Google Street View Bike Does Santa Monica, Universities & More

Remember that Google Street View bike that was unveiled in May for use to map footpaths in Britain? Turns out, Google has a number of them, and they’re also operating in Japan, Italy and the US. In fact, imagery from them from three spots in California has recently gone online and more will be coming in the next few months.

Google tells me in the US, these areas have gotten Street View photography via bike power:

• Santa Monica Pier
• 3rd Street Promenade
• Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Path

Expect to see some universities added to the list, as well as amusement parks. Places working with Google to do bike-based mapping include:

• University Of Pennsylvania (see AP story for more)
• Penn State
• University Of San Diego
• Legoland California

Legoland! How about Disneyland? Well, Disneyland Paris went live about a week ago, but that was done with a car. If a bike is being brought into any of the other Disney parks, Google’s not saying.

Expect to see the images from other places appear in the next few months, Google says.

Postscript: In related news, apparently two people were arrested on mugging charges in the Netherlands after a crime was caught on a Street View camera.

About The Author

Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan was a journalist and analyst who covered the digital and search marketing space from 1996 through 2017. He was also a cofounder of Third Door Media, which publishes Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, MarTech Today and produces the SMX: Search Marketing Expo and MarTech events. He retired from journalism and Third Door Media in June 2017. You can learn more about him on his personal site & blog He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.