Google Maps rolls out new features to support sustainable travel
Just in time for the summer travel season, Google has announced a range of new updates to Google Maps aimed at helping users across Europe make more sustainable transportation choices — whether commuting, running errands, or embarking on road trips.
Building on last year’s AI-powered feature recommending walking or transit options when they are as fast as driving, Google Maps continues to reduce unnecessary car trips. Already living in over 60 cities, this feature is expanding to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, and more, encouraging users to swap out short car rides for greener modes of travel.
Cyclists can now benefit from expanded route information in 17 new cities — including Hamburg, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Budapest, Vienna, and Brussels. Thanks to new data from public authorities and partnerships with local governments, riders will see bike lanes, traffic levels, and elevation changes mapped out clearly along their routes, covering a global total of 125,000 kilometers of cycling paths.
When driving is necessary, Google Maps offers fuel-efficient routing, helping drivers reduce emissions and save on fuel costs. This feature, now living worldwide, is already being used on over 500 million trips monthly. In 2024 alone, it's estimated to have helped avoid more than 2.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to removing 630,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year.
With over 1,000 low-emission and low-traffic zones across Europe, navigating urban restrictions can be tricky. Google Maps now alerts users in cities like London and Berlin when their vehicles may not be permitted, offering alternative routes when needed. This feature will soon expand to more cities in Italy, Sweden, Austria, and beyond.
Google is also working behind the scenes to support cities in reducing congestion and emissions. Its Project Green Light uses AI and Maps data to analyze traffic flow and suggest optimized traffic light timing. The project now operates in 20 cities across four continents, with Vilnius, Lithuania, among the newest participants.
From choosing efficient routes to avoiding traffic pollution zones, these Google Maps updates empower travelers across Europe to make more conscious, eco-friendly decisions this summer, all while making their journeys smoother and smarter.
