When Google suggests cycling routes, the routes are listed in order of shortest to longest, some of which may lead you up a hill or into an area with traffic. Before you make your choice, preview the route with Google Street View so you can be aware of rough terrain, inclines, or traffic. When you choose a walking route, access Live View for an augmented reality experience. Right from your map, you’ll see details about the restaurants and shops surrounding you, including photos, reviews, and how busy they are. Live View can also tell you are in relation to a place, such as your hotel, so you can get a handle on your whereabouts. If you prefer to send a link to a person, choose the Send a link tab and copy the link to the map. Paste the link into a text field to send it via email or text message. This option works well when you are hosting a party, for example, and some of your guests have never been to your home. A science fiction twist to this idea is the Doctor Who Locations map that shows areas where the BBC television series is filmed. Other versions show where U.S. zip code boundaries are; you can even find out what the effects of a nuclear blast would be based on location. When you are driving, Google Navigation usually warns you of upcoming traffic delays. Street View isn’t available in all areas. To see which streets are available on the map you are using, select the Pegman icon in the bottom corner of the map to display the streets that have been mapped for Street View. They appear in blue on the map.
