That cluster of Lime bikes on a corner is getting a lot more visible — even if some of them aren’t upright.
Thursday, Google announced it would display nearby Lime pedal bikes, e-bikes and scooters from inside Google Maps. Not only that, but if there’s a Lime vehicle available to help get you to your destination, Maps will show walking time to get to it, a ride cost estimate, total journey time and an estimated time of arrival to your destination. The option for Lime vehicles appears from the Maps app’s transit icon.
The new feature rolls out today inside the Google Maps apps for iOS and Android in 13 cities, including Seattle, Scottsdale, San Jose, San Antonio, San Diego, Oakland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Austin in the U.S., plus Auckland, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia. In Seattle, where e-scooters are not allowed, presumably only pedal and e-bikes will display — Google says “vehicle options vary by city.”
Google promises Maps will have, “more cities coming soon — so you can get to that meeting right on Lime.”