Garmin and Waze have teamed up to make cyclists visible on the map for nearby drivers, Electrek reported.
In a column for Electrek, Seth Weintraub writes that the new safety feature lets cyclists using a compatible Garmin Edge bike computer or Garmin smartwatch share their location via Garmin’s LiveTrack feature. That location then appears in real time to nearby drivers using Waze, displaying cyclists as moving icons on the road.
🚨Waze can now alert drivers about nearby cyclists The company has teamed up with Garmin to make roads safer. Here's how it works: ➡️ Drivers get real-time alerts when Garmin cyclists are nearby. ➡️ Cyclists can enable Garmin LiveTrack to appear on Waze maps. ➡️ Names,… pic.twitter.com/YRqJ66anmJ
- Increases real-time location visibility for roughly 200 million active Waze users worldwide.
- Uses Garmin's existing LiveTrack infrastructure to broadcast outdoor sessions automatically.
Weintraub argues that safety, or the perception that cycling is unsafe, remains one of the biggest impediments to getting more people onto bikes in the US, where riders often share roads with cars instead of using separated infrastructure.
The Waze integration is opt-in through Garmin Connect and activates automatically whenever the user starts an outdoor cycling activity. Garmin reports that the location sharing is temporary and session-based, while personal user information remains hidden from Waze.
Waze and Garmin launch alerts for cyclists, promising safer roads for everyone.https://t.co/BYSfuv35KL#Waze #Garmin #GarminLiveTrack #AndroidApp #Smartwatch #Wearables #Cycling #RoadSafety #GPSNavigation #GadgetFlux pic.twitter.com/6FosiOJ85W
Garmin LiveTrack is a free service for compatible device users that previously allowed individuals to share live speed, route details, and locations with friends and family. The new partnership extends that safety net directly to nearby motorists using Waze.
Weintraub notes that the system has a clear limitation because both the cyclist and the driver must use their respective devices and apps. However, given Waze’s massive user base and Garmin being one of the biggest names in cycling computers and fitness watches, the feature creates a practical bridge for road safety.
Waze Now Alerts Drivers to Nearby Cyclists Using Garmin LiveTrack https://t.co/kcek5eA0Gf pic.twitter.com/bm0MfwWc6y
