Google Maps Avoid Stinky Areas

It’s summer. During this time, many of us in the U.S. embark on a shared part of our cultural history: road trips. Be it catching a glimpse of the world’s largest prairie dog, endless hours on my Gameboy, or getting mildly ill from eating Long John Silvers, I look back fondly on those days spent in the car.

One thing I don’t love to remember is the smell of certain areas with a significant cow population. Also, parts of North Dakota where I grew up were particularly stinky when sugar beets were being harvested.

A good mapping application will help you find your destination and even optimize your route in real time. However, there’s no way to avoid stinky areas… yet. What if Google Maps could offer you detours not based on the fastest route, but on the least stinky route?

There’s a particularly hellish patch of the 5 near Bakersfield that smells… less than ideal. I am reminded of this every time I drive through there. Most Californians know what I’m talking about.

If Google was willing to make a change, we could avoid this area entirely.

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