I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
Today, we've taken things several steps further...
***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any roads you want!***
That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" to reset your route.
As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, and I'll pass it along to the team!
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
I created a customized route for a trip i'm planning out west, but my route didnt save when I logged out ( I did resave the map) Is there a way to get a customized route to save?
On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
orb_fan - Thanks for the great suggestion. I'll let the team know. For now, users can try turning on the traffic layer and then dragging their route around red areas.
adbuerk - There's no direct way to save an exact route, but try this: when you map the route you want, click on "Link to this page" in the upper right-hand corner, copy and paste the URL that pops up, and store it somewhere for future reference.
I also wanted to add that in case you don't know the exact address of a specific location for driving directions, you can now right-click on the map and select "Directions from here" to create a starting point. Then you can right-click your desired endpoint and select "Directions to here." To create more waypoints, just right-click and "Add a destination." You can even drag the location markers around directly on the map!
> I created a customized route for a trip i'm planning out west, but my > route didnt save when I logged out ( I did resave the map) Is there a > way to get a customized route to save?
> On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> > I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> > Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> > ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > > roads you want!***
> > That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > > to reset your route.
> > As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > > and I'll pass it along to the team!
I'm using Firefox and am experiencing a little annoyance with the right-click functionality. If I right click on a blank map or somewhere outside of the route then I get both the map context window and the Firefox right-click context menu (with things like Back, Save Page As, etc). The Firefox window, however, covers the Google maps window. I can close the Firefox context window by clicking Escape, but this obviously hinders with the user experience.
On Jun 28, 2:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
This is the best feature I have ever seen on online maps. I totally agree with orbfan. It will be great if we can have an option to avoid heavy traffic when we drag one part of a route. But anyway, thank you for the great job.
This is awesome! I am overjoyed and thrilled and all sorts of superlatives. Most of the times I need to find routes through the city streets and this feature was my most desired for a long time. Well done, team Google, you rock!
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
This is an occurrence unique to you, I believe. I am running Firefox as are many other people in this forum and nobody has complained about this issue. Try disabling any addons/extensions you have installed and see if that fixes it.
On Jun 29, 9:35 pm, Schneyer <sean.schne...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm using Firefox and am experiencing a little annoyance with the > right-click functionality. If I right click on a blank map or > somewhere outside of the route then I get both the map context window > and the Firefox right-click context menu (with things like Back, Save > Page As, etc). The Firefox window, however, covers the Google maps > window. I can close the Firefox context window by clicking Escape, but > this obviously hinders with the user experience.
> On Jun 28, 2:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> > I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> > Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> > ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > > roads you want!***
> > That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > > to reset your route.
> > As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > > and I'll pass it along to the team!
Very neat... when it works. There seem to be several major local (suburban Washington, D.C.) highways that I can't drop a route onto. For example, let's say I want directions from my office in Herndon, VA to the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC). Google routes me down the Dulles Toll Road, onto the Capital Beltway, then onto George Washington Parkway. That's a perfectly valid route, but depending on the time of day, it's frequently not the best route to take. In this case I want to continue down the Dulles Connector Road (VA-267) to Interstate 66, then take the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge across the Potomac to Constitution Ave. But try as I might, I simply can't get the route to "stick" to I-66. It'll take me in convoluted loops on surface streets all around I-66, but won't actually route me onto the highway at all. It's like I-66 inside the Beltway just doesn't exist as far as Google is concerned. I've also noticed problems on parts of the Beltway (I-495) and I-395 -- usually in places where the most direct (straight-line) route is not the best real-world route, either due to highway configuration/construction or traffic. Or maybe the Potomac River is like the Atlantic Ocean, and I can only cross by way of Boston and Paris? :-)
On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
I have the same question. I'm creating different routes for taking motorcycle trips and may need to modify them. There are many routes and it doesn't appear you can save routes for maps.
The workaround is to save the link but it's a lot more work. I can go to the link later and the route(or send it to a friend and have them modify it) but then have to save the updated link with the changes. If I want to organize or name them I need to keep some type of external list with the links and information in a text doc or spreadsheet. If I could just add a new map and add a route it would take out all these steps.
