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One in all my small pet peeves when utilizing Google Maps in a brand new metropolis or nation is the shortage of crosswalk particulars for strolling instructions. The app would possibly inform me it takes twenty minutes to go from one level to a different, however it might realistically be much more than that while you consider crosswalks, particularly if these aren’t precisely on my path however require somewhat detour. Google is now beginning to treatment that by rolling out tremendous correct avenue particulars in 4 main cities, which embrace crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and extra.
The change was introduced final 12 months in August, however we solely bought a glimpse of it in motion in December. Now, plainly the rollout is reaching extra customers, even when it is nonetheless not stay for all. We additionally know the 4 cities the place these particulars might be out there:
- London, UK (Central London)
- New York Metropolis, USA
- San Francisco, USA
- Tokyo, Japan (Central Tokyo)
To test it out, go to one in all these cities in your telephone and zoom in sufficient to get to avenue stage. As soon as there, and if the characteristic is stay for you, you will discover a number of enhancements. Street widths, rounded corners, and even roadside vegetations might be precisely depicted. Crosswalks, medians, and pedestrian islands might be identified, so you already know precisely the place to cross to avenue. And parks will present the true width of pathways in darkish inexperienced in addition to any stairs in gray, offering higher accessibility information for anybody in a wheelchair or with a stroller.
We have taken a couple of comparative screenshots from the 4 cities beneath, to indicate you what you may count on.
Tokyo
Left: Tokyo intersection earlier than. Proper: Now with crosswalks.
London
Left: London roads and park earlier than. Proper: Crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and roadside vegetation.
New York
Left: Central Park earlier than. Proper: Discover the extra reasonable pathways (darkish inexperienced) and stairs (gray).
San Francisco
Left: Main intersection in San Francisco earlier than. Proper: Correct street width and curves, crosswalks, pedestrian islands.
These street-level particulars are rolling out as a server-side replace, no matter Maps app model and beta standing. Even on the identical system, you might discover that they present up while you’re logged in with one account, however revert while you swap to a different.
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