Google Maps is introducing a new accessibility feature that enables users to find wheelchair-accessible places with just a push of a button.
The “Accessible Places” feature can be toggled on and off within the Google Maps app. When activated, wheelchair-accessible locations are easily identified with a wheelchair icon.
Here’s what the icon looks like:
The icon is subtle enough that one might wonder why Google doesn’t include it in all Maps listings by default. Currently, Accessible Places must be enabled manually.
Accessibility here means a location has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and may also include accessible seating, restrooms, and parking. If a place offers some degree of accessibility but lacks an accessible entrance, Google Maps will also indicate that.
As highlighted in a Google announcement, arriving at a place only to find out it’s not accessible can be frustrating:
> “Imagine making plans to go somewhere new, taking the journey to get there and arriving—only to be stuck outside, prevented from sitting with family or being unable to access the restroom.”
Google aims to ensure people can know before they go with the new Accessible Places feature.
### 15 Million Places And Counting
Google Maps now includes wheelchair-accessibility information for over 15 million places worldwide. This number has more than doubled since 2017, largely due to information submitted by other Maps users.
Another source of wheelchair-accessibility information is business owners themselves, who can update their Google My Business listings to reflect this information.
Google notes that this update benefits the 130 million wheelchair users worldwide and the over 30 million Americans who have difficulty using stairs.
> “With this feature rollout, it’s easier to find and contribute wheelchair-accessibility information to Google Maps. That benefits everyone, from those of us using wheelchairs and parents pushing strollers to older adults with tired legs and people hauling heavy items. And in this time of COVID-19, it’s especially important to know before you go so that you won’t be stranded outside that pharmacy, grocery, or restaurant.”
### Update Available Now
The update to the Google Maps app, now available on Android and iOS, allows users to enable this feature by going to Settings, selecting “Accessibility,” and switching on “Accessible Places.”
The update also introduces the ability for iOS users to contribute accessibility information, a feature Android users already had. Consequently, the number of wheelchair-accessible places on Google Maps could soon exceed 15 million.
Google states that this update marks a significant milestone in their journey to create a more accessible Google Maps.
Other recent efforts include app updates to help users find accessible places, transit routes, and walking directions. The Accessible Places feature is now available for Google Maps users in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with support for additional countries to be introduced later.
Source: Google
