Waze now warns drivers when a cyclist is nearby, using locations shared by Garmin riders through LiveTrack. The feature is rolling out globally in Waze on Android and iOS.
It’s opt-in for cyclists. Drivers see a moving bike icon on the map and an alert that reads Cyclists ahead. Waze says they never see the rider’s name, identity or exact route.
How Waze cyclist alerts work for drivers
Garmin calls the feature Live Cycling Alerts. Riders who opt in appear as active, moving icons in the Waze app. Drivers also get a notification when one of them is close by.
“By bringing Live Cycling Alerts to Waze, we’re giving drivers a helpful heads-up so they can slow down, stay aware and safely share the road.”
That’s Gai Berkovich, VP and GM of Waze, in Garmin’s press release. Garmin bills the tie-up as an industry first. According to Garmin, Waze has about 200 million drivers.
There is a practical limit. The alerts only cover riders who own a compatible Garmin device and have opted in. Most cyclists won’t show up, so a missing alert doesn’t mean the road ahead is clear.
How cyclists turn on Garmin LiveTrack for Waze
Cyclists opt in through the Garmin Connect app. They can then share their LiveTrack location with Waze drivers when they start an outdoor cycling activity.
You need a compatible Garmin Edge bike computer or Garmin smartwatch. You also need a compatible smartphone running Garmin Connect. Neither announcement includes a list of compatible models.
Garmin says LiveTrack is free for users with a compatible device. Neither company mentions a paid subscription for the Waze feature. If you use a Garmin watch, our guide to stopping OK Garmin battery drain may also help on longer rides.
What Waze and Garmin say about privacy
Waze describes the feature as completely opt-in and built with privacy in mind. It says alerts turn off automatically as soon as a cyclist ends the ride on their Garmin device.
Garmin says location sharing is temporary and session-based. It adds that the cyclist’s personal information won’t be shared or displayed in Waze.
Those assurances cover what drivers see on screen. Neither announcement explains how the location data is handled behind the scenes. They also don’t say whether drivers can switch the alerts off, or which regions get them first.
