Waze Online
I didn’t know you could see the live Waze map on your desktop browser. This is nice.
How Waze is changing cities and making driving more pleasant
This is a very interesting #NatandLo video from Google about the company Waze (which Google -- or is it Alphabet? -- owns). It gives a special peek into the Waze editing system and how top Waze drivers/contributors are out there helping make Waze more accurate every day.
I had no idea that Waze was more than just traffic though. Apparently, certain regions of Waze allow for road repair reports that go directly to government officials, other areas allow for car shares (Israel only for now), and even emergency response systems have made use of Waze's data to make better decisions and deploy aid. That's pretty cool.
Waze Carpool service launches in San Francisco
This is the first I'm hearing of Waze's Carpool app. The idea launched in Israel on a limited basis and now the ride-sharing app from Waze is coming state-side to San Francisco. By using Waze's community-driven traffic data, the Waze Carpool app connects drivers and riders along the same route to minimize traffic on the road and get people to their destinations faster.
Although the video above seems like an Uber or Lyft driven by everyday strangers, the concept is actually more similar to those services than it is different. Drivers who wish to participate still need to sign up with Waze Carpool before offering others a lift. Still a cool idea though but not quite as free-roaming as I thought.