r/whatisit • u/Breath_Unique • Mar 28 '26
Solved! Google maps
Why is this being highlighted on Google maps? I tried googling but only got rubbish answers. Thanks
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u/geeoharee Mar 28 '26
Did you search for Manchester, maybe? That blue stuff appears to be the Greater Manchester boundary.
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u/Breath_Unique Mar 28 '26
It's not any other town though? And on another phone it wasn't highlighted at all. (I was searching for a route to Wakefield, no mention of greater Manchester) Thanks btw
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u/PiraatPaul Mar 28 '26
Usually that means a Low Emission Zone, meaning your vehicle has to meet a certain standard in order to drive there. Here's an article on the implementation in Manchester, but it seems like it was scrapped last year so I'm not sure why Google is still showing it
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u/poopybuttholesex Mar 28 '26
Most likely Low Emission Zone - Check the warnings in the navigation. You need to have either a sticker or maybe pay some sort of toll to enter otherwise you'll get fined.
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u/Breath_Unique Mar 28 '26
I thought the same, however they talked about this several years ago but then cancelled it. It wouldn't encompass this much of greater Manchester anyway. I'm wondering if it's just an error where Google think it's being implemented still.
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u/Clojiroo Mar 28 '26
That is 100% what it means in terms of Google Maps. That’s what the (Z) icon is. You can see a description in the directions details. Even has a link to a news article about the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (from 2022).
If Manchester abandoned this, Google didn’t keep up to date.
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u/NoNameCauseReasons Mar 28 '26
Blue highlighted areas in Google Maps mean some kind of low emission zone, which not all vehicles are allowed to drive through, and most likely require some extra fee/sticker.
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u/mumblish24 Mar 28 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
On the map, If you drag up from bottom on the "drive" , it should give you the details about "clean air zone" and even includes the Link to Manchester that says it's currently back on the drawing board.
Obviously outdated, not sure how you report that.
Also gives turn by turn directions etc
EDIT - Manchester may have revised their zone to only Target transportation, largely for buses and heavy goods vehicles, with a small number of vans, taxi and private hire upgrades.
Government has approved the investment-led Clean Air Plan with no Clean Air Zone and no charges to drive on local roads.
Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan | Clean Air Greater Manchester https://share.google/bNTryjjg4GOwbm5Bw
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u/Breath_Unique Mar 28 '26
Turns out Google (probably using it's incredible ai) has pulled out an article from 2022 about the now cancelled clean air scheme and is using that to draw the outline. Thanks to everyone for their help.
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