Google Maps just fucking SUCKS now

[jp the roadgeek]

My town at least uses a golf course.  However, the golf course they use looks a lot more lavish than the 2 1/2 we have.

[jakeroot]

My home town of Puyallup, WA uses a photo of a lake nowhere near the city:



I think this problem is more common than previously thought.

[Brandon]

Another oddity, for some stupid reason, Google prevents me from turning left across an area where the center line striping spreads out.

https://goo.gl/maps/AcbgNFns1qz

I use Google Maps to turn into and out of there, and it gives me some convoluted route to avoid turning left into or out of that street.

[kphoger]

Another oddity, for some stupid reason, Google prevents me from turning left across an area where the center line striping spreads out.

https://goo.gl/maps/AcbgNFns1qz

I use Google Maps to turn into and out of there, and it gives me some convoluted route to avoid turning left into or out of that street.

That's pretty common.  If you remove satellite and just go to the normal map view, you can see that it's considered a divided highway there, with two separate roadways.  Maybe it's not clear because the yellow lines rub shoulders, but Google doesn't realize there's pavement between the two.

[jakeroot]

Another oddity, for some stupid reason, Google prevents me from turning left across an area where the center line striping spreads out.

https://goo.gl/maps/AcbgNFns1qz

I use Google Maps to turn into and out of there, and it gives me some convoluted route to avoid turning left into or out of that street.

Might be the result of how Google interprets street markings. In California, two sets of double yellow lines equal a hard median, which you aren't allowed to cross.

The maneuver you describe would not be legal in CA. That said, if the maneuver is legal in Illinois (which I suspect it is), Google ought to connect Bonnie Ln to both "carriageways" of Bridge St. Illinois is obviously not California, so you shouldn't be treated as though you are in California.

If you can confirm for me the legality of the maneuver, I will let Google know of the problem. Most of my changes are made within a few minutes. Not sure if I'm just lucky, or I make so many changes, they trust me now.

[Brandon]

Another oddity, for some stupid reason, Google prevents me from turning left across an area where the center line striping spreads out.

https://goo.gl/maps/AcbgNFns1qz

I use Google Maps to turn into and out of there, and it gives me some convoluted route to avoid turning left into or out of that street.

Might be the result of how Google interprets street markings. In California, two sets of double yellow lines equal a hard median, which you aren't allowed to cross.

The maneuver you describe would not be legal in CA. That said, if the maneuver is legal in Illinois (which I suspect it is), Google ought to connect Bonnie Ln to both "carriageways" of Bridge St. Illinois is obviously not California, so you shouldn't be treated as though you are in California.

If you can confirm for me the legality of the maneuver, I will let Google know of the problem. Most of my changes are made within a few minutes. Not sure if I'm just lucky, or I make so many changes, they trust me now.

Oh, it's very legal in Illinois to turn left across this type of striped area.  Street View of the area: https://goo.gl/maps/kboAcz8dkCF2 & https://goo.gl/maps/tbEqpRqrExr  There are no "no left turn" signs anywhere there.

Illinois Rules of the Road 2017: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a112.pdf
Page 76 addresses striping.
625 ILCS: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh%2E+11&ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=111500000&SeqEnd=136550000
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=49&ActID=1815
Turning: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh%2E+11+Art%2E+VIII&ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=122900000&SeqEnd=123600000

[US 89]

I've been sleeping on Stafford apparently. Where in town is that beach?

I could be wrong, but that picture looks an awful lot like a beach I've been to in Bermuda.

[inkyatari]

Another oddity, for some stupid reason, Google prevents me from turning left across an area where the center line striping spreads out.

https://goo.gl/maps/AcbgNFns1qz

I use Google Maps to turn into and out of there, and it gives me some convoluted route to avoid turning left into or out of that street.

I know the area.  I've turned across that many times.

[paulthemapguy]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

[Roadgeekteen]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

[Brandon]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

[Roadgeekteen]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

Are there any similarities between the 2 cities that could cause confusion?

[Brandon]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

Are there any similarities between the 2 cities that could cause confusion?

None, whatsoever.

[Roadgeekteen]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

Are there any similarities between the 2 cities that could cause confusion?

None, whatsoever.

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

[jakeroot]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

[Roadgeekteen]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

[jakeroot]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

[Roadgeekteen]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

Just proves that humans often work better than machines.

[jakeroot]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

Just proves that humans often work better than machines.

But there's not enough humans to do most of Google's dirty work, like web scraping.

[kphoger]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

When I click on the link you provided, I get an image for the Jefferson Street Bridge.  ???

[jakeroot]

OMG the photo for Joliet is DEFINITELY NOT Joliet hahahaha   

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Joliet,+IL/@41.5795382,-88.1665708,11z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!2sJoliet,+IL!3b1!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251!3m4!1s0x880e456bec363d7d:0x9f9e66f7a36bc042!8m2!3d41.525031!4d-88.0817251

What city is that? Chicago?

St. Louis, from the Arch.

When I click on the link you provided, I get an image for the Jefferson Street Bridge.  ???

https://i.imgur.com/K7CF84k.png

Interestingly, I do as well. But, I didn't two days ago.

[empirestate]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

Could it be choosing the photo based on the location from which it was uploaded, rather than where it was taken? Perhaps someone from Stafford, CT took a photo of a beach while on vacation, then uploaded it to Google after returning home.

[index]

New update to google maps makes it so that I've got to open and close this annoying sidebar just to search.

Oh well...

[jakeroot]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

Could it be choosing the photo based on the location from which it was uploaded, rather than where it was taken? Perhaps someone from Stafford, CT took a photo of a beach while on vacation, then uploaded it to Google after returning home.

Very well could be. Or perhaps based on a tagging system, where people have tagged their upload location, rather than the location of the photo. I uploaded a picture of the Shard (tall building in London) on Instagram a few years back, but tagged it "Burger King" because that's where I was when I uploaded it. All of my subsequent tags were of the actual location. But, that Burger King permanently has a photo of the Shard attached to the location. 

[kphoger]

What were the employees thinking? Google do this at 2 am?

I don't think this involves employees. Likely a bug.

does google do automated work on maps?

The vast majority of Google Maps is automated, based on code. The images you see were not hand-picked by Google. The code selected the image based on various things, however, the code isn't working right, since many of the images aren't correct. I think any human would know that Stafford, CT doesn't have a tropical beach.

Could it be choosing the photo based on the location from which it was uploaded, rather than where it was taken? Perhaps someone from Stafford, CT took a photo of a beach while on vacation, then uploaded it to Google after returning home.

Very well could be. Or perhaps based on a tagging system, where people have tagged their upload location, rather than the location of the photo. I uploaded a picture of the Shard (tall building in London) on Instagram a few years back, but tagged it "Burger King" because that's where I was when I uploaded it. All of my subsequent tags were of the actual location. But, that Burger King permanently has a photo of the Shard attached to the location. 

Then why are they all pictures of famous or beautiful things?