Tightness
Because since August 16, this hundred meters of the artery cutting in two the Brussels Pentagon is no longer accessible to ordinary motorists. This is one of the filters newly implemented by the Good Move Pentagon plan. Where STIB, taxis and rescue pass, but not the others. To enforce this new traffic plan, the Brussels Mobility Alderman (Groen) is counting on the adaptation of habits. But also on route planners. But on August 24, Google Maps, one of the major players in the sector, remains at the previous situation: nothing indicates on its maps that the segment is blocked between Botanique and Sablon. What begins to tense Bart Dhondt. The ecologist crosses his fingers to see the virtual cards adapted this August 29 at the latest, Monday of the start of the school year which promises to be black on the asphalt of the Pentagon.
It is very important that Google Maps makes the effort. Its delay puts some drivers in violation and creates danger: it pushes them to follow a path that has become prohibited.
“Planners like Waze, Google Maps have become very important”, opines the elected official, whose teams kept a dozen web operators informed “as soon as the final plans have been determined”. Among them, the GPS players Coyote or TomTom, the lesser known planner Here WeGo or the pro solution Inrix. Of course, a period of adaptation is necessary. “But it is very important that Google Maps makes the effort. They have the right types of maps, in the right formats. Their delay can put some drivers in violation and create dangerous situations: it pushes them to follow a path that has become prohibited “. Waze for its part, although owned by the Californian giant but which works a lot on the basis of feedback from its community, seems up to date “apart from a few small things”. As well as Here or Citymapper, the app dedicated to urban travel.
“We work hard”
So what’s stuck at Google? “We contacted them in April. With several computer formats and explanations of each measure taken. It is a very intense work of the mobility department, which ensured the follow-up of the few subsequent adaptations. its responsibilities. Because at the start of the school year, we want to be able to advise car commuters to switch on their planner”. On the side of the Belgian teams of the Mountain View giant, we limit ourselves to retorting that “sometimes updating the map data takes time”. Communications manager Michiel Sallaets justifies the delay by “the frequency with which restaurants in Brussels come and go, the number of businesses, buildings, houses and roads that are built there”. And to promise that “Google is working hard to offer the most accurate map for the City of Brussels”.
Given the frequency with which restaurants in Brussels come and go, the number of businesses, buildings, houses and roads that are built there, updating the map data takes time.
In the meantime, the Grand-Place has carefully kept its own tool, designed by the Belgian company Anyways. While the alderman wanted to “throw her out” after August 16. “We wanted those who want the info to be able to know beforehand how to reach their usual destinations after the plan,” notes Dhondt. A useful measure for the logistics sector. “We met Febet, AB Inbev, home delivery companies… And we will see them again”.
Rue Royale, no motorist has been trapped for more than 10 minutes. Bart Dhondt gets back on his bike with a smile.
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