diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9beba72..7925793 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,5 @@ node_modules/
 nbproject/
 .idea/
 bingkey.txt
+/.project
+/keys.js
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6a991f..86eada9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ set ``BR.conf.profilesUrl`` in [config.js](config.js), e.g. uncomment:
 
         BR.conf.profilesUrl = 'http://localhost:8000/profiles2/';
 
+3. add your API keys (optional)  
+copy ``keys.js.template`` to ``keys.js`` and edit to add your keys
+
 ### Run
 
 1. start BRouter server in the ``standalone`` directory with ``./server.sh`` or ``server.cmd`` (Windows)
diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index 78ddf63..4a280c5 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -61,11 +61,6 @@
         //BR.conf.profilesUrl = 'file://YOUR_PATH_TO/profiles2/';
     }
 
-    // COPYING: Please get your own Bing maps key at http://www.microsoft.com/maps/default.aspx
-    //BR.conf.bingKeyUrl = 'bingkey.txt';
-    // External URL for key retrieval, does not work locally on desktop
-    BR.conf.bingKeyUrl = 'http://norbertrenner.de/key/bing.php';
-
     // Removes default base layers when 'true'. Useful for only having custom layers (see below).
     BR.conf.clearBaseLayers = false;
 
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index b06a7a3..3f2ab86 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@
 
     <script src="dist/url-search-params.js"></script>
     <script src="config.js"></script>
+    <script src="keys.js"></script>
 
     <!-- "gulp inject" for debugging -->
     <!-- inject:js -->
diff --git a/js/Map.js b/js/Map.js
index 5915ce1..a33de18 100644
--- a/js/Map.js
+++ b/js/Map.js
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ BR.Map = {
             layersControl;
 
         L.Icon.Default.imagePath = 'dist/images';
+        
+        BR.keys = BR.keys || {};
 
         var osmAttribution = '&copy; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright">OpenStreetMap</a> contributors';
         var maxZoom = 19;
@@ -55,17 +57,6 @@ BR.Map = {
                   + '(<a target="_blank" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en">CC-BY-SA 3.0 DE</a>)'
         });
 
-        // COPYING: Please get your own Bing maps key at http://www.microsoft.com/maps/default.aspx
-        var bing = new BR.BingLayer();
-        BR.Util.get(BR.conf.bingKeyUrl, function (err, key) {
-            if (err) {
-                layersControl.removeLayer(bing);
-                return;
-            }
-
-            bing._key = key;
-        });
-
         map = new L.Map('map', {
             worldCopyJump: true
         });
@@ -82,14 +73,17 @@ BR.Map = {
             'OpenStreetMap.de': osmde,
             'OpenTopoMap': topo,
             'OpenCycleMap (Thunderf.)': cycle,
-            'Outdoors (Thunderforest)': outdoors,
-            'Bing Aerial': bing
+            'Outdoors (Thunderforest)': outdoors
         };
         var overlays = {
              'Cycling (Waymarked Trails)': cycling,
              'Hiking (Waymarked Trails)': hiking
         };
 
+        if (BR.keys.bing) {
+            baseLayers['Bing Aerial'] = new BR.BingLayer(BR.keys.bing);
+        }
+
         if (BR.conf.clearBaseLayers) {
             baseLayers = {};
         }
diff --git a/keys.js.template b/keys.js.template
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3b9a11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/keys.js.template
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+(function() {
+
+    // COPYING: Please get your own API keys from the sites listed below
+
+    BR.keys = {
+        // Bing maps, http://www.microsoft.com/maps/default.aspx
+        bing: ''
+    };
+
+})();