Waze Adds Garmin Cyclist Alerts, but They Won’t Work on Every Road

Garmin and Waze have introduced real-time cyclist alerts for drivers using Android and iOS devices. The new LiveTrack integration allows participating cyclists to share their location, providing drivers with an early warning on certain roads. However, these warnings are not available on all roads and may not work on urban streets.

Cyclists must use compatible Garmin devices and enable location sharing to opt-in for the feature. When activated, drivers see moving bicycle icons and receive visual and audio alerts when approaching a cyclist. The alerts are not manual reports and depend on live location data rather than fixed map markers. Drivers do not need a Garmin device or subscription to receive the alerts.

Waze displays participating cyclists as moving icons, and alerts may target drivers traveling in the same direction on the same road. Cyclists may appear as one icon even when riding closely together. The alerts are designed for high-speed and rural roads, not urban streets, and will not appear in cities. The feature is not available in every country, and drivers should not assume specific distances for warning triggers.

Waze enables the alerts by default, but drivers can adjust them in the app. The integration does not reveal cyclists' names or exact routes. Garmin and Waze aim to help drivers notice cyclists sooner on limited-visibility roads, but the company has not published effectiveness data. The integration is different from vehicle-to-everything technology, relying instead on consumer devices and a working connection. Other navigation platforms are developing different forms of driver assistance.