Google Maps is getting ready to make your holiday commuting a little bit easier. The company announced on Thursday that it is adding support for public transit directions in its mapping software. This means that users will be able to see information about the nearest bus, train, or subway stop right on the map. This addition comes as a response to growing demand from users who want to make their commutes more efficient. According to Google, over half of all trips taken in the U.S. are made using public transportation, so this addition will be especially helpful for those who use it regularly. The new feature will be available starting this fall in the U.S., with additional countries coming soon. Google says that it is working on expanding the functionality even further so that users can plan their entire trip using its mapping software. ..
The holiday season is nearing. Christmas involves a lot of commuting — whether we’re talking about getting gifts for someone or simply visiting family or friends. Google Maps wants to make things easier for you and for those trips, which is why it has just added a bunch of new features.
Google Maps has added a handful of new features just in time for the holidays. They’re all minor changes, but they help improve your overall experience using the app and commuting with it in general. For one, the app will give you indicators for whether a place you’re visiting has wheelchair-friendly entrances, which comes in handy for avoiding buildings that aren’t up to current accessibility standards.
If you have an electric car, you’ll also see new filters when you’re looking up charging stations on the app. More specifically, you can now check if a charging station supports fast charging — when toggling the “fast charge” filter, you’ll now see multiple stations with chargers 50kW or higher that you can use to top up your car faster. And with the charging port on cars being non-standard, it can also be hard to find a charging station with the right plug, which is why a filter for seeing only the options compatible with your car is rolling out in more countries.
Finally, but not least important, the app’s AR-fueled Live View feature is now rolling out in more cities, including London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo. With it, you can just pull out your phone and see nearby places, whether they’re open or closed, and if something’s in front of you or around the block. It can be tremendously useful if used right.
All of these features should begin rolling out from now on the Google Maps app.
Source: Google
