traffic lights and intersections (the same could be said for those in motor vehicles).

If there’s an event to catch, remember to give allowance for end-of-trip matters, such as parking your bike, changing in the bathroom, and walking to the venue.

Cycling is good, and so is walking. But public transport can make life easier. Bicycles are allowed on the Pasig River Ferry. Taking a P2P bus between Makati and Alabang bypasses the dreadful service road. And with a folding bike, it will be hard to match the speed of the MRT and the LRT. If multi-modal transit is viable, it will help you cover more distance with comfort.

As you can see, biking is a highly flexible form of personal mobility. Because cyclists can blend different modes of transport, they can keep moving. After all, walking with a bicycle is faster than sitting still in traffic. And this is what allows bikers to travel around the city so efficiently.