With the start of Pride Month, Google is adding a small but handy feature in Maps and Search to support transgender, non-binary, and gender-disregarding individuals. Local entries can now indicate whether a company has gender-neutral toilets. This information is listed in the Amenities section of the About tab. It is still possible to check whether a company identifies itself as a transgender safe space.
This isn’t the only new feature the company is adding to Maps. In another timely addition (after all, World Bicycle Day is on June 3rd), it expands the availability of bike sharing information. By the end of 2021, the feature is expected to work in more than 100 additional cities in 25 countries, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Portland, Miami and Boston. You can use this feature to find bike sharing stations and see how many bikes are available at each one.
In any case, this is a significant expansion. When Google Maps first added bike sharing information, it was available in 24 cities in 16 countries. The addition comes as more people seek the company for directions and information about the bike. According to Google, people use maps for bike rides that are, on average, 10 percent longer than the ones they took in 2020.
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