Directing drivers "weird ways" may be a strategy to lower congestion. If all drivers take the same optimal route, and the route exceeds its capacity and clogs, everyone loses.
The last trip I encountered this was on a Saturday night around 11pm north of Syracuse, NY. Drove about 20 minutes in empty, industrial areas to get to a restaurant. It was one expressway exit from our hotel, 5 minutes tops. I think that the app did that to avoid a u-turn or a left turn.
Re:DuckDuckGo Expands Use of Apple Maps
by CamperBob2 on Wednesday July 17, 2019 @12:33AM
(#20456475)
Which is fine, but avoiding left turns and U-turns needs to be available as a user preference, and it (inexplicably) isn't.
Agreed, that’s why I find it a user hostile app. Amazing mapping engine, not so amazing UI.
This is what Waze does (based on anecdata between me and friends), so it would make sense for Google Maps to do, too.
For navigation, Waze can't find a route 1/5 times for a longer trip, and Google Maps gets weirder and more hostile to use every few months. For me, they have tweaked their routing engine to be more "creative" and direct you in weird ways. Big G is too fat and happy and they need a challenge.
Apple Maps is fine now from an accuracy POV. They are more conservative about routing and Apple gives the app privileged treatment on iOS that improves the UX while driving. Now that Apple seems to be embracing letting services move beyond their platform, I think we'll see them give Google a run for their money.