12 Sentences Outlining Waze Google Maps most scenic walking route SUCKS ASS. So, don’t let Silicon Valley Intimidate You

Deeply understood, computer science knowledge

If you’ve wondered why Google Maps doesn’t offer “most scenic walking route” (a top user request), apparently it’s because they want to help fix income inequality by sending you through low-income neighborhoods.

Ali Partovi

⁦‪@apartovi‬⁩

6/16/24, 5:37 PM

WordPress’d 6-17-24

TIL the reason Google Maps doesn’t have a “most scenic” walking route option is is force people to walk through low-income communities

– Niels Hoven

Niels Hoven 🐮

⁦‪@NielsHoven‬⁩

TIL the reason Google Maps doesn’t have a “most scenic” walking route option is is force people to walk through low-income communities pic.twitter.com/epZIBZAkqQ

6/16/24, 4:25 PM

WordPress’d from X on my personal iPhone, 650-283-8008, number that Steve Jobs texted me on

kasey & @kaseyklimes • 44m

you see where this is going:

because of its global scale, even a small shift in maps routing from a seemingly-innocuous (and frankly very useful!) feature could create a reinforcing feedback loop with spatial inequality.

kasey @kaseyklimes • 42m

inadvertently diverting foot traffic from low-income streets to high-income streets takes revenue and potentially tax dollars from already struggling communities and funnels it instead to richer communities.

always remember:

we live (and build tools) in complex systems

kasey @kaseyklimes • 9m

for context: ime this idea was usually discussed with regard to walking navigation specifically.

Originally