The workaround works fine but it's just more work. I'm lazy.
On Jun 30, 5:32 pm, "tim.bo...@gmail.com" <tim.bo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey any idea why we can't link to the directions we create using this > feature?
> I'd save it to my maps, but that won't save the directions, as far as > I know.
> Thanks - would love to share my directions with my friends.
> Tim.
> On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> > I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> > Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> > ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > > roads you want!***
> > That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > > to reset your route.
> > As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > > and I'll pass it along to the team!
I also live right off of 66 in the DC area and am finding it frustrating that no matter what I try, I cannot force google to use 66 to go anywhere inside the beltway. It simply will not use that road no matter how direct and convenient it is. Since that is my main highway, horrible as that is, it sort of makes google maps completely useless to me. Which is a shame, since I like the way it works so much better than other map sites
Why is this? Is it an HOV thing? So you won't give directions to people in carpools? That sort of sucks, google.
I agree with the other posters regarding I-66--it's very frustrating to have such a powerful new tool (click-and-drag customizable routes) and then discover that it doesn't actually work for all routes. Google, please allow dragging to ALL routes and then simple make a note if it is restricted-access, toll, etc. and let the user decide whether to accept the route!
On Jul 3, 8:11 am, mgtilford <mgtilf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I also live right off of 66 in the DC area and am finding it > frustrating that no matter what I try, I cannot force google to use 66 > to go anywhere inside the beltway. It simply will not use that road > no matter how direct and convenient it is. Since that is my main > highway, horrible as that is, it sort of makes google maps completely > useless to me. Which is a shame, since I like the way it works so > much better than other map sites
> Why is this? Is it an HOV thing? So you won't give directions to > people in carpools? That sort of sucks, google.
This is a pity. Sharing directions and routes gives much more fun (and interest) than sharing single placemark. I guess you guys are already working on this..... You just want to amaze us!
On Jun 29, 10:59 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> adbuerk - There's no direct way to save an exact route, but try this: > when you map the route you want, click on "Link to this page" in the > upper right-hand corner, copy and paste the URL that pops up, and > store it somewhere for future reference.
On Jul 6, 1:29 pm, Miglio <emilio.rad...@gmail.com> wrote:
> This is a pity. Sharing directions and routes gives much more fun (and > interest) than sharing single placemark. I guess you guys are already > working on this..... You just want to amaze us!
Google Maps is capable of sharing much more than just a single placemark. You can share hundreds of placemarks, lines, and shapes.
So, I guess it just depends on how you look at it.
I experience exactly the same problem. No matter what I do, I can't get I-66 to stick. I've also noticed an increase in incorrect locations (e.g., Union Station in Washington, DC maps to a point on 13th Street several blocks east of Union Station).
On Jul 1, 3:49 pm, jshortess <jshor...@nrtc.coop> wrote:
> Very neat... when it works. There seem to be several major local > (suburban Washington, D.C.) highways that I can't drop a route onto. > For example, let's say I want directions from my office in Herndon, VA > to the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC). Google > routes me down the Dulles Toll Road, onto the Capital Beltway, then > onto George Washington Parkway. That's a perfectly valid route, but > depending on the time of day, it's frequently not the best route to > take. In this case I want to continue down the Dulles Connector Road > (VA-267) to Interstate 66, then take the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge across > the Potomac to Constitution Ave. But try as I might, I simply can't > get the route to "stick" to I-66. It'll take me in convoluted loops on > surface streets all around I-66, but won't actually route me onto the > highway at all. It's like I-66 inside the Beltway just doesn't exist > as far as Google is concerned. I've also noticed problems on parts of > the Beltway (I-495) and I-395 -- usually in places where the most > direct (straight-line) route is not the best real-world route, either > due to highway configuration/construction or traffic. Or maybe the > Potomac River is like the Atlantic Ocean, and I can only cross by way > of Boston and Paris? :-)
> On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> > I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> > Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> > ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > > roads you want!***
> > That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > > to reset your route.
