11 ms·

Yeah, Google Maps does this kind of thing routinely in my experience. I've had it direct me down muddy dirt roads because they were 2 minutes faster than the pa

by notJim 7y ago

Yeah, Google Maps does this kind of thing routinely in my experience. I've had it direct me down muddy dirt roads because they were 2 minutes faster than the paved road, or direct me down forest roads that didn't exist anymore or were only for loggers. I've learned to approach the directions it gives me with skepticism.

derekp7 7y ago
Have you noticed in these instances if the web version of maps is better than the Android app version? I've seen that, was trying to use the web page to reproduce the problem so I could report it. But the web app was correct, whereas the mobile version wasn't.
- notJim 7y ago
  No, I've never checked that.
- w0utert 7y ago
  My experience is it isn't really. I used the web version to plan a trip across Mojave National Preserve once, and it came up with a totally innocent looking route using some unpaved roads, which was supposedly faster than going around using the I40 and route 95. The road was ok for the first few miles but anything over 30MPH would be asking for trouble, and not even nearly halfway in I had to turn around because the road was so bad a 2WD would definitely get stuck eventually. The longer route using freeways would have added 30 minutes to the 2:30 hour trip time according to Google, but in reality continuing on the dirt road would have taken at least 4 hours at the speed I was able to go, if I had even made it.
BeetleB 7y ago
Interesting that Waze has an option to avoid unpaved roads, but Google Maps app doesn't. Last weekend Waze directed me onto a private airport's runway. On the return trip, I switched to the Offline Maps app, and it led me to a dead end. Haven't ever seen 2 screwups by 2 different apps on 2 different routes in one day.
deergomoo 7y ago
We recently had this issue on holiday in Devon (south-west UK). We’re used to narrow country roads where you need to slow way down when passing someone coming the other way, but Google Maps was constantly trying to direct us down single-track lanes with high hedges and totally blind corners, because they were 5-7 minutes faster. I’m not even convinced they were faster; the speed limit is technically 60mph on those little lanes but you can’t safely get above ~25. Meanwhile there’s a slightly less direct but far less stressful route along A-roads, where you can comfortably do 40-60 and don’t have to reverse 300 yards to a passing point if someone is coming the other way. We found ourselves in desperate need of an “avoid routes via unnamed roads” option.

by notJim 7y ago

derekp7 7y ago

Have you noticed in these instances if the web version of maps is better than the Android app version? I've seen that, was trying to use the web page to reproduce the problem so I could report it. But the web app was correct, whereas the mobile version wasn't.

notJim 7y ago
No, I've never checked that.
w0utert 7y ago
My experience is it isn't really. I used the web version to plan a trip across Mojave National Preserve once, and it came up with a totally innocent looking route using some unpaved roads, which was supposedly faster than going around using the I40 and route 95. The road was ok for the first few miles but anything over 30MPH would be asking for trouble, and not even nearly halfway in I had to turn around because the road was so bad a 2WD would definitely get stuck eventually. The longer route using freeways would have added 30 minutes to the 2:30 hour trip time according to Google, but in reality continuing on the dirt road would have taken at least 4 hours at the speed I was able to go, if I had even made it.

BeetleB 7y ago

Interesting that Waze has an option to avoid unpaved roads, but Google Maps app doesn't. Last weekend Waze directed me onto a private airport's runway. On the return trip, I switched to the Offline Maps app, and it led me to a dead end. Haven't ever seen 2 screwups by 2 different apps on 2 different routes in one day.

deergomoo 7y ago

We recently had this issue on holiday in Devon (south-west UK). We’re used to narrow country roads where you need to slow way down when passing someone coming the other way, but Google Maps was constantly trying to direct us down single-track lanes with high hedges and totally blind corners, because they were 5-7 minutes faster. I’m not even convinced they were faster; the speed limit is technically 60mph on those little lanes but you can’t safely get above ~25. Meanwhile there’s a slightly less direct but far less stressful route along A-roads, where you can comfortably do 40-60 and don’t have to reverse 300 yards to a passing point if someone is coming the other way. We found ourselves in desperate need of an “avoid routes via unnamed roads” option.