Google Maps has a big problem with route suggestions; nothing I've tried fixes it
Android Police 2026-10-04 15:00:10
Context: Google Maps, the widely-used navigation app, has a significant problem with route suggestions, often skipping the best routes and instead sending users on complicated multi-transport journeys. This issue has been experienced by Tom Bedford, a technology journalist based in London, UK, who has used the app for years and found that it frequently overlooks walking as a viable mode of transport. Despite having a feature to prioritize modes of transport, Google Maps often fails to provide optimal walking routes, leading to longer and less efficient journeys.
Key Facts
- Google Maps often skips the best routes, instead suggesting complicated multi-transport journeys that involve buses, underground, and other modes of transport.
- The app tends to overlook walking as a viable mode of transport, even when it's a faster and more efficient option, with one user experiencing routes that involved walking only when it took less than 15 minutes.
- A feature to prioritize modes of transport is available, but it doesn't always work as expected, with Google Maps sometimes ignoring user preferences and still suggesting bus routes.
- The app lacks a feature to specify an optimal walking range, making it difficult for users to get routes that incorporate walking as a part of their journey.