Why I don't use Google Maps in Amsterdam

Quick Overview

Google Maps frequently routes cyclists onto car-centric streets, even in Amsterdam where specialized cycling infrastructure exists, resulting in dangerous and frustrating experiences compared to routes that prioritize cycling infrastructure or utilize local knowledge like the Fietsersbond Routeplanner.

Key Points: Google Maps often suggests routes for cyclists that follow major car-centric roads (00:05, 00:09, 00:18) rather than dedicated cycling infrastructure, as seen in Amsterdam (00:03, 00:11). In Amsterdam, the cycling network (green lines on map) is vastly superior to the car network (red/black lines on map) (03:05-03:12). The Dutch route planner Fietsknop prioritizes cycling infrastructure, showing routes that avoid car-centric areas and traffic lights (03:17, 04:23, 05:15). The inherent bias in Google Maps prioritizes speed for driving (00:13, 08:08, 12:50), leading to suggestions that are often the least enjoyable or safe for cyclists (00:25, 07:07, 08:23). The speaker notes that the specialized Dutch route planner offers granular control over road types, including avoiding obstacles for wide bikes and prioritizing routes that avoid traffic lights (14:14-15:48). Google Maps' routing, even when showing cycling data, still defaults to car-centric logic, making routes unnecessarily long or dangerous (08:34, 09:58, 13:18, 13:33). Nebula, the platform hosting the video, is creator-owned and offers ad-free viewing and exclusive content for subscribers (23:08, 24:50).

Context: The video contrasts how Google Maps routes cyclists in different urban environments, specifically comparing the highly bicycle-friendly infrastructure of Amsterdam with car-centric planning common in the US. The speaker argues that Google Maps' underlying algorithm is biased towards car speed and efficiency, even when calculating cycling routes, often leading cyclists onto dangerous roads with heavy car traffic, stop signs, or traffic lights, instead of utilizing superior, safer cycling infrastructure found in places like the Netherlands.