Google Maps Now Shows Wheelchair Accessible Routes in Major Cities

The estimated reading time for this post is 2 minutes

Ever since the wheel was invented, people have struggled with ways to find smooth paths. If you have ever pushed a wheelchair, stroller or pram, or if you’ve ever used crutches or a wheelchair yourself, you are well aware of the challenges stairs, ledges, curbs and other blockades can bring.

With an update to Google Maps, Google is helping those who have mobility challenges use public transportation. This new feature shows wheelchair accessible routes for public transit systems in certain major cities around the world.

Announced last week, this update to Google Maps now shows wheelchair accessibility information for public transportation in these cities:

• London
• New York
• Tokyo
• Mexico City
• Boston and
• Sydney

Google Maps Wheelchair Accessibility Routes will be expanded to other cities in the near future. Google is currently working with public transportation services in more urban areas worldwide. In its announcement, Google said, “We’re looking forward to working with additional transit agencies in the coming months to bring more wheelchair accessible routes to Google Maps.”

With this Google Maps update, those in wheelchairs, pushing strollers, using crutches, or with other mobility challenges can know in advance whether a transportation option is accessible to them.

No longer do they have to guess whether they will be able to exit a station when they arrive there. They can plan out their routes ahead of time, before leaving, and know that they will be able to reach their destination using wheelchair accessible options for their route.

This video from Google introduces wheelchair accessible routes on Google Maps and illustrates the enormous value this update will bring:

As someone who has spent years pushing loved ones in wheelchairs and (twin) strollers, I am very excited about this important update to Google Maps!

How to Use Google Maps Wheelchair Accessible Transit Routes

To use Wheelchair Accessible Transit Routes, make sure your Google Maps app is updated to the latest version.

Then open the Google Maps app:

Type your destination => tap Directions => choose Public Transportation => Options.

Under the Routes section, you will see a choice of Wheelchair Accessible. Choose that option to see routes that will be accessible to those using a wheelchair or who have other mobility needs.

Other Google Maps Accessibility Information Updates

Google is crowd-sourcing its gathering of accessibility information. It is asking people around the world to provide information about how accessible locations are for those in wheelchairs and with mobility challenges. So far, Google has obtained information on accessibility for over 12 million locations.

The company is also asking users of Google Maps to submit photographs of public transportation stations. This way, people can look at photos of stations to know what they will be experiencing before they arrive.

Your Thoughts

Are you excited about wheelchair accessible routes now being shown on Google Maps? Have you ever been discouraged from traveling because of not knowing which locations would be accessible to you? Which cities would you like to see Google Maps wheelchair accessibility come to next?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!

*Wheelchair and stairs image (edited) courtesy of Christos Doulkeridis via Flickr and Creative Commons

**Google Logo by Google [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons