Google Maps Accessible Places: Finding Wheelchair-Friendly Locations Easily

Have you ever made plans to go somewhere new, packed the car with your electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, and ensured you had everything for the journey—only to arrive and find you can’t enter the building or access the toilet? It’s incredibly frustrating when this happens. Unfortunately, it happens all too often, and it’s something my husband Michael has experienced several times. Sometimes, even a single step without a slope can stop you from going any further.

Introducing Accessible Places on Google Maps

Accessible Places is a new Google Maps feature that allows wheelchair and scooter users to easily find out whether a location is accessible before leaving home. The feature is part of Google’s mission to build a more inclusive, helpful map for everyone—making travel easier for people with reduced mobility.

How It Works

You can now turn on the Accessible Places feature in Google Maps to have wheelchair accessibility information displayed more prominently. When switched on, a wheelchair icon appears beside accessible locations, showing you whether a place has:

• Accessible entrances
• Accessible seating areas
• Accessible toilets
• Accessible parking spaces

If a place doesn’t have an accessible entrance, Google Maps will also display this information clearly—helping you plan your visit more confidently.

Where Is the Feature Available?

Accessible Places is currently available to Google Maps users in the UK, United States, Australia, and Japan, with plans to expand to more countries soon. Google now provides wheelchair accessibility information for over 15 million locations worldwide, thanks to the input of retailers and users who share accessibility details to make maps more accurate for everyone.

The feature works on both Android and iOS devices, making it easier than ever to explore new places with confidence.

Why This Matters

Accessibility isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Knowing in advance whether a venue has ramps, accessible toilets, or step-free access can make the difference between a stress-free day out and a disappointing experience. Google’s Accessible Places feature gives users more freedom and independence by removing uncertainty before they travel.

Courtesy of Google and Thiis Magazine, 17 June 2020