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Google Maps Deterring Outback Tourists, Say Small Firms (bbc.com)
Tourism operators in Australia claim inaccuracies in Google Maps are deterring potential visitors, by making remote attractions appear further away than they actually are. From a report: The Queensland government in north-east Australia has complained to Google, which says it will look into the issue. Firms looking to promote their small towns as remote tourist destinations say Google Maps inflates travel times. Outback businesses say errors in the map app can add hours to a journey. "People aren't coming to places because they think it takes too long, or they're missing opportunities to refuel and they're getting sent off on another road that has no fuel [outlets]," Robyn Mackenzie, of the Eromanga Natural History Museum, told national broadcaster ABC. "People will get frightened of travelling in the outback, because they don't have any confidence in the mapping," the general manager of the small town museum added.
You should be thanking Google Maps. In fact, Google should offer route inflation as a paid service.
"Eromanga Natural History Museum"
really ?
holy crap it's real:
http://www.enhm.com.au/
Ah'll visit that shit; just gotta lemme bring guns - Ah've seen Mad Max.
-Likely no one anywhere
In TFA it states
In one case, the journey time from Birdsville, on the Queensland border, up to the Western Star Hotel in Windorah, in the centre of the state, was estimated to be close to 11 hours by Google Maps.
After claims the time was inaccurate, Google changed the estimated time to about 7 hours and 45 minutes. But locals say the drive is closer to four hours with no stops.
I just plotted out the same route in google maps and it told me 4 hours and 22 minutes. So either the story is wrong or google has been fixing things.
But it makes me wonder* about people estimating times. Its a 380km journey and at 100km/hr that puts it at the 4 hour mark. I can't explain where 7 or 11 hours comes from,
*Cue Stairways to Heaven
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
From the article:
"In one case, the journey time from Birdsville, on the Queensland border, up to the Western Star Hotel in Windorah, in the centre of the state, was estimated to be close to 11 hours by Google Maps.
After claims the time was inaccurate, Google changed the estimated time to about 7 hours and 45 minutes. But locals say the drive is closer to four hours with no stops."
OK so yes the original and even updated distance are a potentially bit long for a tank of gas while the four hours is not bad (are locals using the speed limit or the speed most people drive?). Still, that is the kind of distance I'd usually travel to a larger location with multiple attractions, not a small town museum (other attractions at location?). Maybe I'm just weird and don't travel enough on vacation...
Looks like it's already fixed... just requested Maps route me between the two points the article mentions (Birdsville -> Windorah ) and it's showing a drive time of 4 hours 20 minutes or a 1 hour flight...
I think it's all the dingoes, spiders and drop-bears that are scaring away all the tourists!
You /really/ don't want people at the Clueless Level of relying on a smartphone app traveling the Outback. Eight of those have died in the past 6 months. I can imagine the frustration of the Police out there doing their check-ups of travelers and having to deal with Cashed-Up-City-Bogans waving muh iPhone about-- and having no HEMA highly-details paper roadmaps.
Having been to Eromanga (with my history in Anime, the photos were too good to pass up :D) the Eromanga Natural History Museum has something that will bring the crowds from even 20 hours away-- it was free Wifi.
Where were you when we were trying to get NEA or birth control funding?? that's like .0001%. Same argument right??
There's no cellphone coverage there anyway, so you can't get at the wrong info.
Recently I drove PHX to SLC via Page and via Las Vegas, PHX to LA and back, SLC to SFO via Reno, SFO to PHX via bakersfield. In all cases Google Maps and Waze have consistently underestimated the time it takes. They assume constant driving at the speed limit, do no account intersection wait times, and do not considering stopping for gas. I drive speed limit +9, stopped only 2 times for gas for a total of 12 minutes and still arrived at least an hour after what Google estimated. Google and Waze should have figured out that I refuel once every 300-330 miles, and that waiting on intersections takes time. I can't remember how many times I've been directed to an intersection even for a right turn to have to stay there for 3 or more minutes due to oncoming traffic while the nice residential street that I passed less than 20 meters before the intersection and runs parallel to the street it wants me to drive on is empty.
What's that skip? A dingo's got you BABY?!?!?!
Crikey mate, gues we betta chuck another koala on the barbee mate. G'day mate!!!
The locals might be comfortable with this, but from what I've seen no way in hell I'd go driving around in the Outback as a tourist.
Between everything wanting to kill you, and being in the middle of what is a vast and inhospitable space ... I would simply choose not to go tooling around in an environment I know nothing about.
I can see people basically saying "nope" if they don't trust Google maps.
This sounds like the equivalent of setting out into the forests here in Canada without knowing where you're going and having the skills to do it In some places you can get yourself 15 minutes from a suburb and be lost for days.
