Cool iPhone App Can Help Bicyclists After A Crash

Along with your helmet, headlight and flat tire kit, your smart phone should be with you when out biking.  Not only can you use it to call for help if something goes horribly wrong, you can use it to create a detailed record should you be involved in an accident.  I've written about what to do after a bicycle accident.  But following a wreck, remembering the right steps to take when you are in pain, your adrenalin is flowing and your thoughts are racing isn't easy even for the most level headed rider.  I recently came across an iPhone app, iWrecked, that could be an invaluable tool in helping the cyclist make a proper record of an accident.  I've had a chance to play with it a bit.  With a simple click the application opens a simple form to be filled in with pertinent information about the incident.  It will dial 911 for you, call you a taxi and even help you find a local police station.  Learn more about this app by clicking here.

New iPhone Application Helps Bicyclists Plot A Safe Route Through Chicago and Elsewhere

Finally, there is an iPhone application that helps bicyclists map a safe route between two locations in Chicago and other North American cities.  Ride The City's new multi-city app launched today and expands upon the RTC website, started in 2008, allowing cyclists to map bike appropriate routes while out and about.  Much like Google Map's "go by bike" feature (not yet available on the Google Maps iPhone app), Ride The City plots a cycling route that steers bicyclists toward bike lanes, bike paths, greenways and other bike-friendly streets, and away from highways and busy arterial streets.

I downloaded the app to my iPhone and played with it a bit this morning.  It seems pretty good, providing the user with the option of choosing the most direct route, a "safe" route or a "safer" route.  I tapped in my home and office addresses and let the app do its thing.  When I requested the "safer" route, the application offered a fairly goofy, round-about path between my home and office.  However, requesting the "safe" route the app provided the path I would consider the best and safest way to get from home to work.  The application is still learning Chicago though.  For example, the application fails to note that all of Milwaukee Avenue between Chicago Avenue and Armitage has a dedicated bike lane.  In fairness to the developers, however, the app encourages and easily accomodates users' ability to point out errors and offer corrections.  Over time, one would hope that Ride The City will improve.

The application is available in the iTunes app store for $2.99.