Philadelphia, June 20: Google’s Street View cameras are now travelling by bike to capture images of some areas not accessible by cars.
The tricycle, mounted with a 2.5m high camera, has been rolling around the pedestrian walkways of the University of Pennsylvania to collect panoramic images of the campus for Google Maps’ Street View feature, which gives users detailed, street-level views of map locations over the internet.
Google Inc has been using car-mounted cameras to prowl streets in the US and around the world. The human-powered version allows coverage of pedestrian-only areas on campuses, in public parks and at theme parks, as well as along hiking and bicycling trails, as Google seeks to expand coverage of its maps.
The tricycle has also been cruising around other colleges and universities, Google spokesperson Sean Carlson said. It has also been seen cruising past Rome’s Trevi fountain, at Santa Monica’s Third Street promenade in California and pier and along a Monterey, California bicycle trail.
The effort comes as Google faces complaints from many individuals and institutions that have been photographed around the world. Since launching in 2007, Street View has expanded to more than 100 cities worldwide.
—Agencies