Waze Updates App with Motorcycle Vehicle Type Option

True to the community-based nature of the app, Waze's latest update with the Motorcycle Vehicle Type Option will soon give those who ride on two wheels specialized routes "to help make finding freedom on the open road simpler and faster."

Beyond getting real-time road updates and alerts, motorcycle riders who use the aforementioned option will be directed to routes optimized for motorcyclists based on the feedbacks and updates by their fellow two-wheeled riders. And true to Waze's community-based data, the more often these routes are used by their fellow motorcyclist, the more efficient it is to determine the time of arrival at a destination.

To activate the motorcycle vehicle type option, go to Settings > Navigation > Vehicle Type > Motorcycle on the app.

Besides the Motorcycle Vehicle Option, Waze has also rolled out two updates that, unfortunately, are not available to us locally--at least not yet.

First is Talk to Waze, which is basically a voice-activated command system that lets you control the app using your voice and the command 'Okay Waze'--very similar to how you can control your Android phone via the 'Okay Google' voice command. And that's no surprise, really, since Google did acquire Waze in June 2013 for $966 million. Anyway, with Talk to Waze, drivers can now start their drive, study their route, send updates on their journey, and add a pit stop without touching the screen--a perfect tool against distracted driving since it lets you keep your focus on the road. Unfortunately for us, Talk to Waze is only available for English-speaking Wazers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, and New Zealand, though it will supposedly "roll out in more languages soon."

The second update that we won't get--probably at all, even--is the High-Occupancy Vehicle Route Support. Reportedly a first of its kind feature for navigations apps, the feature lets vehicles with more than one occupant or alternative-fueled vehicles like hybrids, electric, or clean-fuel cars, find their way around town using the high-occupancy-vehicle lanes (or carpool lanes, as they're otherwise known) on their route. HOV route support is currently only available to Waze users in 22 markets across the United States and in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in Canada, with planned roll-outs across both countries in the future.