Searching a route
Table of contents
Videotutorials
Using the RouteSearcher
Go to the RouteSearch page of RouteYou.
- With the search criteria you can refine your search. Click on 'More options' to reveal even more filters and fields. More information on this topic, is to be found further below.
If you zoom in or out on the map, this wil have an effect on the routes shown in the list.
On a smartphone you address the search criteria by clicking on the filter symbol 
. What you select or enter in the filters determines what you see on the map or in the list.
- Select the map symbol to display a large map. On this map you only see a selection of routes you can click on. Displaying all the routes available would not only create a blur but would also strongly effect the map performance. The routes with the highest quality are prioritized. If you zoom in on a certain area, other routes will be shown. If you hoover over an icon with you mouse, you will then see the trajectory of the route.
- For an overview of the routes in list form, select the list symbol. Underneath the search criteria, you wel now see an overview of the routes with some brief information: title, type, score, length, ... .
At the bottom of the list you will find a number combinaton, for example: 
. In this case, the filtered list counts 528 routes but only routes 1 to 4 are shown. If you scroll further down, the first numbers will adjust. For example: 
. The routes are completed automatically
Refine your search
Standard search criteria
- The Route type determines how you want to travel along the route: on foot, by bicycle, motorized, ... . If you click on a specific icon, a drop-down list will appear with which you can further refine your selection. You can, for example, choose between a regular bicycle versus a mountain bike or racing bicycle. For more detailed information about the route types, click here.
- You can use the Keywords field to search for a content characteristic. For example: type in "Strawberries" if you are looking for the Strawberry route.
- You can also search directly by author. Enter the first letters of the name you are looking for and you will get a list of account names that match.
If you are logged in and click on this field, the option "My routes" appears. That way you can search within your own routes. You can also quickly find your own routes via your MyRouteYou homepage.
Attention(!): If nothing appears, check if your search area on the map is zoomed out far enough or if no other filters are active and as such prevent routes from appearing.
- Filter with the slider to the desired route length.
TIP: To search by location, zoom in and out on the map or use the search field at the top of the map:
More options
- By default, we do not filter by score and show you all possible routes. Routes with a score of 3 to 5 stars, are routes of which we know that the quality has been checked.
Attention(!): a lower score does not necessarily mean that the route is bad. Here you can read more about the scoring and route quality system.
- Via the characteristics drop-down you filter on specific route properties such as car-free, unpaved, child-friendly and so on.
- With the theme drop-down you select by subject. For example: architecture, heritage, beer, water and the like.
- With group you can search directly for a group created by a specific author. For example: "Santiago de Compostela".
- Only show routes in a specific language.
- Each route is assigned a difficulty level based on three variables: total ascent, maximum ascent and length. For more information, click here.
- If you want to cycle the route of a certain event, you will find it faster by filtering by event type.
- In combination with event type, you can also refine your search by event period.
- Select a route out of your favorites. For more information on how to assign a route to your favorites, click here.
- Show routes on which activity has been registered (or not).
- If you activate the clusters, gray squares will appear on the map. A cluster indicates that routes that meet a specific search criteria are bundled. Only the best routes per cluster are shown. This to keep things uncluttered and to keep the performance of the map optimal. A cluster also states how many routes it contains. If you click on a cluster, you zoom in on it and new clusters will appear. This way you can go further into detail.
- You can adjust the route sorting by relevance, name, most viewed all time, most viewed this month, most recently created or modified, score of length.
Route display
on the map
If you opt for 'map display', you will only see the best routes within the search area due to clustering. This is to keep the map performance optimal. As you zoom and filter you can make other routes appear.
In addition to the map view, you will find a short list view in the right column of your screen. If you hover over a route icon on the map, the trajectory will appear on the map and the route will be highlighted in the list. The reverse is also true: if you hover over a route in the list, the trajectory will appear on the map.
Route icons appear where the starting point of the route is. Routes that start outside the map frame but have a trajectory that passes through it, are indicated by an icon on the edge of the map and a dotted line that connects to the beginning of the route.
TIP: If you on site and quickly want to find a route, use the crosshair icon 
to zoom to your location.
in a list
In 'list view', the routes are by default sorted on relevance. You can adjust this via the search criteria > More options > Route sorting.
The routes in the list show:
- a photo (if available)
- the route title
- an icon to indicate the route type
- a flag icon to indicate in which country the route is mainly located
- the quality score the route received
Note(!): if a route has no or a lower score that does not necessarily mean that it is a bad route. Here you can read more about the score and quality of a route.
- the length of the route
- an icon that indicates whether it is a public or private route. Only your own private routes will be visible to you.
- the language in which the route is available
- a brief description, you can expand by clicking this icon
In addition to the list view, the map is shown in miniature in the right column of your screen. If you hover over a route in the list, the trajectory will appear on the map. The reverse is true as well: if you hover over a route icon on the map, the trajectory will appear and the route will be highlighted in the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to find routes in your neighborhood?
Although the method to search for routes on you smartphone (mobile website or app) or desktop is very similar, we will split this up in order to keep things as clear as possible.
on desktop
If you go to the RouteSearcher, you will find a screen similar to the image above.
The fastest way to get the map to your loacation is to click on the crosshair icon (1). The map then zooms en moves to your position, indicated by a blue circle on the map. The list of routes on the left, only shows the routes that pass through or start from the map area shown.
You can also enter an address in the dedicated search field (2). A bit more work, but just as effective.
on smartphone
Open the RouteSearcher on your smartphone and you will find a screen similar to the image above. As your smartphone screen is much narrower, what is shown in one screen on your desktop, is split into 3 parts/buttons on your smartphone:
- (1a) list view
- (1b) map view
- (1c) filters
- (2a) crosshair icon to zoom and pan to you specific location
- (2b) search field to enter a specific address > this takes a bit longer, but is as effective as the crosshair button
How to search for a specific route
You probably know a keyword related to the specific route, which would be indicated in the name or description.
Suppose the keyword is "Blossom".
- Go to the RouteSearcher.
- In the Keyword field you enter "Blossom".
- Select the correct Route type.
- Zoom out far enough on the map so the route can appear.
I can't find my route
The most common reason is that you are probably not zoomed out far enough on the map.
Or, it may also have something to do with the clustering. We show only a few routes on the map or in the list, for two reasons:
- the first reason is that we cannot transmit all routes at once because your browser or internet connection can't handle that and the map performance would be remarkably low.
- the second reason is that it would not give a good overview.
As a solution, we developed clustering. This means that routes with the same characteristics are bundled. The routes with the best score are shown first. As you zoom or filter, other routes will appear.
It may also be traced back to the fact that you have indicated your route to be 'private'. More information on this subject is to be found here.
You can find your own routes very quickly if you are logged in and then
- go to the RouteSearcher, click on the author field and then select "my routes".
- go to your MyRouteYou homepage and select "routes" next to your image at the top left.
How can I find "child friendly routes"?
- Go to the general RouteSearcher
- Select the "More options" to do a more detailed filtering
- Select "Child Friendly" as "Charachteristic"
>> You will get a list of child-friendly routes in that area. you can now move the area or you can combine this with many other criteria such as type (walking, cylcing, ...).
. What you select or enter in the filters determines what you see on the map or in the list. 
. In this case, the filtered list counts 528 routes but only routes 1 to 4 are shown. If you scroll further down, the first numbers will adjust. For example: 
. The routes are completed automatically 
to zoom to your location. 
