I'm currently in Rome & riding to Sienna next week. I'm looking at the Eurovelo 5 (Via Romea Francigena) on the official Eurovelo website but when I route Rome-to-Siena using Cycle Travel app I noticed the route is different and often deviates away from the EV5 (especially the closer you get to Siena). This happens no matter which route type I choose (standard, paved only, cycle routes, etc.).
Is there a reason for this behavior?
P.S. Oddly enough, I noticed the Geovelo mobile app does the same thing as the Cycle Travel app (i.e., not follow the entire officail EV5 route).
Comments
Here is the same route on Cycle Travel:
cycle.travel/map?from=Rome&to=Siena&fromLL=41.8933203,12.4829321&toLL=43.3185536,11.3316533
Do you mean that the route marked on cycle.travel’s mapping (with blue/red dots) is different from the official EuroVelo route, or that the route is correct but c.t isn’t following it?
‘Routes’ mode is designed for planning trips Like this but note that it will follow any signposted cycle routes, not just EuroVelo, so you might occasionally have to drag it from one route to another.
Mototrambler,
A couple of points.
First of all, the route you have shared is (mainly) the EV7 - the Sun Route, not EV5. The Sun route does not run through Siena.
If I use Rome & Siena as start/end points CT calculates the same route. However, choosing the 'Routes' option gives me a route mainly along Ev 5 - the route I think you want. (Via Francagena).
In relation to EV routes, and forgive me if you already know this, the concept is often far superior to the reality. EV routes are simply a collection of local routes stitched together. As such, they are not always consistent in quality nor are they the best/most comfortable/choose personal preference here route from A to B. In other words, a great outline for macro planning but often improvable on the micro level.
Urban development, new roads (or new bike routes) are not taken into account - at least for a very long time. Unless told otherwise (Routes), CT calculates the 'best' route according to its criteria.
In short, when CT suggests a variation from an 'official' route there is normally a pretty good reason for it.
In your case, CT prefers the general direction of EV7. (On the website, opening the elevation graph and flicking 'Routes' on and off throws up one likely reason: Climbing! 4100 m vs 2800!)
Finally, I'd prefer to use the website for a route of that distance. It's entirely possible on the browser on your phone. It has all the (or almost all) the functionality of the full website and offers a superior overview, in my opinion.
Thanks Richard & Hobbes for your input. I think where I was getting confused is when I input Rome to Siena the CT website by defauly routes you along the EV7 then veers west/nothwest towards Siena. Only after I changed the route type from "Any" to "Routes" did I get the expected journey to Siena.
I have my route saved: cycle.travel/map/journey/760437
When I open the route on my phone (Android) I see this warning for a few seconds then it disappears. What does it mean?
It means there are fords on the route (where the road goes through a river), marked with yellow triangles.
Thanks. I had never heard the term ford -- I learned something new. Hopefully, the fords will be passable on foot/bike.