Good afternoon,
If a town would like to post signage on a road that is used as a map app cut-through, which troubles small neighborhoods, what is the best avenue to do so?
Would there have to be a Do not enter with daily hours physically posted, and then reported here to show it as restricted on Waze/Google Maps?
Or is there a way to just make it an electronic posted restriction through the forums/editors?
I’m working with a certain Town in South County, and I’m tasked with researching this so we can come up with a solution for the Town. Thank you very much for your insight.
Hello! We can’t speak for Google Maps, but the volunteer map editing community for Waze will generally only map legal road restrictions that are signed. A Do Not Enter sign with posted hours, or alternatively a no thru traffic sign with hours (black and white regulatory sign that’s enforceable, not the yellow and black advisory sign) have been used elsewhere and we have mapped the no thru traffic accordingly. We wouldn’t just make an electronic restriction without signage, since it would still be a legal route for anyone to use as a public road.
Another alternative may be some type of traffic calming that makes these routes less desirable to the routing algorithms. Speed humps or other measures could slow thru traffic on these roads, potentially making them slower than the main routes you may prefer drivers to be using. When the main routes then become faster, the apps will generally stick to them since the small neighborhood roads would not be a time-saving shortcut. That would probably require more work, traffic studies, and neighborhood approval, but it’s a potential option.
Hi, what a great comprehensive response, thank you.
All of the “alternative” methods are kind of in place (except speed bumps which won’t be possible here due to other dangers). We’re at the stage where official signage is the next step, which will hopefully satisfy the requirements to be recognized by Waze.
A Do Not Enter sign with posted hours, or alternatively a no thru traffic sign with hours (black and white regulatory sign that’s enforceable, not the yellow and black advisory sign) have been used elsewhere and we have mapped the no thru traffic accordingly
Would a Do Not Enter / No Thru official sign that states “Residents-only June 1st through September 1st” or “Residents-Only 3pm - 7pm” or “Residents-Only” “No Trucks”, things like that work? Based on your comments above it seems so. If the town officially installs those detailed signs, what would be the next step to get a high level editor to make that adjustment in the application? Essentially, the Town is ready to make these official signage changes, if they feel comfortable that apps such as Waze will recognize and honor them. This would be in Southern Rhode Island.
Thank you for your insight.
A do not enter or no thru traffic sign with dates and/or times would fall within our Waze community guidelines - especially if it’s something adopted into the local code/by-laws. Here’s an example of one mapped up in Woburn, MA
Personal opinion - I’d recommend a second rectangular sign below with times/dates, as this one is really hard to read all at once in person. I think No Thru Traffic is also more clear than Do No Enter for deliveries and whatnot (especially with personal vehicles used for many delivery apps now).
Is this just a few side streets? There are some limitations when it comes to a large number of roads or whole neighborhoods that are built into the mapping software / app itself and we have no control over that as volunteer map editors. Waze only supports passenger vehicles, so we have no way of setting a prohibition on trucks, buses, RVs, etc.
As for the next step, we really just need photo verification of the signs existing and their placement so we can discern how to map it on our end. If you’d like to share a screenshot of a map, we would be happy to take a first look. Feel free to message it to me here if you don’t want to post it publicly in the forum.
Good morning,
First of all, thank you very much for your kind assistance.
This would only be two main areas - back roads totaling about 3 roads all together. Agree about signage clarity as well.
I will reach back out to the decision-makers at the Town and then privately follow back up with you! Thanks again!
