Google Maps Unveils 4 Major Updates for European Commuters

Google has announced four Maps updates across Europe designed to reduce reliance on driving and promote sustainable transportation choices.

Google maps feaure
Google says it's expanding its AI-powered alternative transport suggestions to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, and additional cities in the coming months. The feature predicts when walking or transit will match driving times, which aims to help users avoid car trips entirely.

Meanwhile, cyclists this summer are getting enhanced route details in 17 new European cities, including Hamburg, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, and Brussels. The updates show dedicated bike lanes alongside existing warnings about traffic and steep hills, covering 125,000 kilometers of cycling infrastructure globally.

For necessary car journeys, Google says its fuel-efficient routing is now live worldwide. The company estimates this feature alone prevented 2.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, which is equivalent to removing over 630,000 cars from roads for a year.

The final update tackles low-emission zones and low-traffic zones. Over the coming months, Google says it will expand alerts for restricted areas to over 1,000 zones across Europe, including Italy, Sweden, and Austria. The notifications mean it's possible for drivers to check vehicle eligibility and find alternative routes when needed.

Since the end of March when Apple released iOS 18.4, iPhone users in the EU have been able to set Google Maps as their default navigation app, completely replacing Apple Maps. If you count yourself among them, perhaps the upcoming updates will improve your travels on the continent this summer.

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Top Rated Comments

WarmWinterHat Avatar
14 weeks ago

Google is selling your information and tracking you, if you are ok with this good luck but don't complain when the government knocks on your door.
The government doesn't need Google to track you, if it wishes. Your carrier is tracking you, regardless of what you phone you are using, and that is where they'll start.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
14 weeks ago
I do like Apple Maps and use it most of the time for driving (in France), but for things like walks in nature Google still has more detail, e.g. listing small forest paths which Apple lacks entirely.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xander49x Avatar
14 weeks ago
Google is selling your information and tracking you, if you are ok with this good luck but don't complain when the government knocks on your door.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrKarl Avatar
14 weeks ago
Apple Maps needs to catch up to Google Maps badly in terms of public transit. In Paris last month, Apple Maps never gave the correct bus/metro/train options... but Google Maps always did. Paris! Not like some podunk town. So, here Google once again leapfrogs Apple... if only Apple had some cash reserves to invest... Oh wait...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
knappeduivel Avatar
14 weeks ago

Apple is selling yours too, but we won’t go there. Apple privacy died with Steve Jobs.
We need proof for that.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arkitect Avatar
14 weeks ago

The updates show dedicated bike lanes
Very welcome addition.
Too often you have no idea whether a road suggested is reasonably safe…
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)