MapQuest Failed Me Yesterday

MapQuest failed me this weekend. In planning our bike ride from Vienna to Great Falls and back, I looked up the address for the Whole Foods in Vienna - right off of the W&OD trail, and mapquested the directions from our home. These are the directions that MapQuest provided, from route 66:

10: Merge onto I-66 W (Crossing into VIRGINIA). 19.2 miles

11: Take the FAIRFAX CO PKY / VA-7100 exit- EXIT 55- toward RESTON / HERNDON / SPRINGFIELD. 0.5 miles

12: Merge onto VA-7100 N / FAIRFAX COUNTY PKWY / JOHN F JACK HERRITY PKWY via EXIT 55B toward RESTON / HERNDON. 0.7 miles

13: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto FAIR LAKES PKWY. 0.3 miles

14: End at 143 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA 22180, US

Now, for anyone who lives in Vienna and frequents the Maple Avenue Whole Foods, you would realize that these are not the correct directions. And, for anyone who lives in Fairfax, you would realize that these are in fact the directions to the Fairfax Whole Foods on Market Commons Drive. Not being too familiar with either area, we trusted the powers that be at Mapquest. What are the chances that by plugging in the correct address, we would be led to the wrong Whole Foods?

Fortunately, my husband had biked part of the W&OD trail before and recognized that our initial destination did not look familiar - nor could we find the trail. When we asked a very nice suburban looking mom for directions to Maple Avenue, she said, "Oh, that's in Vienna!" and quickly pointed us on our way before the light turned green.

So, MapQuest, in the age of information technology, you have let me down. Your "omniscient" self was no match for the mind behind the woman in the black SUV. Don't you realize that we trust you whole-heartedly to navigate us along our paths and into uncharted territory. Your "shortest time" directions indicated a total estimated time of 32 minutes, instead it took us over an hour.

Did you think I was just going grocery shopping and would have been satisfied with any old Whole Foods? If that were the case, I would have walked two blocks and avoided much frustration.

So, MapQuest, you've lost some of my trust. And perhaps I've now learned a lesson... to read the fine print:

Your use of the website and Materials is at YOUR OWN RISK (their emphasis) and MapQuest is under no obligation to provide you with any support, error corrections, updates, upgrades, bug fixes and/or enhancements of the website and Materials.

Please note that the Materials may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. (my emphasis) MapQuest has the right at any time to change, modify, add to or discontinue or retire any aspect or feature of the website or Materials, including, but not limited to, the software, content, hours of availability, equipment needed for access or use, or the availability of the website or Materials on any particular device or communications service. MapQuest has no obligation to provide you with notice of any such changes.

Or use Yahoo! Maps.