Real-Time Traffic Alerts, Safer Routing, Voice Navigation: What Bike Riders in India Want From Their Mapping Apps

Mapping and location data firm Here Technologies has released the results of a new study titled Inside the Two-Wheeler Landscape in APAC, conducted jointly with Point Consulting. The study, which aims to establish a data-driven understanding of how bike riders use navigation software and features, was conducted over the course of Q1 2026 across China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, with over 2,400 respondents.

The company says collectively, these countries have the world’s largest and most diverse population of scooter and motorcycle riders, allowing for a detailed look at attitudes towards road safety, and what riders prioritise in terms of navigation features and capabilities. Considering the rapid adoption of scooters and motorcycles in the gig economy across Asia Pacific countries, Here Technologies has focused on how navigation apps can help not only with safety but also helping people perform their job duties.

Deon Newman, Senior Vice President and General Manager - Asia Pacific, Here Technologies said “By uncovering how riders behave, what they value and where they experience friction, this study provides actionable insights for two-wheeler vehicle manufacturers, mobility platforms, logistics operators, and policymakers. It also highlights the growing need for high quality map data, real-time traffic and environment intelligence, context-aware routing, and next-generation navigation solutions.”

What riders in India want

In India, the majority of respondents chose real-time traffic alerts (61 percent) and a full-screen map view (61 percent) as the features they value most for navigation. Other popular choices were turn-by-turn voice navigation (54 percent), route optimisation (46 percent), and rerouting (41 percent).

The most-wanted safety features were accident hotspot alerts (60 percent), followed by indications for the safest route, sharp turns, speed limits, road condition, weather hazards, and visibility at night. Community-reported hazards proved to be relatively unpopular with only eight percent of respondents prioritising such a feature.

In an exclusive interaction with ACKO Drive regarding the release of this report, Here Technologies Head of Business for Southeast Asia and India, Abhijit Sengupta, said “One of the clearest differences we saw in India was that gig and delivery riders view navigation very differently from everyday two-wheeler users. While general riders value convenience features such as real-time traffic alerts, gig riders assess navigation based on how it impacts safety awareness, delivery efficiency and earnings.”

He added “Compared to other APAC markets, surveyed Indian riders place greater emphasis on safer and more context-aware routing, while markets like China highlight multi-stop efficiency and Japan places more importance on precision and predictability. What this signals is that navigation is evolving from being viewed as a convenience feature to becoming critical mobility infrastructure, especially in a market like India where road conditions, congestion and delivery volumes are highly dynamic. Riders increasingly expect navigation systems to understand the realities of the road in real time and help them move more safely, efficiently and confidently.”

The top challenge for delivery riders in India was poor routing, followed by inaccurate travel times and unsafe shortcuts. Thirty-six percent of gig workers wish to see safer routes indicated on their maps, with 20 percent wanting better multi-stop routing.

Riders in India also said fuel efficiency and range are a major factor when choosing a new bike (54 percent), while relatively fewer prioritised affordability (48 percent). Only 27 percent said navigation performance influences their choice of a new bike or scooter.

Interestingly, 45 percent of Indian respondents said they depend on ride tracking and performance statistics. Overall, only 40 percent of Indians were “very satisfied” with their navigation capabilities.

The report quotes Shyam Shankar Raman, Business Segment Head for Two-wheelers in APAC, HERE Technologies, who said “Riders in India judge navigation by how well it understands real roads, real traffic and real constraints. Riders expect systems that keep pace with conditions that change quickly on the ground.”

The bigger picture

Across the countries surveyed, the study found that navigation is linked to earnings capacity for a significant number of people. Respondents also indicated a link to stress reduction, making navigation more of a necessity than a convenience feature. People still rate core features such as routing and ETAs as more important than emerging ones such as augmented reality displays and AI, but are willing to use them if there is a clear benefit to safety or reliability.

Concerns about inaccurate ETAs and unsafe shortcuts were found to be prevalent across all six markets surveyed. The top problem was poor GPS reception (40 percent), with a lack of proper traffic information and inaccurate or non-bike-specific routing coming in next. Only 18 percent of riders said that they didn’t experience problems regularly.

Instant rerouting with accurate traffic information is the most valued feature for 37 percent of respondents, while 27 percent valued directions specifically suitable for bikers.

Survey methodology and the road ahead

Survey participants were chosen from rural and urban areas, and the company says it polled male and female riders, aged 18–55. The study paid special attention to gig workers such as food delivery drivers and couriers, not only because their ability to earn money depends on how quickly and safely they can navigate to various destinations throughout each working day, but also because of the sheer scale of their contribution to local economies and mobility infrastructure.

While mapping software and services can promote safety, the act of using them while riding a bike could potentially introduce danger. ACKO Drive also asked Sengupta what the company is doing to reduce distraction while keeping riders engaged, and to to educate them about safe device usage.

He said “Safety cannot come at the cost of distraction, especially in a market like India where 80 percent of riders say they feel at risk on the road. One of the clearest insights from our study was that riders value navigation that reduces cognitive load rather than adding to it. That is why we are seeing growing interest in Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS) and connected technologies, designed to support better decision-making on the road. High-quality map data and real-time location intelligence are critical to enabling these systems through intuitive voice guidance, lane-level prompts, real-time hazard alerts and smarter routing — helping improve awareness while minimising screen interaction.”

He added “This is also an area where we are actively innovating with partners. For example, our collaboration with Pioneer in India brings connected two-wheeler devices such as smart displays and ride recorders that integrate navigation, real-time traffic updates, speed alerts and emergency features into a dedicated, rider-friendly interface. These systems are designed to reduce reliance on handheld smartphones by delivering glanceable information, voice-led guidance, and seamless connectivity directly on the vehicle. We believe the most effective navigation system is the one that works quietly in the background, supporting better safety awareness and allowing riders to stay focused on the road ahead. In terms of awareness, the scale of the challenge is clear.”

ACKO Drive also asked how riders access their maps and navigation tools — using a smartphone, paired accessories, or natively via a bike’s own screen — and how this affects their usage experience. According to Sengupta, “We are seeing clear differences in how riders engage with navigation depending on the interface. Smartphone-based navigation offers the highest familiarity and interactivity, but it can also create more distraction and is less optimised for riding conditions. In contrast, integrated bike displays and Bluetooth-connected systems are designed to deliver more seamless and rider-focused experiences. In particular, we are seeing growing momentum around Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based projection technologies, which enable navigation and key information from the smartphone to be displayed on dedicated two-wheeler screens in a more stable, low-power and rider-friendly way.”

He also said “While large-scale adoption data for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on two-wheelers is still emerging, we are seeing growing experimentation through aftermarket accessories and OEM-integrated systems, reflecting rising demand for connected, app-enabled riding experiences. More broadly, connected mobility experiences designed specifically for motorcycles, electric scooters, e-bicycles and other emerging mobility options are evolving quickly. Riders increasingly expect intelligent, real-time navigation, connectivity, safety and convenience features to be built directly into the riding experience rather than treated as standalone tools. We see this as a significant growth area as OEMs continue investing in more connected, safety-focused and rider-centric two-wheeler vehicles and platforms.”

Some interview responses have been edited for length and clarity.