How to categorize & display alerts

Important: The images in this article are from Google Maps on Android. The interface for Maps on Desktop and iOS might display differently.

There are 3 main alert categories in Google Maps:

  • Critical
  • Warning
  • Informational

Each category appears differently. They're determined by the effect field.

Categorize alerts

Please use caution when using the NO_SERVICE effect, as this will cause all trips specified in the alert entities to be canceled. See Cancel trips with Alert for more information.
Effect Alert
category
Alert
icon
Alert text Alert color
NO_SERVICE Critical No service Red
SIGNIFICANT_DELAYS Critical Significant delays Red
REDUCED_SERVICE Warning Reduced service Orange
DETOUR Warning Detour Orange
MODIFIED_SERVICE Warning Modified schedule Orange
STOP_MOVED Warning Stop moved Orange
ADDITIONAL_SERVICE Informational Extra service Blue
OTHER_EFFECT /
UNKNOWN_EFFECT
Informational Information Blue

Medical emergency messaging

Agencies can create messages for medical emergencies. Set the value of the cause field to MEDICAL_EMERGENCY and the value of the effect field to OTHER_EFFECT.

Where & how alerts display

Alerts are currently represented in different ways and show up in 5 different areas on Google Maps.

Routing results page
Routing results
Trip details page
Trip details alert
Alert details page
Alert details
Departure boards of a transit stop
Departure boards alert
Under each journey listed in the "Commute" tab
Commute journey alert

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Is there something we can help you with?

Chat with a member of Transit team

Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
6129238637607600922
true
Search Help Center
true
true
true