Apple Maps is a go-to navigation tool for many, offering Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for various modes of transport like driving, walking, and cycling.
However, when it comes to electric bikes, the ETA provided by Apple Maps can often be a bit off.
This is because electric bikes have unique performance traits—such as higher speeds and fluctuating battery life—that aren’t fully considered in Apple Maps' calculations.
In this article, we’ll explore why Apple Maps’ ETA can be inaccurate for electric bike users and share practical tips to help you get more reliable travel time estimates.
How Apple Maps Calculates ETA
Apple Maps determines your ETA based on factors like route distance, road type, and the mode of transport you've selected.
For cycling, it typically assumes an average human cycling speed—usually around 10-12 mph (16-19 km/h). While this works fine for traditional bikes, it doesn’t factor in the extra boost from an electric bike's motor.
Electric bikes allow riders to maintain faster speeds, especially on flat ground or uphill.
Unfortunately, Apple Maps currently doesn’t differentiate between regular bicycles and electric bikes, which can result in either over- or underestimating your travel time.
Why Apple Maps ETA Is Inaccurate for Electric Bikes
Electric bikes have some distinct features that set them apart from traditional bikes. Apple Maps doesn’t always account for these differences when calculating your ETA, leading to inaccurate predictions. Here are the main factors:
- Speed: Electric bikes typically travel at speeds of 15-20 mph (24-32 km/h) on flat terrain, much faster than the average 10-12 mph (16-19 km/h) of regular bicycles. Apple Maps doesn’t take this difference into account, which can skew your estimated arrival time.
- Battery Life: Your bike’s battery level can affect its motor performance. A low battery may reduce assistance from the motor, which in turn affects your speed and ETA.
- Terrain: Hilly or steep routes can slow you down, but Apple Maps doesn’t always factor in elevation changes. While electric bikes handle hills better than regular bikes, their speed will still drop on steep inclines.
Given these differences, the default ETA in Apple Maps isn’t always an accurate reflection of the actual travel time for electric bike users.
How to Adjust Apple Maps ETA for Electric Bikes
While Apple Maps doesn’t currently have a built-in feature to adjust ETA specifically for electric bikes, there are a few steps you can take to estimate your arrival time more accurately. Here's how:
Estimate Your Speed
Electric bikes tend to go faster than regular bikes, but this depends on various factors like terrain, battery level, and weather. To adjust your ETA manually, try estimating your average speed:
Flat terrain: Expect to travel at around 15-20 mph (24-32 km/h). For example, if your route is 10 miles and you’re riding at 18 mph, you can expect the trip to take about 33 minutes (10 miles ÷ 18 mph = 0.55 hours, or 33 minutes).
Adjusting for speed changes: If you're riding through hilly areas or battling strong winds, slow down your speed estimate. For those conditions, assume a speed of around 12-15 mph (19-24 km/h) and add a little extra time to your ETA.
Factor in Battery Life
Your bike’s battery directly affects its performance. If the battery is running low, you may experience reduced motor assistance, which can slow you down:
Monitor battery levels: Before you start your ride, check your battery level. If it's below 50%, your motor’s assistance will likely be weaker, so expect a slower pace.
Consider the range: Some electric bikes display an estimated range based on the current battery level. Use this info to gauge how far you can go before needing to recharge. This can help you fine-tune your ETA further.
Account for Terrain and Elevation
Apple Maps doesn’t always adjust for the elevation changes on your route, which can affect your speed. Electric bikes perform better on hills than regular bikes, but steep climbs still slow you down:
Plan around hills: If your route includes hilly sections, slow your expected pace for those climbs. You might also pick up speed on the downhill sections, so consider balancing those factors to adjust your ETA.
Optimize for flat routes: For a more accurate estimate, try to select routes that are flatter or bike-friendly. Apple Maps offers bike-friendly route options that tend to minimize steep inclines, improving the accuracy of your ETA.
Use Third-Party Apps for More Accurate ETAs
For a more precise ETA that takes into account your electric bike’s unique performance features, consider using third-party apps designed for cyclists or electric bike riders.
These apps better factor in elevation, battery usage, and your bike’s speed, offering more accurate travel time predictions.
Komoot: Komoot is popular among cyclists because it allows for detailed route planning, factoring in terrain and providing ETA estimates based on your bike type (including electric bikes). It’s a great option if you want a more tailored prediction.
Strava: Strava also works well for electric bike users, as it can sync with your bike’s data (like speed and battery usage). This way, the app can give real-time, accurate updates on your ETA.
Using these apps alongside Apple Maps will give you a much clearer picture of your expected travel time.
Will Apple Maps Update to Support Electric Bike ETA?
Currently, Apple Maps doesn’t provide a dedicated feature for electric bike ETA adjustments, but the growing popularity of electric bikes may prompt future updates.
While there’s no official word yet, it's possible Apple could start considering electric bike speeds, battery life, and terrain in upcoming versions of the app.
Until then, using manual adjustments and third-party apps is your best bet for accurate ETA estimates.
Conclusion
Although Apple Maps provides useful route and ETA information, it’s not quite optimized for electric bike users.
Factors like speed, battery life, and terrain can significantly affect your travel time, and Apple Maps doesn’t yet take these into account.
By manually adjusting for your bike’s performance and using third-party apps, you can get more reliable predictions and ensure your electric bike journeys are as smooth as possible.
While we hope Apple will add more specific features for e-bike riders in the future, these adjustments should help you better plan your trips for now.
FAQs
Does Apple Maps ETA account for time zone change?
Yes, Apple Maps automatically adjusts ETA to reflect any time zone changes along your route, so your arrival time will be displayed correctly for your destination's time zone.
How to customize Apple Maps route?
You can customize your route in Apple Maps by choosing alternate routes, avoiding tolls or highways, and adding stops along the way. However, detailed customization options (like specific waypoints) are limited compared to some other navigation apps.
Does Maps account for time zone changes?
Yes, Apple Maps considers time zone changes automatically, ensuring that your arrival time reflects the local time at your destination.
