Google suggests slower alternative paths, so it can collect more local data from the region through your phone or car.
EDIT: I’m a dum dum.
I use and routinely contribute to OSM, and I hate Google Maps both ethically and because the actual underlying map is just half-baked.
This is a ridiculous explanation for why GMaps suggests nominally slower routes alongside the main one. What’s happening in the OP image is clearly a bug, not Google begging you to pretty please do 8 superfluous minutes of data collection for them.
- Some people have areas they’re more comfortable with. For example, some people are afraid of driving on a bustling highway or through a claustrophobic downtown. Alternative routes make it more likely that this person can forgo a few minutes in favor of something more comfortable.
- The router isn’t omniscient. Sometimes the human using the router knows more about local conditions than the router itself does, e.g. that a road it’s taking you through has a problem. Alternative routes again make it more likely that you give the user a satisfactory route.
This comment is just fucking stupid and based on nothing when a much more cogent explanation exists. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that you travel farther, but seriously? Show any evidence at all that this is why it performs this extremely normal and explicable routing operation.
This is a joke comment posted in shitpost cpmmunity. Dont take it seriously.
People here have said dumber things in earnest.
Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I’ve heard some wild takes on Lemmy lately, but I still shouldn’t have assumed.
But now I still have to disagree; this is part of a worldwide psychological experiment for Google to learn about users’ willingness to do useless work.
At least one person believed the “joke comment”
Omfg really???
I mean… it’s not wrong. That IS 8 minutes slower.
Some lovely homes for sale in that neighborhood.
Do it
That was the first suggested route before it found a new route that could save you 8 minutes
I have ‘avoid tolls’ turned on. I put in a trip yesterday that took me through a toll tunnel, and gave me no other option. You really need to check it’s work before following it.
Scenic route
My understanding is that it always tries to give you 2-3 route options. It defaults to what it thinks is the shortest, but it gives you a couple of options that are slightly longer. You might prefer those other options for various reasons.
But if there aren’t a whole lot of altenate options, the 2-3 options for slightly longer routes might include “ridiculous” things like this. It doesn’t know. It wouldn’t know why you wouldn’t always want the shortest route, but of course as humans, we have preferences and knowlege Maps doesn’t have.
I’ve found Google maps to be really shit at navigating for cars to be honest. I recommend Waze. My only gripe with waze is that they’re very car focused, so I still use maps when I go by bike, but at least that part of maps is pretty okay (at least for me)
waze is also google im pretty sure
Oh you’re right, just looked it up. I guess if you’re trying to de-google then it’s not an option. But it’s navigation style is so much better than maps imo so in some way still a valid switch I suppose
Slower but more scenic 👈
