Google Maps with new functions for more sustainable traffic
Google Maps has been updated to make it easier for users in Europe to use sustainable means of transportation.
(Image: Sundry Photography/Shutterstock.com)
New Google Maps functions are designed to help users be more environmentally conscious when traveling. The focus is sometimes also on doing without a car. But Google also has something new on board for car drivers.
Alternatives to the car and better bike maps for major cities
(Image:Â Google)
Google Maps can use an AI function to predict whether you can get to your destination faster on foot or by public transport than by car. The map app shows recommended routes for pedestrians and public transport as an alternative to the car. The function is not entirely new; according to Google, it is now available in over 60 cities. In the coming months, the feature will also be introduced in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw and other cities.
In major European cities, cyclists will receive new, “helpful details” about cycle routes. Thanks to partnerships with local authorities and data from public bodies, cyclists in cities can now see more quickly whether they are on a main road or a side street. The cities include Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, and Brussels. It also shows whether there is a lot of traffic or steep hills on the planned route.
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According to Google, the function is to be extended to 17 new cities, including nine in Europe. A total of 125,000 kilometers of cycle paths are to be covered worldwide.
New features for car drivers
(Image:Â Google)
The most efficient routing option, which was introduced in Germany in 2022, is now available globally, according to Google. Google estimates that the function could have avoided more than 2.7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 alone. “That's equivalent to about 630,000 gasoline-powered cars not driving for a year,” says Google.
For drivers in cities with low emission zones, such as London and Berlin, Google Maps displays notifications indicating whether users are allowed to drive their vehicles on certain routes or whether they should choose an alternative route. This function is to be extended to over 1,000 low emission and traffic-calmed zones across Europe in the coming months. Including in Germany, Italy, Sweden and other countries.
(afl)
