Google Maps does scenic route in Sydney

The Sydney Morning Herald reports of an embarrassing gaffe with Google’s new Maps for Down Under: The route for a three-second walk across the street from The Herald’s offices — it shares a building with Google Australia — is a 10.4-kilometer jaunt, according to Maps.

Journalists at The Herald would know better – it’s “the local”, or closest pub, for the thirsty, hard-working journalists who frequent the Shelbourne. Heck, I know, I used to work there and take my breaks between editions of the paper over a schooner.

I don’t think I’d be willing to pay the $3 bridge toll, but would not mind the cab ride for a breather.

The Herald reports:

The blame for the wayward directions appears to lie with MapData Sciences, the Sydney-based company that supplies the mapping data to Google.

It incorrectly locates 201 Sussex Street on the Western Distributor, one street south of where it should be.

A similarly inaccurate set of driving directions is given on the Telstra-run WhereIs.com mapping service, which uses data from a different provider. But the directions don’t include crossing the harbour.

Some comments on the find on my former SMH boss’s blog are worth noting:

“I asked [Google Maps] to give me directions to go from my home to work in Manly. Wow , was I surprised when I found out that there was a short cut that I have never known about. Alas upon further investigation my new short cut was through a bush walk track through the national park that was signposted at the entry to the park as a 1 hour walk! I think I will stick to the old less scenic route!” –Harvey

And a more sobering note from “bloody google”:

Bloody google maps had me screwed while skiing in the US… I followed it to Squaw Valley, and rather than enter the turnoff it took me to the next exit, into a side road and a cull de sac… on a decline.. in 2 feet of snow. The van promptly bogged with no way of getting out.

Stuck I had to leave it there for the weekend.. got drunk on schnapps waiting for a snow taxi .. luckily the snow plow had dug me out by the time I had to leave…”