Route Builder Guide

How to Create &
Publish a Route

A step-by-step guide to building, saving, and sharing your favourite rides on AusBUG

1

Plan Your Route

  • Open the Route Builder
  • Click on the map to place waypoints, or use the search boxes to set your Start (A) and Destination (B)
  • Add more stops with the "Add Waypoint" button, or by clicking the map
  • Pick a profile from the profile menu. Stress Free is the default: it favours calmer, lower-stress links. Paths sticks to off-road paths and shared trails, Paths / Lanes adds bike lanes and quiet streets, and Paths / Lanes / Roads favours direct on-road lanes
  • Use the Filters button under your waypoints to turn Gravel (and Ferries, where they apply) on or off
  • The route calculates automatically between your waypoints

Navigation Profiles

Stress Free
Calmer, lower-stress links (default)
Paths
Off-road paths & shared trails
Paths / Lanes
Paths, lanes & quiet streets
Paths / Lanes / Roads
On-road lanes & direct streets
Quickest route
Most direct, ignores any rules
Bike + Train
Cycle, train, cycle
Pedestrian
Walking paths
Free Route
Straight lines, no routing
Car
Full road network
2

Ride and Catch a Train

  • Choose the Bike + Train profile, then set your start and destination
  • AusBUG finds a ride to a station, a train, and a ride from the station at the other end, so you can see how the whole trip fits together
  • It works in Victoria, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide, and for Perth using the published timetable. Elsewhere, the profile will say it isn't available yet
  • Check the bike rules for the operator before you travel: some trains and services restrict bikes at busy times, and replacement buses generally do not carry them
3

Add Points of Interest

  • Toggle POI filters (Cafes, Toilets, Water, Trains and more) to see what’s near your route
  • Click any POI on the map to see Google Places details — photos, ratings, and opening hours
  • Pin important POIs to your route by clicking "Add to route"
4

Add Custom Points of Interest

  • Right-click anywhere on the map and select Add custom POI
  • Give it a name, choose an icon and colour
  • Add a description — great for noting landmarks, scenic viewpoints, or hazards along the way
  • Custom POIs are saved with your route and visible to anyone who views it in the library
5

Check Conditions Along the Way

  • Open Layers. Under Route Layers you can show Bike Paths, Cycle Lanes, Traffic Stress, Gravel Roads and Quiet Roads
  • Under Data Layers, switch on User Hazards, Road Closures and POIs (plus Emergency and Railway for Victoria) to see what riders and agencies have reported
  • Under Weather, show the Wind Forecast or Rain Forecast, then move the time slider to see conditions through the day
  • The Route Breakdown shows what each part of your route is like, colour-coded from calm paths to busy roads
6

Write a Description

  • Open the Description accordion above your waypoints
  • Write about what makes your route special — key landmarks, difficulty level, best time of day
  • Press Enter for new paragraphs — your formatting is preserved
  • This description is visible when others view your route in the Route Library
7

Save, Download and Share

  • Once your route is planned, open Export route
  • Save keeps the route in your account. Give it a name and find it again under My Routes to keep editing
  • Download GPX gives you a file for any GPS device or bike computer
  • Send to Garmin and Upload to Strava send the route straight to those services once you have connected your account
  • Share creates a link anyone can open
8

Publish to the Route Library

  • You must be a member of an organisation to publish routes
  • Not in one yet? Apply to create an organisation — it's free
  • Once approved, choose Publish to Library in Export route (it appears for organisation members)
  • Select which organisation to publish under
  • Your route will appear in the Route Library for all AusBUG users to discover!
9

Update a Published Route

  • Go to your organisation's manage page
  • Find your route in the "Published Routes" section
  • Click Edit to open it in the Route Builder with all waypoints and POIs loaded
  • Make your changes and update the description
  • Choose Update Published Route in Export route to overwrite the published version — no need to re-publish
10

Join an Organisation

  • Open the menu and tap Profile
  • Scroll to the Organisation section and pick an organisation from the dropdown
  • Tap Join — you're added as a member straight away
  • The organisation admin can then promote you to publisher so you can publish routes on behalf of the club
  • You can join multiple organisations — your memberships are listed in your profile

Tips & Tricks

Start with Stress Free: it favours calmer, lower-stress cycling links. Switch to Paths when you want to stay off roads entirely, even if it means a longer ride.

The Route Breakdown shows you exactly what types of roads you'll be riding on, colour-coded from calm paths to busy roads.

Pin toilets, water points, and cafes to your route so other riders can plan their stops.

Click any cafe or amenity POI to see Google Places details — check if it's open, read reviews, and see photos before you ride.

Ready to build your first route?

Open the Route Builder and start planning your next ride. It's free, no sign-up required to explore.

Open Route Builder