Do you want to keep running through the winter but are worried about safety? Or perhaps you're finding your after-work route a little too busy for your liking? Either way, there's good news as just updated its heat mapping technology with two new tools to help you choose your routes carefully as the seasons change. “Our global community powers our heatmaps and now we've made it easier for our community members to build routes with confidence, regardless of the season or time of day,” says Matt Salazar, Strava’s chief product officer. The fitness app announced yesterday that its 135 million users now have access to Night Heatmaps, which shows heat from activities recorded from sunset to sunrise.
This update allows you to pick well-traveled routes for safety if you're running alone, or avoid busy corridors if you want some peace and quiet – whatever your preference, just make sure you bring a and wear running gear with reflective details to make yourself visible. Meanwhile, the Weekly Heatmap shows recent heat from activities recorded over the last seven days. During seasonal transitions and nasty weather, this helps you figure out what trails are closed or difficult to access to help you pick a different route or bring winter gear.
These two new tools come in addition to the existing Global Heatmap which is already available to all Strava users. Night and Weekly Heatmaps are available to subscribers and give you more refined insights into what spots are popular after-h.