Google announced updates to its Maps and Search products on Monday aimed at helping users find and choose more sustainable transportation options than gas-powered vehicles.
James Byers, Group Product Manager for Google Search, says:
“When it comes to travel and commuting, we want people to have the right information to make more sustainable decisions.”
Suggestions for ecological itineraries
Screenshot from: blog.google/products/search/, April 2024.
If travel times are comparable, one of the key new features of Google Maps will be the provision of walking and public transport route suggestions alongside driving routes.
This update will roll out to more than 15 major cities around the world in the coming weeks, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, and Sydney.
Train and bus route information
Google is expanding its ability to find long-distance train and bus routes through search.
Users searching for queries such as “Boston to Philadelphia train” will see timetables, prices and direct links to book tickets on the results page.
Train route information will now be available for 38 countries, while long-distance bus routes will be added for 15 countries initially.
When users search for flights in Google’s dedicated flight tool, they will see train route suggestions as an alternative to applicable routes.
“So it’s easy to find the most sustainable option no matter where you start your search,” Byers said.
Highlighting low emission flights
In cases where flying is still the best option, Google will show you the environmental impact.
Byers explains:
“These estimates are based on the Travel Impact Model (TIM), a methodology we published in 2022 to predict flight emissions per passenger.
To make this information even more accessible, TIM estimates are also available through a developer API that allows any app or website to display flight broadcasts.”
Google is also releasing a Google Sheets add-on and online calculator to make emissions estimates more readily available.
looking ahead
While Byers acknowledged that “there’s still a long way to go in terms of sustainable travel,” he expressed hope that “today’s updates will give more people the information they need to choose low-emission alternatives carbon”.
The new features come as consumers increasingly look for ways to make sustainable choices. By integrating these metrics into its flagship maps and travel tools, Google is pushing users toward greener choices.
Featured Image: Screenshot from blog.google/products/search/, April 2024.
