Find more sustainable ways to get around, with new Maps and Search updates

New updates to features in Maps and Search make it easier to find alternatives to driving and flying

By James Byers, Group Product Manager, Search Read AI-generated summary

Illustration of a public bus on a street, with a train in the background and plane flying overhead. Bubbles of text show the phrases "Search trains" and "Climate Friendly"

When it comes to traveling and commuting, we want people to have the right information to make more sustainable choices. With new updates to features in Maps and Search, you can find convenient public transit and walking routes, see alternatives to air travel and better understand the estimated emissions of flights.

Find lower-carbon travel alternatives

In Maps, we’re launching a feature that shows public transit or walking suggestions next to driving routes, if travel times are comparable and practical. This will be available in the coming weeks in over fifteen cities around the world, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome and Sydney.¹

Image of Google Maps on a mobile device, showing a preview of driving directions in Paris, with a suggestion to consider a faster transit route.

We’re also expanding a feature in Search that helps you find information on long-distance train routes and adding support for buses as well. If you search for something like “Boston to Philadelphia train”, you can quickly see schedules and ticket prices right on the results page, along with links to complete your booking. This feature is now available for trains in 38 countries and long-distance bus routes in 15 countries.

Image of Google Search results on a mobile device, for the query "Boston to Philadelphia train". The results include schedules and ticket prices.

For some destinations, it may not be obvious when trains are a good alternative to flying. That’s why last year, we began rolling out train route suggestions when you look for flights on Search. In the coming months, you’ll also see these train route suggestions when you’re using Google Flights, so it’s easy to find the more sustainable option no matter where you begin your search.

Better understand emissions from flights

Sometimes, flying really is the only practical way to get from A to B, but the environmental impact of your trip can vary quite a bit based on which flight you choose. With Google Flights, you can already see estimated emissions for nearly every flight in the search results and filter by lower-emitting options.

These estimates are powered by the Travel Impact Model (TIM), a methodology we published in 2022 for predicting per-passenger flight emissions. To make this information even more accessible, TIM estimates are now also available through a developer API that allows any app or website to display flight emissions, as well as a Google Sheets add-on and a calculator on the TIM website.

Find More Sustainable Ways to Get Around with New Maps and Search Updates

In today’s world, with growing concerns about climate change, making sustainable choices is more important than ever. This applies to our travel habits as well. When it comes to getting from point A to point B, we want to empower people with the information they need to make eco-friendly decisions. That’s why we’re excited to announce new updates to Google Maps and Search that make it easier to find alternatives to driving and flying.

Unveiling Eco-Friendly Route Suggestions in Maps

Imagine you’re planning a trip to explore a new city – with Google Maps, you’ll now see more than just driving directions. We’re launching a new feature that displays public transit and walking route options alongside driving routes, whenever the travel times are comparable and practical. This means you can easily compare the estimated time it takes to get to your destination by car, bus, train, or even on foot. This empowers you to make an informed decision based on not just speed, but also on your environmental footprint.

This update will be rolling out in phases, with an initial launch in over fifteen major cities worldwide, including popular tourist destinations like Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome, and Sydney. As we gather feedback and usage data, we plan to expand this feature to encompass even more locations.

Exploring Long-Distance Trains and Buses with Search

Trains and buses are often more sustainable ways to travel compared to airplanes, particularly for shorter or medium-distance journeys. We’re expanding a feature in Search to make it easier for you to explore these options. Now, when you search for something like “Boston to Philadelphia train,” you’ll be presented with schedules and ticket prices directly on the results page, along with links to complete your booking. This eliminates the need to visit multiple websites or apps, streamlining the planning process. This feature is currently available for trains in 38 countries and is being extended to include long-distance bus routes in 15 countries.

Simplifying Sustainable Flight Choices with Google Flights

For some long-distance trips, flying may be unavoidable. However, the environmental impact of air travel can vary significantly depending on the specific flight you choose. Google Flights empowers you to make informed decisions by displaying estimated emissions for nearly every flight in the search results. This allows you to easily compare the carbon footprint of different flight options and prioritize lower-emitting choices.

To take transparency a step further, Google Flights also allows you to filter your search results to prioritize flights with lower emissions. This is a powerful tool for travelers who are committed to minimizing their environmental impact while still reaching their desired destination.

Unveiling the Travel Impact Model (TIM) for Developers

The estimated flight emissions displayed in Google Flights are powered by the Travel Impact Model (TIM), a comprehensive methodology developed by Google to predict per-passenger flight emissions. In our commitment to transparency and collaboration, we’ve made TIM estimates even more accessible.

A Step Forward on the Path to Sustainable Travel

We understand that achieving truly sustainable travel requires a collaborative effort. The updates we’re announcing today are just one step on that journey. By providing users with more information and empowering them to make informed choices, we hope to encourage a shift towards more sustainable travel options. We’re committed to ongoing development in this area and look forward to collaborating with individuals, travel companies, and policymakers to make sustainable travel the preferred choice for everyone.

In addition to the features mentioned above, there are several other ways Google is working towards a more sustainable future for travel. Here are a few examples:

Supporting Sustainable Accommodations: We’re working with hotels and other accommodations to highlight eco-friendly properties on Google Search and Google Maps. This allows travelers to easily identify and choose accommodations that prioritize sustainability practices.
Encouraging Eco-Friendly Travel Itineraries: We’re exploring ways to integrate sustainability considerations into travel planning tools. This could involve suggesting eco-friendly activities and attractions within a destination, or recommending itineraries that minimize carbon footprint

While there’s still a long road ahead when it comes to sustainable travel, today’s updates will give more people the information they need to choose lower-carbon alternatives.