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Popularity theme for Map in Forerunner 965 does not work (heatmap not working)

I have the Popularity theme set on in global settings for maps. I use Garmin Forerunner 965. I also see that for my gravel bike activity the global map settings are used.

When I open gravel bike activity and check the map, it does not show popular bike routes.

When I visit the Connect Garmin website (connect.garmin.com/.../popularity-heatmap) I can see the popularity heatmaps with popular bike lanes in my city (purple lanes).

I can't find out why popular purple lanes are not visible on the watch. I saw over the youtube that some people also complain that this is not working.

I use 3.58 software version (the latest software update for Forerunner 965).

I suspect popular routes should be displayed on the watch because on the Garmin website, they show that the popularity theme should show purple lanes for popular routes on the map.
www.garmin.com/.../

Does anyone know how to show the popular (purple) lanes? It would be useful during the bike activity to just see where people are riding a bike and just follow them. I don't want to plan the course up front for a bike trip. I prefer a free ride and discovering popular lanes on the spot.

Thanks for your help.

  • Interesting. Didn't know this was a feature to add on the watch. I'll try adding it for running.

  • Does it show popular routes on the map for you in your area?

  • Just checked it. It doesn't. I'm in an area where it should be showing purple all over as well. [edit] I put it in theme>high contrast mode to try it. I think on the correct zoom level it shows a red line for popular routes. Kinda hard to see. It's way easier to see the purple line on the heat map on pc.

  • In a high contrast mode, the red lines seem to be walking paths or maybe bike paths too and blue lines are bike lanes. But it does not seem to be showing popular paths that match the popular purple routes on the connect garmin website. 

  • After installing the latest software, version 4.19, the problems still persist. There are no popular lanes on the popularity map. :(

  • Artur, 

    This would not be considered a bug, it's working as intended. Popularity routing is already used in the background of course creation when using the watch to create a course/trip. Showing the purple route on Garmin Connect is there because you have the ability to manually create a course based off of a popular route, popular roads, or freehand. These more specific types of course creations are not available on the watch, which is why the purple popularity lines don't show on the watch's map.

  • Thank you for the explanation.

    Could you introduce a new behavior for maps to show purple lanes?

    I don't like creating courses. I'd like to go for a free bike ride and just see popular lanes (purple lines) on the map. I could see which one is a dark purple so it's more popular (more safe lane to go there because many people go there), or which one is less popular (a light purple).

    This way I can go for a free ride in a new area and enjoy discovering new places and safely going to the lanes that are popular and I know people are often going there. I don't need to plan upfront a whole course. I prefer to go where my eyes take me and I know it's a safe lane because other people are going there. This way, the watch would increase my safety because I don't go blindly to unsafe roads, which people avoid.

    That would be really helpful for people who like to discover new places without a strict course plan. Thank you.

  • The perfect solution would be to see on the map exactly what's shown on the picture on your website (this was confusing to me because I assumed this is the feature I could use).

    Purple lanes visible on the right side watch:
    www.garmin.com/.../
    Dark and light purple lanes are visible on the watch here:
    www.garmin.com/.../

  • I see what you mean. I'm going to create a report to get some clarification, and will update this thread when I have an answer.