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One thing I'm finding myself not liking about Google Maps is its routing algorithm. It defaults to something I'm not positive on, perhaps shortest possible rou

One thing I'm finding myself not liking about Google Maps is its routing algorithm. It defaults to something I'm not positive on, perhaps shortest possible route or time? But in doing so often has me taking 5 or 10 turns through neighborhoods and poorly lit streets that don't seem designed for through traffic. When I look at the map, I usually see a way easier way to go, that's usually about the same or maybe a minute or so longer. I wish it defaulted to that. I'd much rather have an easy, two turn 15 minute drive than a zig zag through neighborhood 14 minute drive.

duskwuff 2y ago
FWIW: if you have an iPhone, the routing on Apple Maps is fairly conservative. The only time I've ever had it generate routes with weird detours was to avoid heavy traffic or road closures; under other circumstances, its routes tend to be straightforward, sticking to major roads where possible.
aceazzameen 2y ago
What happened to the days of showing multiple routes and getting to choose?
- genocidicbunny 2y ago
  Google seems to have decided that it will show you the alternate routes if it feels like it. Or when you're halfway through the route. Or not even at all. Or especially fun, it will prompt you about a faster route, but with a prompt that disappears after a little while, and when you go to the 'alternate routes' section, that route is nowhere to be found.
genocidicbunny 2y ago
The sad thing is it used to be much better before they started adding the whole 'Eco' thing where it supposedly finds a more gas-efficient route. Except the algorithm seems to fail to account for things like start-and-stop and elevation changes, so it will send you climbing over a mountain road that's half a mile shorter than a nearby highway, and you end up burning twice as much fuel. It's problematic enough where I live that I usually set the starting point for directions at the on-ramp at a nearby highway because the directions maps gives me for getting to that spot are often patently bad. They really need a way to have users customize the routing much more. For example, there should be an option to minimize the number of steps in the route. Or at least be able to tell it that 'shortcuts' better save me more than 10% of the time to my destination, not a single minute off a 3-hour drive.
theamk 2y ago
I miss my Delorme Street Atlas, where I could set up custom "avoid" and "prefer" zones (geographical or road-based), could customize preference by road type (via speed limits), and even draw my own roads. It did though require bulky Windows tablet with special car mount... I don't miss that part at all.

duskwuff 2y ago

FWIW: if you have an iPhone, the routing on Apple Maps is fairly conservative. The only time I've ever had it generate routes with weird detours was to avoid heavy traffic or road closures; under other circumstances, its routes tend to be straightforward, sticking to major roads where possible.

aceazzameen 2y ago

What happened to the days of showing multiple routes and getting to choose?

genocidicbunny 2y ago
Google seems to have decided that it will show you the alternate routes if it feels like it. Or when you're halfway through the route. Or not even at all. Or especially fun, it will prompt you about a faster route, but with a prompt that disappears after a little while, and when you go to the 'alternate routes' section, that route is nowhere to be found.

genocidicbunny 2y ago

The sad thing is it used to be much better before they started adding the whole 'Eco' thing where it supposedly finds a more gas-efficient route. Except the algorithm seems to fail to account for things like start-and-stop and elevation changes, so it will send you climbing over a mountain road that's half a mile shorter than a nearby highway, and you end up burning twice as much fuel. It's problematic enough where I live that I usually set the starting point for directions at the on-ramp at a nearby highway because the directions maps gives me for getting to that spot are often patently bad. They really need a way to have users customize the routing much more. For example, there should be an option to minimize the number of steps in the route. Or at least be able to tell it that 'shortcuts' better save me more than 10% of the time to my destination, not a single minute off a 3-hour drive.

theamk 2y ago

I miss my Delorme Street Atlas, where I could set up custom "avoid" and "prefer" zones (geographical or road-based), could customize preference by road type (via speed limits), and even draw my own roads. It did though require bulky Windows tablet with special car mount... I don't miss that part at all.