Looks like MapQuest is trying to get back on top, I'm sure they've suffered a huge blow with Google and Yahoo! competing for their business. MapQuest used to be my first choice for maps, that is until Google came around with their service. I go back and forth between Google and Yahoo! but I haven't given MapQuest much of a thought lately, until today, that is.
Here is a list of features that MapQuest is offering, and let me tell you, a few of these I've been waiting around for a long time for somebody to finally give them to me!
Shortest Time
MapQuest factors in dozens of variables to generate the most efficient route based on the expected trip time. This is the "classic" MapQuest route, recommended for most trips.
Shortest Distance
This new option provides the shortest distance route. Great for finding new ways across town - or try it along with Avoid Highways to plan your next bike ride!
Avoid Highways
Freeways make you nervous? Like exploring the back roads? Try our Avoid Highways option.
Avoid Tolls
Hate waiting at toll booths? Want to save a few bucks? Avoid Tolls was designed for you!
I've been looking for a mapping service that allows me to customize routes based on roads I want to take. I know I can get to Angola, Indiana using I-94 and I-69 but we live off of US-12 and don't mind taking that route instead. We also skip I-94 when going to Illinois and take the US-12 route to I-69. Now if I needed to give directions using US-12 instead of the interstate I can plan a route that avoids the interstate for friends or family based on specific preferences.
I hate tolls! I don't think we should have to pay to use a road and use them very infrequently. My only exception is the Chicago Skyway, that is $2.00 (or maybe more now) that is absolutely worth the cost. I purposely took back roads from Ohio to Wisconsin while I was in college to avoid having to use the Ohio or Indiana Toll Roads. My route saved me money in gas and didn't add much to time, if ever I get a change to effectively avoid toll roads, I will always take that chance. Besides you miss a lot driving around on the interstate all the time, you get to see things you wouldn't otherwise see and you get to inadvertently discover new places you never knew existed. It's the closest I get to an adventurous spirit.
These new MapQuest services may just be enough to bring me back to the service. I have all summer as a road warrior to try them out too!
technorati tags: mapquest, maps, travel, google_map, yahoo_maps, toll_roads, interstate, highways, driving
Ohh my goodness! Remind me to tell you about the "shortest route" Jeff and I took, which was off of Mapquest this past January. It was INSANE.
Let me just say, taking a short route in the middle of winter in Canada is not the most brilliant idea. We were trekking down dirt roads and almost running Amish people on carriages over. Near the end of our little "shortcut" we had to try to get over a hill up ice in the woods. I thought we were goners for sure. We decided to turn around and use "paved roads" the rest of the way.
ha ha
Actually I'm taking back everything I said about MapQuest. I decided to map out the route from work to the school I'm performing at today (just for fun since I already knew how to get there). It told me to take 275 back north, then 94 west just to get back to 23 south to Ohio (which is where the school is off of). Well if you know Toledo at all you know that from Monroe all you have to do is take 275 south then take 75 south, why the hell would I want to go back north just to go south again?! Maybe they thought I had to go home first?
Shortest route was really not better...at least Google got it closer to right, I ended up taking my own route through Monroe anyway...oh well, MapQuest may be back out again :)
I would think you'd be used to driving around random unpaved roads being in Michigan and all :) My biggest Michigan pet peeve is suddenly hitting an unpaved road, I don't understand people who live on those roads either.