gistfile1.rb

require "json"
require "open-uri"
require "googlemaps_polyline"

start = "Chicago"
stop = "Texas"

request_str = "http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/json?sensor=false&alternatives=true&"
request_str += "origin=#{URI.encode start}&"
request_str += "destination=#{URI.encode stop}"
response = open(request_str)
json_path = JSON.parse(response.read)

polyline = []
path_json["routes"][0]["legs"][0]["steps"].each do |step|
  points = step["polyline"]["points"]
  levels = step["polyline"]["levels"]
  polyline_data = GoogleMapsPolyline.decode_polyline(points, levels)
  polyline_data.collect do |point|
    polyline.push([point[0], point[1]])
  end
end
polyline