It’s one of the most popular navigational apps around, and now Google Maps has launched several new features to make it easier for commuters amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This includes alerts about important information and the ability to see when public transport is particularly busy.
In a blog about the update, Ramesh Nagarajan, Product Management Director at Google Maps explained: “Getting from A to B can be more complicated these days. Because of COVID-19, it’s increasingly important to know how crowded a train station might be at a particular time or whether the bus is running on a limited schedule.
“Having this information before and during your trip is critical for both essential workers who need to safely navigate to work and will become more important for everyone as countries around the world begin to reopen.
“In our latest release of Google Maps on Android and iOS, we’re introducing features to help you easily find important information if you need to venture out, whether it’s by car or public transportation.”
In the hopes of helping passengers prepare for their journeys, Google has introduced alerts from local transit agencies.
Mr Nagarajan said: “These alerts can help you prepare accordingly if government mandates impact transit services or require you to wear a mask on public transportation.”
Transit alerts are rolling out in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the US.
Google will also now alert drivers in Canada, Mexico and the US about COVID-19 checkpoints and restrictions along their route.
(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Google Maps users can also now see when public transport is the busiest to help them avoid the crowds.
Mr Nagarajan said: “Last year, we introduced crowdedness predictions for public transit in Google Maps. Powered by tens of millions of contributions from past riders, these predictions help people see how crowded a particular bus line or train tends to be.
“We’re now making it simpler for people to contribute crowdedness information for their transit lines.
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“Look up Directions, tap through to see the Transit Details, then scroll down to find crowdedness predictions (where available) and easily contribute your own experiences.”
To check how busy a particular station is, simply search for the station in Google Maps and you’ll be shown busyness data, as well as a departure board.
The feature will roll out over the next few weeks.
Mr Nagarajan added: “COVID-19 has certainly impacted the way that we move around in the world. As cities and countries across the globe adapt, we’re committed to bringing the most pertinent information right to your fingertips. So when you’re ready and able to, you can safely venture out.”
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