Online Route Planners

Easter Bank Holiday Travel and Traffic Reports

2009-04-07T12:58:00.003+01:00

It looks like the weather for this Easter could be fairly changeable, so best take your wellies and warm jackets if you're venturing out.

Thankfully its a four day bank holiday weekend so the traffic should be spread out over the Thursday and Friday.

So check your car out before you leave, fill up with fuel and make sure your Sat Nav is working fine. It should be an interesting weekend. I'm trying to keep off the roads as much as possible!

Haulage, Delivery, Courier and Delivery Company Route Planner

2009-02-10T16:00:00.003Z

One of the big issues these days is the desire to cut delivery costs as well as reducing the impact on the environment of shipping goods up and down the country. So how about this tool that allows you to see your route and if anyone has registered with Shiply to request someone to ship, transport or deliver some goods for themselves.

You may need to move house, transport a car or a boat up the country, have some really fragile stuff to move or find a cheap courier, or whatever. Shiply steps in to help out. So instead of looking for some home removal companies to help out, you simply list what you want moving and where you want it going and then wait for removal or transportation companies to bid for your service. You can even ask for a pet moving company to bid to transport your beloved animal to your new home.

TomTom Rider V2 - Cycle Satnav

2009-02-03T11:55:00.002Z

Are you a cyclist that needs a good, reliable sat nav device? If so, look no further than the TomTom Rider V2 Sat Nav device.

This Sat Nav is created with bikers in mind, its rugged, waterpoof and comes with RAM mounting hardware that should fit almost all makes of bike. The TomTom Rider V2 also comes with a wireless headset for the voice instructions which you can hear from inside your helmet.

Another great feature is that it comes with a car mounting kit as well so you can use it if you wish to drive to your cycling start point.

The TomTom Rider V2 isn't cheap. But you can pick it up for £379.88 from Savastore which covers Western Europe or the Great Britain version for £332.39.

You can also pick it up from Red Save for £291.65 for the Great Britain version.

The Western Europe one costs £363.65 at MacWarehouse or £331.48 for the Great Britain one.

You could also try Maplin whih has the GB one for £349.99, Play.com for £299.99 for the GB, Amazon also have them fairly cheap too.

Bike / Cycle Route Planner

2009-02-02T09:18:00.002Z

My aim for this year is to get fit. To do that, the plan is to dust off the bikes in the shed and get cycling. I know I'd have to start off with journeys of about 2 miles to start. But eventually I'd like to get some good cycling done over a few miles.

So I was looking for a cycle route planner and came across the Cycle Route site. This is such a cool site as it lets you plan a route before you leave in much a better way than using Google maps from the main site.

You basically just double click on the roads or paths that you intend to cycle along and then you can see how far it is. You can then save the route to their database and are shown if they're any good. If you have a tool that records gpx data then you can also upload that file too.

The bit that I like is that you can also view other people's routes and then decide if you'd like to do the same. May be in a year or so's time I may try this one - the Fylde Coast Circular!? It's only 39.51 miles and took them just under 4 hours.

Route Planner Rating: 7/10 - I can see how its useful as a good way to store all of your favourite routes and find others, however, being the geek I am, I want more. Hopefully this will come as they get more funding.

UK Weather & Traffic - Heavy Snow

2009-02-02T08:36:00.005Z

Well, we hardly ever get any snow up here that sticks. So it's a nightmare. So if you're on your way out or trying to get home tonight its best to make sure that you're up-to-date with all the travel news.

My recommendation is that if you're about to travel through the motorway network through the snow then you should check the Google Traffic map as this shows a colour-coded map of the motorway network with red showing that the roads are clogged up.

I'd then go over to the BBC Travel website and see what's happening on the other roads. There was also a good write-up here.

TomTom Route Planner - Big Hype, Much Expectation, Fails To Deliver Anything Special

2009-01-01T09:39:00.003Z

So Tom Tom have decided to launch their own online Route planner. They say its the most accurate map and I can see why they're saying that. It's still in beta and I'm awaiting my access, but if you allow people to share map changes it surely can only be a good thing - if all the changes are accurately checked. I can see some mischievous people trying to have a bit of fun with it otherwise.

The thing is, it does look very snazzy! And shows up the traffic conditions very well.

