The city of Girona has successfully persuaded two of the most popular navigation platforms, Google Maps and Waze , to modify their routes to stop sending cars through the old town. The city's objective was clear: to prevent traffic through the Barri Vell ( Old Quarter) , a pedestrian-priority area with restricted access that was suffering from shortcuts suggested by GPS, especially among visitors.
With this update to the recommended routes, navigation systems prioritize well-marked alternative routes that comply with local regulations. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion on narrow streets, minimize disruption to residents, and preserve the historic environment, without hindering the mobility of those crossing the city.
What Google Maps and Waze have changed in Girona
Until now, many drivers—especially tourists—ended up crossing through the heart of the Barri Vell (Old Quarter) because their GPS suggested that route as a shortcut for local journeys . This practice led to improper traffic on narrow, cobbled streets with limited access permits , even for services and deliveries subject to specific schedules.
After several months of negotiations, the platforms have stopped recommending the historic center as the preferred option and now clearly indicate the restrictions . This means that those without authorization will no longer see the Barri Vell (Old Quarter) as an advantageous route to arrive faster, reducing complicated maneuvers and the frequent confusion in the medieval layout.
The city council had insisted that the "calming" of the city center is not just a slogan: pedestrian priority and pedestrian safety are integral to the city's design. Collaboration with navigation system operators, in addition to physical signage, ensures that the message is consistent both on the street and on screen.
In addition, problematic areas have been reviewed where the map suggested turns or crossings that, in practice, meant restricted access. Now, when planning a trip, the proposed routes avoid those streets and redirect users along routes that are open to general traffic.
How the change has been coordinated and what users will see
The City Council sent formal requests to Google and Waze to remove the Barri Vell (Old Quarter) from their usual recommendations and highlight the access restrictions. The process has been gradual, with verifications to ensure that the local restrictions are accurately reflected in the apps.
From now on, when planning a route through the city, apps will more clearly indicate restricted areas and suggest alternative routes suitable for general traffic. At the same time, the municipality is working to highlight recommended peripheral parking areas , thus limiting attempts to park in spaces reserved for loading and unloading or residents.
For authorized drivers, the information is more precise and avoids unnecessary detours: time windows and access conditions are more clearly displayed, facilitating logistics and delivery tasks without invading strictly pedestrian streets.
This technical and administrative coordination demonstrates that, with well-maintained municipal data, navigation platforms can become allies of urban planning. The result: less traffic congestion in the city center, less confusion, and a better experience for residents and visitors.
Other precedents for regulating tourism and traffic
Girona is not an isolated case. In Barcelona, ​​a similar measure was implemented to decongest access to Park Güell , adjusting transport information on Google Maps and reducing the massive influx of visitors on certain lines. The aim was to prioritize service to local residents and mitigate tourist overcrowding in the area.
In the Netherlands, a small municipality coordinated its residents to report street closures and thus divert traffic that was clogging its local road network. Although the method was extreme, it demonstrated the extent to which routing algorithms influence the daily lives of communities highly sensitive to car traffic.
These examples underline that the relationship between administrations and digital platforms can reorganize mobility flows when there is a clear justification: preserving historic centers, improving coexistence and facilitating less intrusive tourism, without blocking general accessibility to the city.
As GPS-driven travel increases, the constant updating of local data—restrictions, roadworks, pedestrian priority zones— becomes crucial. When digital mapping accurately reflects regulations, the map ceases to be a shortcut to chaos and becomes a tool for order , serving everyone.
The case of Girona illustrates a trend: with dialogue and reliable data, major navigation apps can help protect historic neighborhoods and improve urban mobility. Better signposted alternative routes, restricted zone alerts, and parking options on the outskirts offer a practical approach to balancing local life and tourism without sacrificing punctuality.