> > As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > > and I'll pass it along to the team!
Am I the only person who can't get drag and drop to work for me? I'm usually pretty good at figuring out what's up with my computer, but sometimes I miss the obvious. That little box appears on my route and it says I can click to drag, but when I left-click and hold on the box and move it around, nothing happens. The blue lines do not move. And when I release the box away from the current route, it appears back on the original route with no changes. Do I need to download something or change a setting to make this work?
Please help! I love this feature and want to be able to use it!
(PS - A cool feature I've seen suggested and that I would like to support would be to have an avoid toll roads check box like the avoid highways box. In the future, perhaps?)
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!*** <snip> > As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
Now, I want to save this. I can use a "link to this page" link to retain the info as one way of keeping a record of the route, but I'd like to create a saved map in "My Maps". If I create a map in "my maps" it appears to save none of the route info. As a crude fix, I tried copying the url from the "link to this page" link into the description area of a "My Maps" saved map, but it gets truncated and breaks so cannot be reused. A tinyurl version saves OK, but then you are at the mercy of if the tinyurl breaks in the future.
The best fix (particularly since Google already creates a good link with the "link to this page" feature) would be if a saved map could retain that same information.
BTW. This is click and drag feature is one of the best improvements to Google Maps to come along! Thanks!
How about the option to display cumulative distances rather than point to point distances. It's much easier to give someone directions (or follow a route you've mapped out) by turning at mile 10.5 rather than 2.3 miles since the last turn.
On Jun 28, 3:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
On Jul 7, 4:19 pm, suterhouse <suterho...@gmail.com> wrote:
> How about the option to display cumulative distances rather than point > to point distances. It's much easier to give someone directions (or > follow a route you've mapped out) by turning at mile 10.5 rather than > 2.3 miles since the last turn.
This method wouldn't work well, simply because it does not take into account the distance you travel for each intersection. Each intersection can add 500 feet and more to your entire trip. Ten intersections may add an extra mile. Now your cumulative distance has changed.
Telling you to travel a certain distance AFTER the intersection avoids this problem.
On Jun 28, 2:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
Brian, I love this feature (so does my GIS department). And the ability to add another destination at the bottom of the instructions... finally we can do a round trip ;-) I also like the "Avoid Highways" checkbox. I still think you should have a checkbox for "Avoid Tollways". We do want it all you know! David Lieb
Brian...I tried numerous times to drag a route and customize for an upcoming trip. While I can drag and adjust which I think is great, I can't seem to save the map in My Maps. The save option is not highlighted. I can't seem to locate any additional help advising how to do this.
Dan
On Jun 28, 2:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
I like the improvements that you have made thus far. I am having problems mapping a course in Alaska which I don't know whether you anticipated. I am trying to map a route from Anchorage through Seward to Valdez and then back to Anchorage. Your map won't allow me to get my car (bicycle) onto the ferry though, It wants me to drive (peddle) back through Anchorage from Seward and then on to Valdez before returning to Anchorage on a reverse route.
Am I doing something wrong or do you not yet support ferry systems?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Jim
On Jun 28, 2:58 pm, Maps Guide Brian <maps-gui...@google.com> wrote:
> I know I've mentioned before that one of our top feature requests from > the beginning of Google Maps has been to give users the ability to > find alternate routes in order to avoid certain roads when getting > driving directions. In response to this request, we first gave you the > ability to avoid highways. Many people still wanted a way to avoid > toll roads, route around traffic, take a scenic route, etc.
> Today, we've taken things several steps further...
> ***Now you can click and drag the purple route line to follow any > roads you want!***
> That's right. You can customize our driving directions to follow the > route of your choice. Simply click on the route, drag it around, and > the purple line follows you. When you've found the route you want, > just "drop" it there. Google Maps will automatically create a waypoint > to where you dragged your route. If you change your mind, just right- > click the added location marker and select "Remove this desitination" > to reset your route.
> As always, I'd love to hear what you think. Send any feedback my way, > and I'll pass it along to the team!
