Google Maps is being updated with a new set of features to help commuters and travelers informed about how their trip may be affected by COVID-19. This includes checkpoints, travel restrictions, and also the crowdedness of public transport.
Google will roll out transit alerts in several countries to help people effectively use public transit. For example, users will now be able to see if a mask is required in a particular area or if services are currently closed.
These alerts are now available for users in the U.S., United Kingdom, Thailand, Spain, Brazil, Netherlands, Colombia, Belgium, Mexico, India, France, Australia, and Argentina, where Google has information from local transit agencies available. The search giant will add more countries soon.
Google Maps will now show if a traveler's route includes a COVID-19 checkpoint as well. This feature will first arrive in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, whose users will have an alert displayed on the directions screen. In the same manner, users will be notified when a trip to a COVID-19 testing center or medical facility is being planned.
Transit alerts are based on data Google receives from local, state, and federal governments or from the center's websites. The company's goal is to provide travelers with the convenience of knowing the guidelines prior to making the trip in order to avoid delays or denials.
These alerts will be available for users in the U.S., South Korea, the Philippines, Israel, and Indonesia. Google will be bringing these alerts to other markets soon.
The newly updated Google Maps app will also see its crowdedness predictions enhanced. Data used for this feature comes from the millions of users who have contributed to Google Maps, enabling Google to estimate the number of people on a train or bus line at a given time of day.
In the updated app, when you tap through to see Transit directions when looking up a route, you can scroll down to see crowdedness predictions and add your own input, like "very crowded" or "not too crowded," or other measures.
With the update, users will be given an option to look at live data by simply searching for a station in the Google Maps apps or by tapping a station found on the map. Users can also see the time when a station is more likely filled with people. Google will be rolling out this convenient feature over the next few weeks.
