Google Maps 'Two-Wheeler' Mode Launches In India, More Countries to Follow - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Google Maps 'Two-Wheeler' Mode Launches In India, More Countries to Follow

by

Google debuted a new "two-wheeler" mode for Google Maps on Tuesday as part of its Google India media event in New Delhi. The biker-based feature joins the existing driving, walking, and public transit modes for Google Maps users in India looking for the fastest possible directions to their intended destination.

collage 120517013149

Image via India Today

The new mode for motorcycle and scooter users shows trip routes that use "shortcuts" not accessible to other vehicles, and provides customized traffic and arrival time estimates.

The two-wheeler mode also shows major landmarks along the planned route to help riders who rely on them for navigation, as is often the case in India.


Like offline maps when they first launched, the two-wheeler mode for Google Maps is only available in India to begin with, but Google says the feature will roll out to more countries in the coming months. It's unclear at present where "two-wheeler" mode will sit in relation to Google Maps' existing cycling directions, but rider safety, speed, and designated routes are sure to differ.

Top Rated Comments

MH01 Avatar
113 months ago
That's kinda cool - though bikes can go places cars cannot, they are suppose to follow exactly the same road rules .

In boring western countries anyway .

To be fair - when I was in India , the concept of lanes, traffic etc was governed by the horn .... its be best example I've ever seen of organised chaos ... and if you can drive in India , you can drive anywhere :)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
113 months ago
In this sense, they can also release a GTA mode for 4-or-more-wheel vehicles which doesn't have to follow any traffic rules and regulations.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
Apple maps was always light years beyond google maps and the gap continues to widen.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
113 months ago
That's kinda cool - though bikes can go places cars cannot, they are suppose to follow exactly the same road rules .

In boring western countries anyway .
Not necessarily in the U.K. where in many places bikes are allowed in bus lanes. This can be especially useful on one-way streets with contraflow bus lanes. A good example of this is Reading where Google Maps will try and force you around the one-way system needlessly as it does not know the difference.

And important for navigation purposes is that filtering (lane splitting) is legal here, so when a road is so congested that a navigation service would want to reroute cars, it could still be the better option for bikes. Especially if the systern takes account of lane widths to know which this are more filtering friendly.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
113 months ago
What's it like riding a bike in traffic while trying to listen to voice directions?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple education hub india factory

Apple's Manufacturing in India Gets Boost From New Tariff Exemptions

Thursday July 9, 2026 9:06 am PDT by
Apple stands to gain from India's decision to eliminate import duties on a range of components used in smartphone manufacturing, in a move that could further lower costs for the company's rapidly growing India-based supply chain. According to a report from Reuters, the Indian government has done away with tariffs of 7.5% and 5% that had applied to inputs for wireless charging hardware,...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors