Google Maps Updates Directions
Written by Chad on January 23rd, 2007The other day if you tried to get some directions from A to B in one location in Pennsylvania. You got directions like this (with 240 “U-Turns” in the route), and because of the poor design of the maps you didn’t see why (they were roundabouts and cross overs if you look at more detailed road maps).
Today, though, if you do the directions you will get a more sane route.
But that just brings up a big question for travelers.. just how far should you trust the directions given by the online sites?
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Trust directions from online sites? You have to ask after the Oregon fiasco?
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Ahh, ok. Had to sink in what you were talking about.
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James - love your blog, but I do wonder about your reference to the “Oregon fiasco”?
If it is refering to the Kim’s, the fiasco was a media, geography, communication and short-timer related, not tied to on-line direction sites at all, except in blogs or other quick-to-assume media.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1169180736240520.xml&coll=7&thispage=2
-> The reservations were phoned in.
-> They were looking at a state map.
-> They couldn’t communicate with the gas station attendant.
(I wouldn’t call the gate part of the fiasco - just because the door on my house isn’t closed and locked, does that mean I am welcoming anybody to come on in?)
Getting to the question - I *do* trust them, but only as much as I would trust just about anyone else (including “gas station attendants” such as in the link above) on the street.
The media has often related how poorly Americans are at geography, hence my grain of salt. I try to keep my eyes open, trying to balance my aversion to risk with how bad I want to “feel lucky” (push my luck).
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Web-based directions aren’t the only ones making these kind of errors. I have a Ford product and their navigation system does weird stuff all the time. It has a tendency to select a parallel road when you are on 2 lane highways. Must be something to do with the ’shortest’ route opposed to the ‘faster’ route.
At least with Google and others, you can submit the issue and get it corrected. On my Ford, I need a new DVD…
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I noticed similar on Friday driving back to Hartford, CT. I had Streets 2007 and my GPS going.. and for the main highway I was on, I had me using a side road for a few miles past where I could get onto the interstate. So, kept saying “Off Route” till it mirged.