MapQuest has done an impressive job of building a useful array of
driving-related tools onto its core mapping program. The site can guide
you to your destination, help you avoid traffic entanglements, and even
point you toward convenient coffee and cheap-gas pit stops along the
way. Here is a quick, tip-based map of MapQuest.
Avoid traffic jams: Once you've mapped out where you're
going, plan your best route by ticking the Traffic box at the top of
your map. Where possible, MapQuest displays current traffic conditions,
including traffic flow (normal to stop-and-go), accidents and
construction. You can still use "bad traffic" as an excuse for being
late, but not if your boss is the trust-but-verify type.
Find a nearby coffee shop: You used MapQuest to figure
out how to get where you're going, so why not let it help you figure out
what to do once you get there? After you've mapped an address, use the
Search Nearby form or the MapQuest sidebar toolbox to find a nearby
coffee shop, restaurant, movie theater, bar, dry cleaner or pawn shop.
Streamline full-address lookups: You may occasionally
look up an address by manually filling in each field of MapQuest's
traditional address/city/state/ZIP search form; but more often than not,
you just copy and paste the whole address from an e-mail message or from
a source on the Web. So rather than tediously copying the address, city
and ZIP code piecemeal into each field, click the Use Copy & Paste
Forms link in MapQuest and then paste the entire address into the
text area in one block.
Send directions to your phone or car: Rather than
printing out travel directions, try using the "Send to Cell" feature to
send your MapQuest map to your cell phone. Better yet, if your car is
equipped with GM's OnStar GPS technology, you can beam your directions
directly to your car -- just click the Send to OnStarMapQuest
link.
