Google announced four new features in the Maps for Europe app that are designed to encourage users to drive less and choose more sustainable transport.
The first new feature expands AI alternative transportation recommendations to cities like Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw and more. The feature predicts when walking or public transport is comparable in time to driving, which is intended to motivate drivers to use their cars instead ofchat at home.
Google Maps for cyclists
This summer, too cyclists will receive better details about routes in 17 new European cities, including Hamburg, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna and Brussels. It is not yet clear whether Prague will also be included. Google is expanding its cycling route mapping to a total of 125 kilometers and continues to display warnings about heavy traffic and steep hills.
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For cases where driving is necessary, Google Maps offers worldwide routes with low fuel consumptionGoogle estimates that this feature prevented 2024 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2,7 alone, the equivalent of taking more than 630 cars off the road for one year.
Environmental protection at the forefront
The latest news concerns the so-called low-emission zones and restricted traffic zones. In the coming months, it will expand Google Maps alerts for more than 1 such zones across Europe, including Italy, Sweden and Austria. This allows drivers to find out in advance whether their vehicle is allowed to enter the zone and, if necessary, find a detour route.
Starting in March, iPhone users in the EU can set Google Maps as their default navigation app instead of Apple Map. For many travelers around Europe, these new features will be a welcome help.
