MapQuest Unveils Pedestrian and Rail Transit Routing

Wireless News
02-17-2011
MapQuest Unveils Pedestrian and Rail Transit Routing
Type: News

MapQuest, Inc., a subsidiary of AOL Inc., has launched a pedestrian routing mode on MapQuest.com, making walking directions more direct than ever.

Additionally, the Company said that a new rail transit option links the pedestrian mode with public rail transportation routing in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Boston, reaching roughly 90 percent of the nation's rail ridership.
According to a release, with more U.S. individuals now residing in urban settings rather than suburban or rural, there is an even greater need to provide relevant information and routing to MapQuest's city contingency: The new nationwide pedestrian mode allows walking travelers to be routed down one-way streets, pedestrian malls, through parks and along designated paths; while the new transit routing option provides departure and arrival information, helpful hints to alert train passengers, and station search information in designated cities.

"MapQuest is in the business of getting people where they need to go," said Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager, MapQuest. "We are excited to launch both the nationwide pedestrian mode and the new transit routing option on MapQuest.com to reach urban commuters who rely on alternative modes of transportation."

On average, some 14.7 million people use metro public rail options in the six launch cities:

-New York

-Washington D.C.

-Chicago

-Boston

-San Francisco Bay

-Philadelphia

"The new MapQuest routing options for walking directions and transit can work separately or together to meet customers' preferences," said Ann Koerner, director of consumer products, MapQuest. "MapQuest has always listened to our customer needs. The pedestrian mode and rail transit option are a direct response to one of the top requested features from our customers, and help us continue to be the trusted source for all types of maps and directions."

On average, MapQuest noted that it receives more than 1 million inquiries for directions each day. The new pedestrian routing and rail transit option add layers of environmentally conscious features to MapQuest's suite of routing solutions.

MapQuest worked with San Francisco-based, geospatial data and mapping company, Urban Mapping, to develop its transit option, and has plans for additional city content is 2011.

MapQuest provides Internet, mobile, and business solutions delivering on the promise of helping people research and discover: where is it, how I get there and what's nearby.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a