The only issue I have is that I've got a Honda with inbuilt Sat Nav and it shows as there the M57 being closed in two places which it has done for over a month and for the past couple of days its shown the M62 Junction 7 as being closed - as far as I'm aware its not (my girlfriend drives that way).

So the Tom Tom Route Planner is as only good as its weakest link - the traffic data it gets - I presume from the highways agency.

The data is very basic, but I presume its more for people that like to look at the route on paper before they get in the car and rely on their Tom Tom to navigate them to the destination.

Route Planner Rating: 7/10 - Nice and simple, but the geek in me wants more.

Sat Nav Units Should Be More Up-To-Date

2008-07-10T12:00:00.002+01:00

I know the Government may have reduced some of the planned roads but there's still many being built and the sat nav companies can't keep up!

I run mine off a DVD in the car and have no idea how to update. It must be in the manual somewhere. But apparently there are loads of new roads in Loughborough as many sat nav users have found to their annoyance.

Apparently there are two different roads called New Ashby Road, which is fair enough, but they run parallel to each other and one of them is a cul-de-sac! You've got to laugh!

But its not funny when your the HGV driver which trusts his sat nav device and goes down a cul-de-sac hoping to get to the M1 and you've got to reverse all the way down with kids around.

It's about time road and town planners saw a bit of sense!

Transport For London Journey Planner Review

2008-05-10T15:15:00.003+01:00

I've found when I lived in London for a short while that its just not worth trying to drive anywhere that involved either the North or South Circular. This time of year you'll loose about a stone in weight before you get a couple of miles.

I may have been stuck in the tube a few times, but if you're travelling off-peak then it's often best to jump on the tube all walk.

So if you don't know already, we suggest the TFL website for planning your tube journey if you're going over a mile or so. If you're going less and not carrying anything, I suggest Walkit.

The TFL site is good as you can see the how long it'll take, if there's any delays, if there's no disabled access etc. You can also see micro maps of each station you'll pass through. But I'd like an overview map of where the route takes you under London. But hey, the maps they give you are pretty damn good - you just need to make sure you've got a colour printer!

I better check the TFL for a walking map. Next month I'm going to the Electric Birdcage bar in London for a night out and staying at the Travelodge Covent Garden. Let's see what the map is like ...

Well popping in the post codes is as easy as ... But it default to public transport. You have to choose "edit search options" to deselect the public transport options.

Walking it says it takes 17 minutes which is cool.

Route Planner Rating: 9/10

May Bank Holiday Traffic

2008-05-02T07:39:00.002+01:00

So the weather this May Bank Holiday looks a bit mixed - it'll be warm but wet in certain areas! This may have an effect on the traffic.

As I type the M6 is closed Northbound around Holmes Chapple. It's going to be a nightmare on the roads as per usual. But it may be worsend by the good weather today as many will try and take advantage and go today rather than leave it until Saturday morning.

The press agrees with me too. Here's some news resources:

Getaway drivers risk getting caught in the great Bank Holiday slowdown
Times Online
Parts of Britain will be blessed by warm and clement weather over the Bank Holiday weekend, but seeking it out will be as stressful as ever. ...

Bank holiday travel chaos to hit roads and rail
guardian.co.uk
This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Thursday May 01 2008. It was last updated at 14:04 on May 01 2008. Heavy traffic on the M6 in the West ...

Holiday rail chaos for travellers
The Press Association
Travellers to and from London have been warned that they will have to contend with rail engineering works this bank holiday weekend. ...

Weekend travellers face chaos on railways
Telegraph.co.uk
By David Millward, Transport Editor Hundreds of thousands of travellers are to be engulfed in another weekend of Bank Holiday chaos. ...

Families face Bank Holiday travel chaos due to maintenance on road ...
This is London, UK
Drivers were last night warned to expect delays across the country over the bank holiday weekend. Up to 18million vehicles are forecast to take to the roads ...

TRAVEL CHAOS... IT MUST BE THE BANK HOLIDAY
UK Express, UK
By Polly Buchanan ROAD and rail travellers face a bank holiday nightmare this weekend, with engineering works set to cause misery for millions. ...

Road and rail chaos for bank holiday travel
Birmingham Post, UK
Holidaymakers hoping to get away for the long weekend have been warned to prepare for traffic jams and major disruption on the region’s roads and railways. ...

