For wheelchair users: Google Maps shows accessibility

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Google today announced the launch of a new feature for Google Maps. On both Android and iOS, the Maps app now shows additional information about accessible places. It will be rolled out to all users worldwide with immediate effect.

Barrier-free access and details will be displayed

If the feature is enabled on Google Maps, wheelchair accessibility information will be displayed to the user. If the user searches for a specific place on Google Maps, such as a restaurant, shop or hotel, and this has barrier-free access, a wheelchair symbol will be displayed on the company profile in Google Maps. In addition, users receive information about whether there are barrier-free seats, toilets or parking spaces. If a place does not have a barrier-free entrance, Google will now also display this information directly on Google Maps.

Current data for more than 40 million places

Google Maps will provide accessibility information for more than 40 million locations around the world by the time the feature becomes generally available, the company said. The new feature aims to help the world's more than 130 million users of wheelchairs, or who have difficulty using stairs or regularly use a stroller.

Google Maps with accessibility information (Image: Google)

Over 1 billion accessibility entries

Accessibility information was compiled with the support of over 120 million Local Guides, the Google Maps community, and business owners in restaurants and shops around the world. They have previously contributed more than a billion accessibility updates to Google Maps. All users can participate in reporting the relevant information themselves.

Function started in a few countries in 2022

The Accessible Places feature was rolled out to business profiles in Australia, Japan, the UK and the US back in 2020 and is now rolling out to all Google Maps users worldwide. In August of this year, Google Maps brought the function for fuel-efficient routes in Google Maps to Germany after the rollout in North America, after new navigation maps with traffic lights, stop signs and generally more details had also been published for Germany in the spring.