Roads Not Being Offered (Even with Waypoints)
If a road you know exists isn't being offered within Beeline routing, even when you try to use a waypoint on it, this is likely due to how the road is tagged on OpenStreetMap (OSM) or how we are interpreting that data. There’s a good chance the road is tagged as closed or not suitable for riding, both of which we can correct if that is not quite right.
What is OSM?
OSM is an open-source data hub that stores and provides underlying street data all around the world. This data tells us which roads we can route users down, what the surface of the road is, etc. We interpret that data from there, so there’s a good chance we can get this resolved with another look at why it isn’t being offered in countries that are within Beeline Smart routed regions. If you are outside of one of these areas, we sadly have much less control, as the routing will be provided by Mapbox in those cases.
What to do:
We're happy to investigate! Please provide us with the coordinates or the name of the road alongside a screenshot of the location, and describe the issue you're encountering and we can have another look. You can get in touch with us here.
Keep an eye out for self-help guides to come soon! OpenStreetMap is a community-driven project, meaning you can contribute to making the maps better for everyone. We hope to have guides for users to tag roads where appropriate before long.
Motorcycle activity type: Not Being Offered "Fast" & "Fun" Routes
Beeline offers different motorcycle routing preferences, but sometimes you might only see one option. This usually occurs when there are limited suitable roads available in the area.
What to do:
If you're only seeing one route, try adding a waypoint to your journey. By guiding the route through a specific point, you might open up more routing possibilities depending on the surrounding roads.
Why "Fun" routing doesn't always mean "Traffic-Free"
While our algorithm does its best to find enjoyable roads, there are several factors that can sometimes lead to a "fun" route taking you along roads where there is some traffic congestion:
Dynamic Traffic Conditions:
Real-time vs. Static Data: Our routing algorithms are constantly updated, but traffic conditions are incredibly dynamic. While we aim to consider historical traffic patterns, unexpected events like accidents, roadworks, or local events can significantly impact traffic levels on any given day or time, even on typically quiet roads.
Peak Hours: Even minor roads can experience congestion during peak commuting hours (morning and evening) or during school drop-off/pick-up times, especially in suburban areas.
Road Network Limitations:
Connectivity Imperatives: Sometimes, to connect two points efficiently, our algorithm might have to use a short stretch of a busier road. While we try to minimise this, it is worth looking out for and editing the route when planning, if needed.
When you're using our motorcycle routing, we use historical traffic data to help determine the best speeds for your journey. However, for fun routing, this historical data doesn't influence the suggested speeds.
Also, please remember that live traffic updates are an exclusive feature for Beeline Plus subscribers. If you don't have Beeline Plus, your routing won't include real-time traffic information.
We hope that this has been helpful. Of course, if you have an issue or feedback that the team should know, please get in touch with us here.