New Beta Features
We've been working on two new features designed to help you better understand your route before setting off. These are currently in beta as we continue testing and refining them - we'd love your feedback!
Hazards & Obstacles
The Hazards & Obstacles feature scans your route for potential challenges you might want to know about:
- Tunnels - Important for cyclists who may need lights or prefer alternative routes
- Bridges - Useful context for understanding river crossings
- Gates - Barriers that might require dismounting or have restricted access
- Level Crossings - Railway crossings along your route
Found hazards are marked on both the map and the elevation chart, with a summary showing the total length of obstacles like tunnels. As shown in the screenshot above, some routes (like this one through Madeira's mountains) can have significant tunnel sections - sometimes so many that you might question whether the route is worth doing!
Surface Info
The Surface Info feature checks the road surface conditions along your route using OpenStreetMap data. It categorizes surfaces into:
- Paved - Asphalt, concrete, or similar sealed surfaces
- Gravel - Compacted gravel or similar
- Unpaved - Dirt, grass, or other unsealed surfaces
- Unknown - Areas without surface data in OpenStreetMap
This information can be helpful for planning, though we'll note that dedicated route planning software (like Komoot or similar) typically does a better job of surface analysis as it's a core part of their routing algorithms.
How to Access
Both features are available from the Tools dropdown menu. Load a GPX route, then select either "Hazards & Obstacles" or "Surface Info" to analyze your route.
We Want Your Feedback
These features are in beta because we're still refining them. We'd love to hear:
- Is the information useful for your planning?
- Are there other hazards or obstacles you'd like detected?
- How accurate do you find the results?
Drop us a message at hello@pitstopper.net or through the contact form. Your feedback helps us decide how to develop these features further.
