Google Introduces Features in Maps to Promote Environmentally Friendly Travel

Google is on a mission to make traveling more sustainable with its latest updates in Maps and Search. These new features aim to encourage users to choose eco-friendly transportation options and reduce their carbon footprint.

In Maps, users will soon see public transit and walking routes alongside driving directions if they offer similar travel times. This means you can easily compare different ways to get to your destination and choose the most sustainable option. This feature will initially be available in over fifteen cities worldwide, including popular destinations like London, Paris, and Sydney.

But it’s not just about getting around locally; Google is also making it easier to plan long-distance travel sustainably. In Search, users can now find information on train and bus routes, including schedules, ticket prices, and booking links. This feature covers trains in 38 countries and long-distance bus routes in 15 countries, giving travelers more eco-friendly alternatives to flying.

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Speaking of flying, Google is also taking steps to promote greener air travel. When you search for flights, Google will soon suggest train routes as an alternative. Additionally, Google Flights already allows users to view estimated emissions for almost every flight and filter by lower-emitting options. This data is powered by the Travel Impact Model (TIM), which Google published in 2022 to help users make more informed travel decisions.

To make these emissions estimates more accessible, Google is providing them through a developer API, a Google Sheets add-on, and a calculator on the TIM website. This means travelers can easily access information about flight emissions and choose more sustainable travel options.

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With these updates, Google is empowering users to make greener choices when it comes to traveling. By providing information about public transit, train, and bus routes, as well as flight emissions, Google is helping users reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.