Thread

1. rsynnott · 1786042389 · focus · HN ↗

   Adding “running” to the list of things that Google engineers apparently don’t do.

   Where it joins “walking”. Google Maps will suggest almost arbitrarily bonkers public transport directions to avoid walking. Personal favourite: the sensible way to get from my house to work, unless the weather is terrible, is six minutes on a train and a 15 min walk. Google Maps would, generally, prefer that I spend 15 mins on the train going mostly the wrong direction and 15 minutes on a tram, then a five minute walk. It will also contemplate a ten minute walk, ten minutes walking being within the threshold Google deems physically possible, plus an arbitrary amount of time on a rather slow bus. Apple Maps and Transit are better at this.

   1. juujian · 1786042562 · focus · HN ↗

      I remember Google maps working well for walking around in Europe. Ever since I've moved to America, not so much. Go figure...

      1. WheatMillington · 1786045006 · focus · HN ↗

         Google isn't making arbitrary decisions here - it's reflecting social norms. Americans aren't big on walking. I've seen pictures of beautiful leafy suburbs that don't even have sidewalks.

         1. rafram · 1786045620 · focus · HN ↗

            This is overstated. At least as of 2017, Americans walked about 93% as much as people in France, for example, and a little more than people in Portugal or Greece.

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.statista.com&#x2F;statistics&#x2F;747380&#x2F;daily-step-averages-select-countries-worldwide&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.statista.com&#x2F;statistics&#x2F;747380&#x2F;daily-step-averag...

            1. TitaRusell · 1786048139 · focus · HN ↗

               Jogging was invented in the US. I think it is more of a class problem than a nationality problem.

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