A step has been taken to correct electronic directional services consumers have on their cell phones and in their cars, when trying to navigate Honesdale’s new traffic pattern.
Since a report was published about the directionall confusion at the March 8th borough Council meeting, Google Maps responded to the problem. Michael Jones, Chief Technology Advocate at Google in Moutainview, CA, said that he has updated the information to reflect the one-way pattern that was instituted last October.
He said that within a week or two, users of devices that employ Google Maps, will see that the directions given now reflect the change.
Each morning, Jones routinely searches the Internet for stories written about GPS issues or Google, and came across the story posted by The Wayne Independent on the Council meeting.
Councilman Robert Jennings, who chairs the Safety Committee, said at that meeting that he had received complaints from residents about the GPS services giving old directions about which way to turn on Honesdale streets. Jennings was researching how to have this corrected, and State Rep Michael Peifer was looking as well.
Jones indicated that the problem lies with who ever supplies the map services, has not received updated information. At Google Maps on-line, there is a small box at the bottom right of each map to click, to report corrections. Google then checks the information and updates accordingly. Jones said sooner or later someone would likely have reported the one-way changes.
While Google Maps is not used in most vehicle GPS devices, Google Maps is used in about 270 kinds of mobile phones, Jones said.
Jennings said he was delighted that some action was being taken to avert what could become a major problem.
Sharon Kittner of Honesdale said that she has found directional problems with MapQuest, including directing drivers over the 5th Street foot bridge. (Editor’s note: MapQuest has been notified of the one-way changes.)
Honesdale, Pa. —