What's Your Traffic Pet Hate?

2008-02-08T08:42:00.000Z

Mine has to be the junction of the M62 and M6 near Warrington. I take this junction most days on my way to work and I every time I use it there'll be some muppet stuck in the outside lane the entire way round - it's almost a mile!

The sit there knowing that you're behind them and that there's an empty lane, but thing because a mile down the road they'll have to indicate, they just think they can't spend 2 seconds pulling in! Annoyed or what!

What's your traffic pet hate?

Rally Driving Gift Experience

2008-02-06T16:23:00.000Z

Lately when I've been stuck in traffic I'd like to get my new motor and pull out into a farmer's field and just put my foot down and get to work quicker! But, I feel that I don't quite have experience I'd need to pull it off. So I'm thinking about getting one of those Rally Driving Gift Experiences.

GEM Motoring Assist Break Down Cover

2008-01-29T09:29:00.000Z

Has anyone had any experience of GEM Motoring Assist? I'd appreciate some feedback. This is how they describe themselves?

GEM Motoring Assist operates Breakdown Cover which provides motorists with the policy they need at the lowest possible cost [now thats one heck of a claim!]. There are three levels of cover to choose from, which cover the member driving ANY qualifying vehicle, rather than the vehicle itself. With access to over 1,200 garages and more than 6,000 recovery vehicles nationwide, a 41 minute average callout and highly competitive premiums, it’s no surprise that so many motorists are switching to GEM.

GEM Motoring Assist is a leading UK motoring organisation with around 70,000 members which has been established for over 70 years. Club benefits include a lively quarterly magazine, Good Motoring, free literature and advice, and discounts on many insurances and other services.

Add your review of GEM Motoring Assist.

Americans Going Round The Bend

2008-01-29T09:18:00.000Z

The Daily Commercial News reports that Americans are starting to go round the bend as road planners are removing the traditional intersections in favour of roundabouts.

To be honest, whenever I've been on the roads in the States I've never found any problems with the traffic - the only issues I had was the insesent undertaking on the freeways. Apparently its legal, but slightly unnerving.

It looks like the US route planners will have to be updated very soon!

Bank Holiday Easter Traffic News

2008-01-23T17:55:00.000Z

With Easter just around the corner, you're probably planning your Easter Bank Holiday get-away. And with cash a bit tighter this year, many people will be staying in the UK.

The upshot of this will be that'll it'll be even more of a nightare of the roads than usual! So here's a few sites that should hopefully ease the pain:

Tom Tom Go 720 Review

2007-12-06T09:51:00.001Z

The TomTom Go 720 has got to be one of the best Sat Nav devices currently avaliable! It is simply awesome.

The Tom Tom Go 720 utilises people's desire to correct "mistakes" in the maps and share them with others. It's happened for me, my Tom Tom told me to turn right at a junction that no-longer exists. Now you can help others not stop in the middle of the right attempting to turn when they can't.

Another great feature is the inbuilt FM transmitter so it can cut in and play the directions over yur car speakers.

And if you thought it couldn't get any better, it'll read your text messages to you as you drive as well!

It can't get any better can it? Well yes! It has speech recognition as well. I've got one of the new Honda Civics and the voice recognition isn't all that great at times when you're telling the car to call your girlfriend. But the Tom Tom Go 720 has fantastic voice recognition capabilities to allow you to re-route as you drive without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

There's also the ability to create routes for walkers, limited speed and motorway avoidance etc.

Route Planners Rating:9/10

You can get it from Amazon for just £265.

Other UK Shops to buy the Tom Tom Go 720:

Walkit.com - A Walking Route Planner

2007-12-06T09:51:00.000Z

I've been thinking that people often need a walking route finder - not least for organising Sunday morning walks, but also trying to get to work if you live a reasonable distance from your office.

Now the fabulous website Walkit.com have created a brilliant walking route finder. It may only work for Birmingham, Edinburgh and London - but its a great start.

I just chose a random route: SW2 1AF to Cheslea Hospital. And it worked out the distance travelled, how long it'll take if you walk fast, medium slow, the related calorie burn and how much CO2 you'd avoid putting into the atmosphere.

