Google Maps now offers better navigation for Motorcyclists in Malaysia

Google Malaysia has just announced a new Motorcycle Mode for Google Maps. It’s one of the most requested features by Malaysians and it offers the best routes and accurate travel times for those travelling on two-wheelers.

According to Google, most households in Malaysia have both a car and a motorcycle. It was shared that there are currently 12.9 million bikes and 13 million cars registered in Malaysia. When it comes to daily commuting, motorcycles are a great way to avoid congestion and it can help to cut down on travel time.

Since lane splitting (driving between two lanes in traffic) is permitted on our local roads, the new mode offers a more accurate estimated travel time as bikes can travel at a higher speed compared to normal cars during peak hours. It also takes into consideration routes that are accessible for motorbikes. Google Maps will also use landmarks as a guide for navigation so that it’s easier for motorcyclists to remember.

To keep your loved ones informed, you can also share your Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) so that they will know when you’re expected to arrive. To access motorcycle mode, just navigate to an address like usual and tap on the motorcycle icon right below the search bar. At the moment, it appears to be only available for Android devices.

In case you missed it, Waze had also introduced motorcycle mode last year. To enable this, just change your vehicle type under Waze settings.