Even though Waze is the logical option for many users, Google Maps has its share of fans who use it on a recurring basis. This Google service now receives a new feature that will set it apart from Waze and ensure that public transport users have access to delays that arise.
Waze has always been Google's number one navigation app, but it appears the company is now in the midst of a Google Maps-first transformation. The app received incident reports on Android Auto and CarPlay earlier this year, and now Google is to bring another option of this type. This time, it's not aimed at drivers, but at users who rely on Google Maps for public transportation.
The main reason Google Maps and Waze's crowdsourcing features are useful is because they rely on information submitted by users already on the road. They can see what happens on their route and report data, helping others whose trips pass through the same location anticipate changing conditions.
Google is now bringing this feature to public transport, allowing users to report traffic delays. The feature is available in the app when expanding a transit station – you should see an option called “Report Delay” next to the route button.
By pressing this option, you can choose the line that suffers the delay – assuming that several lines use the same station; if there is only one, it will be selected by default – with the delay reported automatically. You can also see more information about delays, including how many people reported them, and contribute data to confirm and dismiss delay reports.
It's a feature that works similarly to traffic reports in that users must submit the delay and confirm that it is still happening. Of course, it makes perfect sense on Google Maps, where public transportation is a key feature, but you'll never get it on Waze, where the focus is entirely on navigation and car driving.
Incident reporting in Google Maps has become a controversial feature as users say they are sticking to the app – and not using Waze – specifically for a more direct, convenient and generally quieter navigation experience.
Being asked to confirm traffic reports affects this experience, so they are now asking Google to roll back the update and remove the incident reporting feature from the app. Obviously, this won't happen as the incident reporting component is here to stay, with more features likely being added in the coming months across all supported platforms.
Source: pplware.sapo.pt
