Google Maps on Android Now Warns of Metro Parking Difficulties
If you’re tired of driving around downtown and then spent half an hour looking for parking , the new Google Maps feature can help you prepare better.
This feature, which was spotted in beta just over a week ago , will help you avoid parking lots that are busy at certain times of the day. As Product Manager Jeff Albertson explains in the Google Maps blog , the app will use historical parking data to determine the parking difficulty estimate. Once you get directions to a location, Maps will show you nearby parking lots rated Easy, Medium, or Limited. But since this is all based on historical data, it is not known what the current availability of parking spaces actually is. However, it’s still a nice feature that can save you time if you’re heading into unfamiliar terrain.
Parking difficulty ratings are launching in San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis / St. Paul, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington DC, Cleveland, Dallas / Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Portland and Sacramento. Currently, this feature is also only available on Android, but it will most likely appear on iOS in the near future.
Know Before You Leave: Parking Difficulties on Google Maps | Google Maps Blog