We've just released a new version of the Ride the City iPhone app.

Here are the new features:

We're happy to announce a new version of the Ride the City iPhone app. And to make the news even better, we've reduced the price of the app to just $1.99!

So we actually started working on this update during the summer of 2011, and although it's taken some time, we think you'll be happy with the new features. Here they are:

Yesterday, NYC DOT launched a new program to install benches on sidewalks throughout the five boroughs. We applaud the City because we believe that improvements for pedestrians are also good for bicyclists--the new CityBench Program responds to the growing trend that recognizes that cities need to provide better support to the various modes of transport: walking, bicycling, bus, and train, as well as cars.

(Image from DOT via Gothamist)

You've been asking for it for months, and it's finally here: Ride the City for android devices!

Our new android app has many of the same great features as the iPhone app:

• You can use it every city we're in (currently 27) and every city we'll ever be in
• Choose whether you want a route that goes out of the way in order to maximize bike paths and bike lanes or whether you're comfortable taking the most direct legal route
• See where you can find a nearby bike shop and/or rental location in case you need some gear (or repairs) on the go
• Choose start and end points from the contacts list on your device so you don't have to remember and type in long addresses
• Provide feedback on routes to us so we can make quick fixes

It's Bike Week in Brisbane through March 20th. What better way to celebrate bicycling than with the launch of Ride the City: Brisbane and Ride the City: Newcastle! In addition to bike routes the Ride the City map displays nearby bike shops and bike hire locations, including CityCycle locations in Brisbane. (If we're missing your business, please let us know.)

On November 23, the NYC Department of Transportation announced that the City is seeking a vendor to provide a bike share system. The system, which could resemble those already in place in Paris, Montreal, Barcelona, and Washington, D.C., could be fully operational in time for the spring of 2012 with a potential pilot next summer. 

On September 20, the mayor of Washington, D.C., Adrian Fenty announced the launch of the largest bike sharing system in the U.S. With a plan for more than 1000 bikes in D.C. and Arlington, this is huge for D.C. and bike sharing in the U.S. You can sign up on the Capital Bikeshare website. They're offering annual subscriptions to the service for only $50 (rather than $75) for a limited time.

If you're a regular user of Ride the City, you've probably already noticed the recent changes that we've rolled out on the map. Ride the City looks different and has some new features. There's been a lot going on so let's boil things down a bit...

New Icons: First off, we're really happy to have new icons! We were lucky to find Kelly Shea and James Spahr, avid bicyclists and graphic designers, to help us design icons that are sharp, colorful, and easier to grasp quickly. We began brainstorming in the springtime and came up with lots of great ideas; Kelly and James were very creative, professional, generous, and fun to work with. (We certainly recommend them if you need any design work.)

We launched a new service a few weeks ago called Biking Jobs. It's our hope that this will become a place where job seekers and business owners and managers in the world of biking can connect with one another.

We thought we'd highlight a few jobs that have have been posted during the past couple of weeks:

• The Recyclery Collective, a Chicago-based non-profit is looking for a part-time bike mechanic to work 10 to 20 hours per week. Read more...
• Alta Planning + Design, a Portland, Oregon-based consulting firm, is looking for a full-time planning manager to work on projects that help to create "more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly communities." Read more...
• Bike & Roll in Washington D.C. is looking for a full-time or part-time bike mechanic to help maintain its fleet of 500 bicycles for its Bike the Sites service. Read more...
• Transportation Alternatives -- a NYC-based non-profit that supports bikes, pedestrians and transit riders -- is looking for someone to help them build and design their website and other publications. Read more...

There are tons of other great jobs available on Biking Jobs, whether you're looking for work as a mechanic, non-profit manager, planner, or retail salesperson. 

Have a great weekend and stay cool!

Ok, let's get straight to it. Just in time for sizzling summer rides, bicyclists now have another way to get around on bike in Boston: Ride the City - Boston www.ridethecity.com/boston! Our bike routing covers the City of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, Newton, and Milton. (The dotted red line on the map shows the approximate boundary for routing.)

If you'd prefer to get your bike routes on the iPhone, the app's available in the iTunes Store. (To learn about the iPhone app's functionality, check out our recent blog post).

We'd like to thank Mike Brady and Steven Falcon for the hours of GIS spend to make this happen, Nicole Freedman, Director of Bicycle Programs, for her insightful input, and the many others who gave us early feedback.

If you're new to Ride the City, feel free to play around. If you create an account, you can rate any street in the city so that Ride the City's reflect your own preferences. Learn more about that, and other tools to make mapping fun and easy in our FAQs.

Have fun & ride safe.