Help build better, verified sources that will help ALL search engines. It will keep them on their toes. Complaining to Google, creating bad press, might appear to be cheaper, and could even be effective for the first few communities that try it. But in the long run, it is not a good solution.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
It's a whole different ballgame, and I damned sure wouldn't bet my life on Google.
https://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/driving_australian_outback.html
Never been there myself (although I'd consider it quite the adventure 20 years ago when I was younger). But not without the proper vehicle and the proper preparations.
I think Google is doing something similar to what the Interstate did with America.
Older roads use to go into small towns, where drivers will fill up, have a meal, check out a little of the local culture. Then they put in the interstate system, which connected big cities together, and drive by small towns, sometimes without an exit to them. With the promise of a fast MPH speed on the road, you can get from Point A to Point B much faster, but the small towns have been left out and are now shadows of their former self.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Proper article https://www.abc.net.au/news/20...
Obama coined that phrase a few years prior to Trump.
Good for him.
So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down, it didn’t work. I will take the mantle of shutting it down.
Sorry, but this is all on the Toddler-In-Chief.
Also why should they give him the $5 billion? The majority of Americans are against the wall and the voters who gave the Democrats those 40 seats in the House want it even less. The toddler should have taken the deal he was offered last year. Now that he has no leverage and the GOP has lost control of the House, Nancy doesn't need to give him anything.
It's clear the democrats would rather keep the government shut down over 5 billion dollars.
I can understand why when they have people like you blindly supporting them.
I remember several almost government shutdowns where Obama wouldn't sign a budget if something was left out of it. Trump is doing the same thing here, just the republican congress was quicker to fold. (Granted that is easier to stand strong when - regardless of who is in power - the media and people like you will always blame the republicans.)
I think Google is doing something similar to what the Interstate did with America.
Older roads use to go into small towns, where drivers will fill up, have a meal, check out a little of the local culture. Then they put in the interstate system, which connected big cities together, and drive by small towns, sometimes without an exit to them. With the promise of a fast MPH speed on the road, you can get from Point A to Point B much faster, but the small towns have been left out and are now shadows of their former self.
That's exactly what happened to Radiator Springs on route 66 when I-40 came through.
Older roads were dor horse wagons with frequent fuel stop. and no refrigerator in the vehicle. ...
I am looking at the interstates as internet
it is not a shortest path which counts, it is the most convenient for me.
it may be Bigcinty#1 -interstate--> BigCity#2 --back20miles--> DestinationSmallCity#A
Sometimes it will be traffic problem, sometimes it will be local laws problem like cutting corner through New York or NJ while driving to the range from another "free state". Or laws about those pesky knives where local law bans knives with blades longer than shortest reproductive organ of council member. .. or laws what you can or cannot do for recreational use ... or old term "age of consent" ... :-)
The democrats already passed clean funding bills to keep the government open, Trump and McConnell refuse to re-open the government without their hostage demand of 5 billion dollars. We do not negotiate with traitor terrorists like this GOP.
You will watch Trump die in prison, faggot, and you will see Republicans voted out over this stunt, faggot, and we will make America great again without you nazi faggots.
Trump's treason has certainly cost us more than 5 Billion.
And the consequence of this election is that the government will remain shutdown for an extended time (something most on the right see as good to begin with), and then Trump will get his wall. Or do you actually believe congressional Democrats are going to best Trump in a challenge of petty childishness and ego? I mean, I have a very low opinion of them, but more ego-driving petty childishness than Trump? Not a chance.
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
It's clear the democrats would rather keep the government shut down over 5 billion dollars.
Yeah and they should. They weren't elected to be Trump's toadies. Also, Democrats have already passed the same budget to reopen the government that the Senate unanimously approved last year when the GOP controlled everything. The GOP owns this not the Democrats.
I can understand why when they have people like you blindly supporting them.
Yeah, how dare they follow the will of the voters who elected them. Elections have conseqiences and this is one of them.
I remember several almost government shutdowns where Obama wouldn't sign a budget if something was left out of it. Trump is doing the same thing here, just the republican congress was quicker to fold. (Granted that is easier to stand strong when - regardless of who is in power - the media and people like you will always blame the republicans.)
You mean when we blame the person who said this on national television?
So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down, it didn’t work. I will take the mantle of shutting it down.
Sorry, but this is the Trump shutdown and the majority of Americans agree. Boohoo.
Sorry, Evolution in Action. If you're driving those roads, you should be aware of what you're getting into and not depend on a mapping program. You get an idea of the route then you CHECK IT OUT by other data. That also keeps you off of single-track roads in the Rockies in winter, too. Heck, I've found GoogleMaps not that accurate for time on US regular highways. Especially if it starts throwing wreck-delays and such in there.
It's also pretty funny that this guy seems to think we forgot that Trump stated on national television that he owned the shitdown and wasn't gonna blame the Democrats.
