I know that a large number of readers on London Cyclist use the iPhone combined with a bike mount to navigate using Google Maps. As of iOS 6, Apple have removed Google Maps and replaced it with Apple Maps. Unfortunately, it appears they’re a fair way off the kind of accuracy you’ve grown to expect from Google Maps.
It’s unclear at this stage whether Google will be allowed to re-add Google Maps on to iOS 6, in the same way they’ve added a separate YouTube app.
For now, I’m sticking with iOS 5. However, that won’t be an option for anyone buying the new iPhone. Fortunately, there are some excellent navigation apps out there that are completely free to use.
My two favourites are Bike Hub and Cycle Streets.
The Bike Hub app provides turn by turn directions using Open Cycle Map data with Cycle Streets wizardry. When I recently pitted Google Maps against Cycle Streets, it was clear that the route planner on Cycle Streets was superior.
Bike Doctor on iOS 6
If you are a user of my Bike Doctor or London Bike Rides iPhone app then, I’m going to update those to make use of the larger iPhone screen as soon as I can.
iPhone Bike Mount for iPhone 5.
If you’ve purchased the Tigra iPhone Bike Mount from our eShop and you are looking for a bike mount for the iPhone 5 then you’ll be pleased to know we’ll be adding an iPhone 5 version in the next month or so. (We’ll also be adding a Samsung Galaxy SIII version shortly).
If you’ve got any impressions of the new iPhone or new iOS then I’d be interested in hearing them in the comments.
CycleMaps is the most functional, reliable, speedy (and simplest) app for getting around. Doesn’t try to do too much like some of the others. It’s actually improved with the new iOS as it still has its own decent search functionality but it uses the apple map images, which are better quality than openstreetmap. I’ve tried all of the others but this one just works.
You should advise people to ditch products made by that disgusting corporation, Apple
There’s and App called “My Maps” that you can use to bring up all your stored Google maps routes and google maps within it too. Should work on iOS6 ?
Sorry .. that should be “My Maps Editor”
Shameless plug – the app I’ve created for the London Cycle Hire scheme also uses its own custom maps and isn’t affected by the change in iOS maps:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cycle-hire/id362285538?mt=8
Bike Hub rules them all. Can’t imagine why anyone would use anything else.
At the risk of sounding like a Luddite: My 10 year old A to Z works great for me, and doesn’t need regular dodgy upgrades.
That’s great for you but bike sat nav changed my life in London. No longer did I have to share main roads with busy traffic (I could taking winding back routes instead). No longer did I have to stop and start trying to figure out where I was and what direction I was pointing in. And no longer did I have to plan my journeys, I could just decide to go somewhere and go. Ultimately this meant I bought some wet weather gear and now I bike everywhere, every day.
Hi Christiaan,
I am looking for a good bike sat nav app, also for use in London.
I was wondering how you find the voice navigation functionality of Bike Hub?
I would like to be able to hear voice commands via my headphones in order to avoid having to purchase an iphone mount for my new bike.