The Route Builder’s routing is not internal to CityStrides, it’s a service I call out to. This means it doesn’t have the same definition of streets as is used to bring data into CityStrides.
I think it does. When you open the Route Builder UI, it defaults to the automatic routing mode & it shows the squiggly button (to be sure - in this case it’s the “S” shaped button next to the “2.56 miles” in your screen shot). If you click that button, it switches to a straight line icon & it does not attempt to automatically route you anywhere, it just draws a straight line.