I'm sure there are some "alternative facts" to explain that away.
What leverage does he have to force them to give in? If he had any leverage he'd be asking for the full $25 billion he was offered last year. That he's asking for substantially less and still hasn't gotten it shows he's the cuck in this fight. Nancy's owning him and the majority of Americans are on the Democrats' side.
That's all true - but there was also tremendous opposition to some of the routes existing at all. Which meant that the road was rerouted out of town, cutting off what would otherwise have been much better local access. That they ended up doing in some cases was cutting off their nose to spite their face.
The republicans tried that when Obama was in office. He rightly said no because then he would lose leverage.
Same here.
The majority of Americans don't know about the government shutdown. And most people that know about the shutdown here it framed by the media or late night comedians as Trumps fault. The fact that only half blame him is remarkable progress (compared to the percentage that blamed Republicans for past shutdowns). Looks like his tweeting does make a difference.
At the end of the day, the democrats can end this by agreeing to 1/4 of the money they had agreed to spend last year. They aren't because they want to look big and are use to controlling the narrative.
Sorry, but your spin and alternative facts don't change this statement:
So I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it. The last time you shut it down, it didn’t work. I will take the mantle of shutting it down.
The toddler owns this completely.
Sorry, Evolution in Action. If you're driving those roads, you should be aware of what you're getting into and not depend on a mapping program. You get an idea of the route then you CHECK IT OUT by other data. That also keeps you off of single-track roads in the Rockies in winter, too. Heck, I've found GoogleMaps not that accurate for time on US regular highways. Especially if it starts throwing wreck-delays and such in there.
There's a long section of Interstate near me that has been under construction for a year now, Google Maps still shows no construction warnings for it.
The majority of Americans don't know about the government shutdown.
This is the dumbest thing you've claimed so far. [citation needed]
At the end of the day, the democrats can end this by agreeing to 1/4 of the money they had agreed to spend last year. They aren't because they want to look big and are use to controlling the narrative.
They could but why would they? Toddler has no leverage. It's always funny when Republicans demand bipartisanship but what they really want is that the Democrats give them everything and get nothing in return. Your team lost the House and Pelosi is only standing for what the voters of America wanted. Also, if all this border money was so inpirtamt why didn't he demand the GOP give it to him in either the 2017 or 2018 budgets?
It's a cycle that has been going back and forth for centuries. In the early 19th century, turnpikes, and later railroads were often positioned to avoid town centers and just connect major cities and mills. By the late 19th century, transportation needs had shifted from commercial use to passenger use, making this infrastructure inconvenient. Early 20th century roads connected the town centers, but they proved to be too small and slow for growing commercial and commuter traffic in the postwar suburban era, leading to the rise of interstate highways.
I haven't forgotten. He was saying he would take the hit but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't swing back.
And there was context to that line, in any case. Te democrats where telling him that he had to do whatever they said because he would be blamed for the shutdown. The fact that they are that flamboyant to the point of bragging that they control the media narrative should be enough to give you some concern (it won't though).
I can't speak for Google Maps, but I can for Waze, another navigation app. I'd be surprised if Google Maps works differently.
1) Trip times are a combination of historical trip times and current traffic conditions. Was this purported 11 hour trip time during a time of bad traffic?
2) If there is no (cell) data reception, historical and current times don't get set. Default times for road segments are often extremely high.
3) There's an option to "avoid unpaved roads". Presumably in the Outback there are many unpaved roads and if that option is set the result would be a more circuitous route.
Navigation systems promote destination-oriented driving. That likely causes some roadside businesses to suffer. In the days of paper maps, drivers focused on glancing at the map and looking for the right street sign. Hence, they would more easily notice a business sign or otherwise cool-looking side stop. With navigation apps, significantly less attention needs to be made outside the vehicle - just turn when it says so.
Everyone should use Waze. In most countries, their maps are maintained by local volunteers. Thus, drivers are more likely to get accurate mapping from someone knowledgeable and who has pride in the area. Call it selfish if you wish because it helps them - but the side effect is other drivers have a better experience. I've reported problems with Google Maps years ago that have never been fixed. Waze volunteers typically have things fixed in a few days.
They could but why would they? Toddler has no leverage
Exactly why he knows the democrats are full of shit when they say they will seriously consider it after he passes their budget. As you said, the democrats only cross the aisle if there is leverage forcing them too
Also, if all this border money was so inpirtamt why didn't he demand the GOP give it to him in either the 2017 or 2018 budgets?
Because he was dumb enough to believe twice that the discussions would happen as promised after we got through the impending shutdown warning. He isn't dumb enough to fall for it a third time with the democrats in power.
It's not the distance nor the time that's keeping people from visiting, it's that there is nothing there. Sorry.
