A consistently popular option for travelers trying to explore the country is to hit the open road on a motorbike or scooter.
Now, Google Maps has made it easier than ever for enthusiasts to get around Southeast Asia on two wheels with an all-new Motorcycle Mode that helps riders navigate traffic and take the fastest routes in select countries within the region.
This feature has been designed specifically for Asia and was first introduced in India. The newly launched mode appears alongside Walking, Driving and Public Transport options and provides traffic information in Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, and can also be available in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, motorcyclists can navigate routes inaccessible to cars, resembling narrow roads and alleys, making detailed vehicle mapping much more convenient.
The recent Google Maps feature creates personalized routes that include shortcuts to a few destinations, and the maps also determine more accurate travel times based on the speed of the bikes.
In Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, the newly unveiled Motorcycle Mode has a feature that helps users avoid tolls and routes resulting in restricted roads (resembling highways where vehicles cannot travel), in addition to the flexibility to create easy-to-remember routes, using landmarks along the way in which.
“We want to supply probably the most local and relevant experiences to fulfill people’s needs. We are pleased to supply a brand new feature that we hope will make it easier to get around Southeast Asia by motorcycle,” a Google representative told Lonely Planet Travel News.
Across Southeast Asia, cycling is a standard approach to beat dense traffic – there are an estimated 4.1 million motorcycle owners within the Philippines, 20 million in Thailand and a staggering 45 million in Vietnam.
Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2018/07/25/sutheast-asia-google-maps-motorcycle-mode/
