CyclistNexus provides a rich set of tools for creating and sharing routes with other members of the community. Users can search for routes created by others by designating a search area, and the application will return all routes saved in the database in the area specified. When routes are created and saved, detailed information including a map, cue sheet, route characteristics and even images about the route can be stored and retrieved by members of the community at any time. Members can save selected routes in the MyRoutes palette of their MyNexus page for easy access. Alerts may be posted to routes to enable emergent communication about routes to be easily communicated to all members interested in the route.

Viewing Routes Saved to the Database

The primary methods to select a route previously saved for viewing are using the search function or selecting the routes previously stored in the MyRoutes section of the MyNexus page.

For Routes already in your MyRoutes palette, simply select the route name link in the MyRoutes palette to display the View Route pages.

The Search function includes a tab dedicated to searching for routes in a desired location. Simply navigate to the Search area and select the Routes tab. Enter parameters for the search area which includes a starting address and distance, which specifies a center point and radius in which to search for all routes. Select the search button and the database will be searched for all routes stored in the database that match the specified search area criteria. Routes found within the area are displayed in a list along with some summary information about each route. The list of routes is sorted according to distance from the specified search center point to the start point of the route beginning with those closest to the search center.

Selecting a route link from MyRoutes or from the search results will take the user to the view route page for the selected route. The view route page consists of the following tabs:

Add an existing route to MyRoutes

If you would like to save a route for easy access in the future, a route can easily be saved to the MyRoutes palette of the MyNexus page. This palette, described in detail in the MyNexus section of this guide is used to save favorite routes for easy access in the future, and to subscribe to information about the route generated by other members or resulting from community activities involving that route.

To save a route to MyRoutes, go to the Summary tab for the route you wish to add. In the bottom right hand corner is a link entitled "Add to MyRoutes." Selecting this link will add the route to the MyRoutes palette of the MyNexus page. Selecting the route name from the MyRoutes list takes the user to the view page for the selected route. In addition, when a Route is added to a user's MyRoutes list, the user is enrolled in the Alerts for the route which will now be shown in the MyAlerts palette. Whenever Alarms are created or Activity is posted to a route, notifications appear in the MyAlerts palette which enables members to get real-time information about the routes they care most about. (For more information about Alarms and Activity alerts, see the section of this user guide on CyclistNexus Alerts).

Other Actions on Existing Routes

Members of the CyclistNexus community can also do a number of other things with existing routes. Through the Summary tab, a user can do the following things with and to a route via links displayed on the tab:

Create an Alert

Alerts are used to communicate emergent information about a route to members of the community. Alerts can be used to alert the community to road construction or other hazards as examples. When an alert is created about a route, all community members with the route saved to their MyRoutes palette will receive the alert.

To create an alert about a route, select the Create an Alert link to launch a pop-up window and compose the alert. Select save to commit the alert to the database, select cancel to return to the summary tab without saving the alert.

Schedule an Event

While viewing a route, a new CyclistNexus Event (typically a scheduled ride) can be created using the route being viewed. Select the Schedule an Event link on the summary tab to begin creating an event using the route. (Detailed instructions for creating CyclistNexus events can be found in the chapter of the user guide entitled Events).

Tell a Friend

If you would like to tell someone about the route, simply click on the Tell a Friend link on the summary page. This will open a new email with the default email application on the computer and include a link to the selected summary page. Add email addresses to the email to send it to those you would like to tell about the route.

Export to gpx

If you would like to export information from a route, select this link and follow the on-screen instructions. Information such as the path of the route, the points of interest, and the cuesheet can be exported to a file for transfer to other mapping software or a GPS device. For more information on this option, please click this link.

Create and Save a New Route

CyclistNexus enables users to create and save riding route information using familiar and easy-to-use tools, then save the route to share with others in the community. To create a new route, select Add a Route from the global navigation menu in the left-hand pane.

The Add a Route process contains multiple steps, some of which are optional. Through the steps the user will create a map, capture specifics about the route (e.g., length, terrain, etc.), create a cue sheet if desired, and add images to a gallery for the route if desired. In addition, the creator can optionally specify that other CyclistNexus members have administrative rights to the route that allow them to make changes to the route.

When routes are added to the system, the system sets up the alerting function. The alerting function allows other members to create alerts about the route such as construction and hazard advisories. Activity alerts are also initialized when the route is created. Activity alerts allow members that have the route in their MyRoutes palette to be alerted when the route is added to other member's MyRoutes, when an event is scheduled utilizing the route, and several other activity-specific events involving the route. Lastly, route review repository set up when routes are created to allow members to add feedback about the route.

To add a new route to the CyclistNexus system, follow the steps outlined below:

From anywhere in the CyclistNexus application, select Create a Route from the global navigation menu in the left-hand pane. The interface presents a familiar Google Map of North America, with the standard Google Maps controls.

Position Map

The first step in route creation is to position the map. This can be done using the standard Google positioning tools or alternatively by entering a starting address in the Start Address field, which centers the map on that address and increases the zoom.

