Projekt

The aim is to show newcomers decent bicycle routes in Hamburg, so that they can try this nice mode of transport – and maybe stick with it. The in-depth articles are meant for interested people and to provide a basis for discussion.

Helping

• report (completed) constructions
• Improve the OpenStreetMap

History

When the project started in 2018, an in-depth search was needed to find the “Veloroutes”. By now, the city presents the routes much better on fahrrad.hamburg. Detailed information still needs to be collected from various departments and agencies. Therefore, and also out of personal interest, I document planned construction and construction sites as they are published.

Statistics

Currently the site allows you to watch approximately 36 hours of video, covering a distance of 3680 km. This statistic is counted per direction, i.e. the same road filmed in two directions is counted twice. When multiple routes share a segment, that segment is also counted multiple times.

Camera

The video recordings are done with an off-the-shelf action camera attached to the handlebar. The built-in image stabilization and horizon lock are sufficient to achieve a smooth camera ride. Note that it still requires bright daylight, which is why the recordings in tunnels are so blurry. The camera should have built-in GPS. While recording GPS-tracks externally with a phone is possible, it means more effort in post processing.

Tips for your own recordings

• straight on – up to 25 km/h. Turning – up to 15 km/h. Bicycle barriers, tight turns, etc. – 1 km/h. With a 5x time lapse the video remains comprehensible without being boring.
• Know the route well. Combining two videos works best on straight sections when the recordings overlap a bit, or when standing on the same spot (e.g. traffic light). Conversely, you always need to make the correct turn at intersections or re-record the entire intersection. Best not to lose your way in the first place.
• Camera batteries last around an hour. To avoid annoying battery swapping, charge using an external USB-battery while cycling. 10 000 mAh are suitable even for day trips. With “battery cover <camera model>” you can find after-market equipment if you don't want to tinker.
• Best weather: dry, bright and overcast. If you notice singular rain drops, regularly wipe or check the lens. Direct sun and the resulting hard-edged shadows lead to a noisier recording. Additionally, current camera technology has issues capturing the large differences in contrast.
• Camera position: higher means clearer view. Lower means more action. Check beforehand if bicycle parts protrude into the image. With racing bike handlebars, that can be the gear lever while switching gears when turning. Vibrations (“cobblestone”) might misalign the camera mount. Tighten screws well, use rubber bands or assembly paste to improve stability.
• Settings: stabilization on, horizon lock on, GPS on, use on-camera time lapse instead of in post-processing (if desired), wide recording angle (buy a fish eye lense if need be). Avoid operating errors by removing unnecessary buttons, recording profiles, etc. and enable the screen lock.

Technology and licenses

The site itself is available under a permissive open source license on Github. However, source code and site data are not separated. If there's interest in just the code, I am sure something can be arranged – write an email or create a ticket on Github.

The videos are provided by veloroute.hamburg and are “gemeinfrei”, which is similar to the “public domain” concept or Creative Commons Zero license. While I am happy to be credited/attributed, it is not required.

Map data is provided by OpenStreetMap (ODbL license). The shown bicycle routes are maintained separately for the site and are gemeinfrei/public domain/creative commons zero, just like the videos.