You can also choose to print the map, directions and email it to a friend.

Here's a grab of the route I got back:

It even shows you useful way points:

Route Planners Rating: 9.0
A very useful service. I've just spent 1.5 trying to get to the office via the M62, M6 and M56 and got nowhere - having to turn home. For many traveling to work within cities it will be a fantastic way of cutting down congestion and saving emissions - well done!

More Th>n Breakdown Cover Review

2007-09-26T13:07:00.000+01:00

More Th>n may not be one of the old, established players in the market, but it looks like they know what they're doing.

An annual policy can cost from around £30.86 compared to AA at £39 and RAC at £35*.

* These prices were correct on 26th September 2007.

Green Flag Breakdown Cover Review

2007-09-26T12:55:00.000+01:00

Apparently you can receive upto 25% off your breakdown cover from Green Flag if you buy online!

Some of the breakdown cover companies offer a bewildering array of policies. Green Flag offer an easy to read table of what you get so it's very simple to choose the right cover for you.

Churchill Breakdown Cover

2007-09-26T12:38:00.001+01:00

Churchill now offer Breakdown Cover and it looks about half the price of the AA. Here's the details:

RAC - £99
AA - £133
Churchill - from £68

Based on continuous annual payments and inclusive of online discounts. Starting price for AA Option 400, RAC Solution 4 and Churchill CHRS. Source: competitor websites. Prices correct as at 06/02/07. RAC cover based on person. AA and Churchill cover based on vehicle. Covers may vary.

Get a breakdown cover quote from Churchill.

Bank Holiday Travel News & Planning

2007-05-25T11:01:00.000+01:00

If you're using public transport this Bank Holiday then the journey planner that the BBC has teamed up with Transport Direct should be just the tonic you need to avoid the Bank Holiday travel chaos.

You can visit the site here. The good thing is that it gives you a range of options as to how you'd like to do your journey. For example for a trip from Warrington Bank Quay train station to Euston Station you have various options:

1) Bus, Train, Walk - 4 hours 3mins
2) Bus, Train Walk - 4 hours 21mins
3) Bus, Coach, Underground, Walk - 8 hours 17 Mins
4) Car - 3 hours 53 mins, 191.5 miles

This is a great feature and would have been useful to people I know recently has they weighed up different options to get to Heathrow airport from Liverpool.

There would be one improvement, however. And that would be an indication of the cost of those particular routes. For this to happen they'd need to have access to all the costs and databases of the different travel companies - something I don't see happening anytime soon.

Anyhow, the BBC Travel News route planner is a great way to avoid the Bank Holiday travel blues.

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2007-01-14T09:28:00.000Z

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2007-01-14T09:26:00.000Z

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Traffic Reports & Alerts

2006-08-18T22:13:00.000+01:00

We've come accross the Get Me There traffic monitor which shows you in a handy screen where the traffic problems are around the country. We used to use the Vauxhall TrafficNet just before we do long motorway journeys, but the Get Me There traffic map is much better especially if much of your journey isn't motorway based.

They've also got an online route planner, but when we try and review it it won't seem to work.

However, if you're really into your traffic alerts then you can watch Traffic TV on your mobile phone. This gives you the opportunity to watch CCTV footage from some of the TrafficMaster cameras around the UK road network.

USA Journey Planners

2006-08-11T20:33:00.000+01:00

We think if you're travelling the United States of America (USA) then you'll probably want to the route planner that most people over there user - MapQuest. It is chock full of functionality but we don't like the over use of advertising.

Here are some other alternative USA Route Planners:
- Live.com
- Yahoo! Maps
- Maps on Us
- AOL
- MapNation
- TravMatix

Green Flag

2006-08-03T19:00:00.000+01:00

The Green Flag Route Planner looks disappointing but the main thing is that its not cluttered with advertising and gives you the core features that you need. You've got the option to set way points and itinerary offered is clear and precise.

There's no fancy gimmickry which may be nice, but the most important factor is the provision of easy to read and accurate directions, which Green Flag does provide.

Route Planners Rating: 6/10 - Perfect if you want to create a route very quickly and aren't fused with knowing how much the journey will cost you and if you want to avoid toll roads or select your car type or speed. But the main point is that there's no annoying advertising.