Why are the global heatmaps now limited to 13 months of data? I am not sure when it changed but previously the global heatmaps data went back multiple years. Losing this functionality severely hampers route building for hiking, mountain biking, etc. An option to filter the timeframe for global heatmaps which is available for personal heat maps should be available and it should provide heatmap data that goes back as far as possible.
Thanks for the question, @Mike168! As you've correctly noted, Strava's global heatmap currently displays up to 13 months of activity data and is updated monthly. The global heatmap has behaved in this manner for about the last two years.
We definitely appreciate your feedback on this feature. In fact, we'd love to hear more about what kind of information is lacking in the current global heatmap and how the additional data would serve your needs. Are you unable to perform actions today which you think would be possible with different data? Let me know if you have a chance to compose some additional thoughts.
I know there was/is pressure from all sorts of land managers to bury and/or obfuscate the tracks left by all Strava users for all time (like the old heat map). The problems of illegal routes and/or overuse of existing routes is there and potentially exacerbated by heat maps. I don't know if the 13 month heatmap was brought about due to these issues, but it's probably the technically simplist way to address these concerns. Users (including myself) would really like access to all of the heatmap data. I'm sure you have folks working on this, but my thoughts land on 3 things you guys could do and perhaps the entire heatmap database could come back online and satisfy land managers concerns: 1. Identify illegal routes (a flagging system). 2. Incorporate policies for hiding tracks in certain areas (ie. no off-trail travel shows on heat map in areas where not permitted). 3. offer some way of opting out of including users' tracks in the heat map data. Once that work is done, then allowing users to access the heatmap data by weighting it temporarily would be really cool instead of just seeing that last 13 months - it would be really nice to have a slider that controlled the shading of heatmap data based on the age of the data.
I second this request. I use the heat map to explore new off-trail routes in national forests and national parks. Many of these routes are used very infrequently and thus may not present itself in a 13 months moving window.
Same request here.
I have 2 recent uses cases where I think older data would have helped.
- I’m trying to get an idea of routes used by the Marathon des Sables race across the years. Well, I can only see activities from the last edition…
- I’m going to visit Socotra island soon. It’s a uncommon destination, yet touristic destination. There is so little heatmap activity on the island that I initially though it was hidden because of a US embargo on Yemen or something similar.
But trying to get an idea of what is doable is the mountains there is pretty much impossible (a full heatmap would help).
Thanks for the question, @Mike168! As you've correctly noted, Strava's global heatmap currently displays up to 13 months of activity data and is updated monthly. The global heatmap has behaved in this manner for about the last two years.
We definitely appreciate your feedback on this feature. In fact, we'd love to hear more about what kind of information is lacking in the current global heatmap and how the additional data would serve your needs. Are you unable to perform actions today which you think would be possible with different data? Let me know if you have a chance to compose some additional thoughts.
Others have mentioned the issue of “illegal routes” - I don’t know if this is part of the reason that older data is no longer visible, but the idea of “illegal routes” doesn’t apply in Scotland, we have right to responsible access of the countryside. I can also understand the reasoning for older data to drop off the heatmap in busy urban areas (where a particular route no longer being used likely indicates that it is no longer passable), again this isn’t an issue for paths and tracks in the countryside which don’t change that quickly.
It’s common that I find a mountain biking or hiking segment with tens of recorded efforts over the years, yet nothing at all visible on the heatmap. I’d beg Strava to consider not just completely remove older data - surely there has to be a better compromise (e.g. older tracks gradually fading out depending on the intensity of activity in the surrounding area, or just a “all time” / “past year” option?)
I have many rides and hikes older than 2009, which appears to be the current oldest date allowed on Heatmaps.
There’s tons of worthwhile data from earlier than 2009, which I’d welcome still being able to see.
Please bring back the global heatmaps (all time). So many use them for finding new routes and best routes on mountains. If they are not restored, many many people will end their subscriptions as strava will not longer offer something that other hiking apps offer
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