Google Maps Introduces New Features for Sustainable Transportation

Google Maps has rolled out an update aimed at facilitating the use of sustainable transport options for users across Europe. The new features are designed to encourage environmentally friendly travel choices, including alternatives to car usage.

One of the key enhancements includes an AI-driven capability that predicts whether walking or public transit would be faster than driving. This feature, which has been implemented in over 60 cities to date, offers recommended routes for pedestrians and public transport users. Google plans to expand this capability to additional cities such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Warsaw in the upcoming months.

Moreover, cyclists in major European cities will benefit from improved cycling route details. Collaborations with local authorities and data from public agencies enable users to easily identify whether they are cycling on main roads or quieter side streets. Cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, and Brussels will see these enhancements. The new system will also provide information about heavy traffic areas and steep inclines along planned routes.

Google has announced plans to extend this cycling feature to 17 additional cities, covering a total of 125,000 kilometers of bike paths worldwide.

For drivers, Google Maps will now highlight more environmental zones. The efficiency routing option, which was first introduced in Germany in 2022, is now available globally. According to Google, this feature is expected to help avoid more than 2.7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 alone, equating to the emissions of approximately 630,000 gasoline-powered vehicles over a year.

In cities with environmental regulations such as London and Berlin, Google Maps will provide notifications indicating whether users can drive certain routes or if alternative paths should be considered. This function is set to be expanded to over 1,000 environmental and traffic-calmed zones throughout Europe, including locations in Germany, Italy, and Sweden.