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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
False Alarm, Google Street Traffic Data Was Just a Test
Google complimented us in an e-mail today for catching their short test on street traffic for Google Maps. Unfortunately, that function isn't fully available yet, they tell us. "We're constantly testing new features to improve Google Maps - one feature we're currently working on is traffic conditions for arterial roads," the Google spokesperson wrote. "Unfortunately we don't have a launch date to share, but the positive response from having it live for just a short time yesterday was great to see, and we're working hard to make it available soon." However, they do encourage people to use the Typical Traffic feature that launched last year. You can plug in a day and time and see what the traffic is like based on past patterns. For example, you're going to LAX at 5 p.m. on Friday, what's a typical traffic pattern? Oh, it's hell.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