Position the map so that the roads and features near the desired starting location are clearly visible by adjusting the zoom level as desired using the + - controls or the slider.

If a starting location is specified, a pushpin is placed on the map at or near the location specified.

Select Drawing Mode

The next step is to change the interface from the position to route drawing and recording mode. Select the link in the upper left of the main pane to Draw. Draw mode is indicated when the start address field is replaced by four drawing-control buttons (Undo, Close Loop, Out & Back, and Clear). Under the buttons, a number of icons (e.g., Parking, First Aid, etc.) become available for placement on the map. The Draw icon is selected when adding route segments, select any of the other icons to use the mouse to position a copy of the selected icon on the map.

Position the cursor over the desired starting point of the route and click the mouse. The route start icon will be placed on the selected point on the map. Move the cursor to the next point along the route and click to add the next point. The system will draw a straight line between the point just entered and the last point, the blue line that represents the segment is overlaid on the map. If the segment is drawn as desired, move to the next point on the map and click again. Continue to repeat this process, moving the map and adjusting zoom level as required to draw the route on the map as desired.

Note that as the route is drawn, the elevation below the map will populate automatically showing the climbs and descents that are included along the route.

The drawing-control buttons function as described below:

• Undo - clears the last route segmented added. Undo can be repeated to clear the route back to a desired point.
• Close Loop - results in drawing a route segment from the current location back to the starting point.
• Out & Back - retraces the route from the current point, back to the starting point of the route, duplicating all segments in the opposite direction.
• Clear All - removes all points on the route including the start.

Mapping Icons

In addition to the system-generated icons (start point), there are several other icons that can be placed on the map being created such as water stops, bike shops, etc. The icons under the drawing control buttons can be used to add points-of-interest icons to a route map. To add an icon to the map, select the desired icon then select the point on the map with the mouse and right click to place the icon on the map.

When you have drawn the route and entered icons as desired, click on Continue at the top of the screen to proceed to setting the Default Map View.

Determine Default Map View

The next step in route creation is to set the default map view. This determines how the map is stored and displayed in terms of centering and zoom level. Use the map manipulation tools to set the view of the map as desired.

Next, details about the route are collected. The details capture a number of specifics about the route such as the starting address, whether public parking is available at the start, terrain, difficulty, etc. The only mandatory entries are a route name and starting location, however in the interest of making the route useable by the community at large, please enter as much detail about the route as possible. Ample room is available in the free-form Description and Commentary text box to add as much detail as desired.

Click on Continue to save the Default Map View and proceed to defining the Cue Sheet.

Define a Cue Sheet

The route creation function provides a facility for creating a cue sheet for the route you are creating. A cue sheet is essentially a list of turn-by-turn directions and any other amplifying information you want to include about the route for cyclists using your route.

This step is optional, to continue without creating a cue sheet, select continue.

If you would like to add a cue sheet to your route, proceed as follows.

The map of your route will be displayed. At each point you entered while creating the route, a green dot is displayed. The points indicate where direction changes were made as you were entering the route. Some of the direction changes were necessary to remain on the road while drawing, others will be at intersections or other turns.

Just below the map the route start and finish points, and the total distance of the route are shown. The system will allow you to add the intermediate points in the route through the interface, to fill in all the turns and other amplifying information you want to add along the route.

Select the first point on the map indicating the first turn on the route. When this point is selected, a new entry in the turn-by-turn directions appears, with a drop-menu with directions (left, right, etc.). In the text field, enter amplifying text such as "onto Columbus avenue after gas station" to provides cue on how to remain on your route. The system will generate the segment length shown at the right of the cue sheet based on the distance between the selected points.

Continue this process until all the turn-by-turn instructions for the route are entered.

Click on continue to save the Cue Sheet to the route.

Select Route Administrators

You can designate other CyclistNexus members to be administrators of your newly created route. Add the CyclistNexus username(s) of the member(s) you wish to have administrative privileges on your route.

Select Continue to move onto adding images to the gallery for the newly created route. Create the Route Gallery

Each route on CyclistNexus includes a photo/image gallery that allows the creator to add pictures to the route. This is an optional step.

Upload images for the route gallery if desired, and then select Continue to move onto selecting the Summary View Image.

Select Summary View Image

A map or image is shown on the summary tab each time the route is viewed. In this step, you can designate the image to be shown whenever the route is viewed. You can select from the following choices:

• Use a Nexus image - select the radio button underneath the Nexus image you would like to have displayed on the summary tab
• Use a Gallery image - all images you uploaded to the route gallery in the last step are shown. Select the radio button under a gallery image that you would like to have displayed on the summary tab
• Select Randomly from Gallery - the system will select an image from the route gallery at random to display when the summary tab is viewed
• Use Location Map - A map showing the location of the route will be displayed on the summary view
• Use Route Map - The map of the route will be displayed on the summary view
• Upload an Image - You can select another image from your computer to upload and be used for the summary view

Click on Finish to save your newly created route to the CyclistNexus community. The view route summary tab is displayed for your newly created route.