Australia has been doing this for years as well. The Bruce Highway still has a traffic light on it but they've put a lot of effort into actually bypassing the towns. A trip from Sydney to Brisbane now takes a tad over 10 hours. It used to take 16 hours.
Yeah right. Sure thing. And a Dingo ate your baby..
majority of Americans are on the Democrats' side.
Just like the media claimed in the 2016 election, right?
I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
Am I the only one who thought about this?
He can go forever without being hurt by the government shutdown. Meanwhile, (almost) all the government employees who aren't getting a paycheck vote Democrat. And if something goes wrong with EBT payments? Yowza.
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
Hahahaha this is epic: https://twitter.com/PressSec/s... Leverage is where you find it.
Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
Seriously. There are purpose-specific mapping apps for caravaners and truckies for good reasons.
Apple/Google maps pay no attention to bridge heights, road weight limits and so on. When travelling from Berry to Parkes in NSW, for example, Google maps was quite happy to try to send us up Kangaroo Valley Way to get up the Illawarra Range. Kangaroo Valley Way is a light road with tight turns - it has a 5 tonne weight limit and is regularly signed "no vehicles over 20ft long". That's a real problem when you're towing a 3.5 tonne 32ft trailer behind another 3 tonne vehicle.
I always thought the same - fast highways killed the small town / village stations - but my data points indicate another possibility.
We had the same thing here with the small village gas stations in the middle of nowhere closing but here there were no new roads built; same routes had improverments and blacktop perhaps. Maybe before your time ... It was literally the increased reliability and fuel economy of cars that killed those gas stations because you didn't HAVE to stop any longer to fill with gas or top your rad so you didn't.
You can see here that OpenStreetMap reports a similar time: 7h25, for 532km, passing via a very long detour.
Most likely, the router doesn't like the direct road, because part of it is tagged "unpaved", and that's estimated to around 20km/h.
If you're traveling on the Bruce Highway to get from Sydney to Brisbane then I think you're probably taking the long way around.
Anyone planning to travel in Australia off the major highways needs to do more research than just putting a route into Google Maps.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
--Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)
Similar thing to Northern Canada. Ask Google Maps how to drive from Yellowknife to Whitehorse and it'll send you nearly half-way down the provinces in the South, on a 38 hour, 3224 km journey. Add in a stop to Fort Liard to semi-force it to take NWT Hwy 7, and the total drops to 1892 km and -- oh, interesting -- 28 hours. Huh. When I last checked (2.5 years ago), it used to add about 7 hours to the trip. I did some calculations at the time and figured that Google had one averaging 30 km/h over the entirety of Hwy 7 (which is mostly an 80 km/h road that I may or may not have a mode average of 110 km/h on). So since they fixed the time estimate, it's now 1332km and 10 hours shorter, yet they direct you down to Alberta. Maybe they figure it's safer with more pavement, more traffic (a little vs. practically none), and more gas stations.
Sorry, Evolution in Action. If you're driving those roads, you should be aware of what you're getting into and not depend on a mapping program. You get an idea of the route then you CHECK IT OUT by other data. That also keeps you off of single-track roads in the Rockies in winter, too. Heck, I've found GoogleMaps not that accurate for time on US regular highways. Especially if it starts throwing wreck-delays and such in there.
There's a long section of Interstate near me that has been under construction for a year now, Google Maps still shows no construction warnings for it.
There's a section of I-15 near me that's me under construction for over 10 years (Point of the Mountain between Utah and Salt Lake counties) and Google still has troubles in the region.
I understood that reference.
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
Why would he coin a MAGAtard line though? Seems really strange I thought he was the genocidal warmongering god of peaceful tolerant liberals.
The improvements with all the town bypassing from Brissy to Sydney is great. The travel time between the two is almost down to pre speed camera days.
Every time I use Google Maps it underestimate the travel time in a big way. That despite me driving according to the rules and keep slightly above the legal limit.
At the end of the day, the democrats can end this by agreeing to 1/4 of the money they had agreed to spend last year. They aren't because they want to look big and are use to controlling the narrative.
Dude, isn't is astonishing that no one in US realizes that a two party system is not more democratic, more advanced, more flexible, more efficient, more responsible, than a one party system, e.g. in China?
Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
The media claimed in 2016 that a majority of Americans are on the Democrat's side because it's true. Did you forget that Trump did not win the popular vote? Did you miss the discussions around the last dozen Presidential elections around the system of the electoral college?
IF you can't admit they're both morons for each shutdown, you're blind.
Plus, using the term Faggot would make you a big bad loser in your chosen political group.
What are you, five? faggot, nazi, faggot. Perhaps you can throw a poo poo head in there too.
Yes, because all we really care about is "who is the cuck in this fight" and not the good of the country.
Go back to your sandbox, little boy, and fight about whose father can beat up the other's father.
The fact that so many rely on EBT payments speaks to an inherent rot with the US population.