open google maps to bus directions

Question

I realise that you can open the google maps app ready for directions by doing something like this: ``` NSString* urlString = @"http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=London+UK&daddr=Birmingham+UK"; [[UIApplication sharedApplication] openURL:[NSURL URLWithString: urlString]]; ``` But is there a parameter I can add to automatically switch to bus directions? Apple's developer document doesn't seem to mention anything about it: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/featuredarticles/iPhoneURLScheme_Reference/MapLinks/MapLinks.html

Accepted Answer

From MapKiWiki:

dirflg Route type:

- dirflg=h - Switches on "Avoid Highways" route finding mode.

- dirflg=t - Switches on "Avoid Tolls" route finding mode.

- dirflg=r - Switches on "Public Transit" - only works in some areas.

- dirflg=w - Switches to walking directions - still in beta.

- dirflg=d - Switches to driving directions.

So your URL:

```
NSString* urlString = @"http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=London+UK&daddr=Birmingham+UK";
```

Becomes:

```
NSString* urlString = @"http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=London+UK&daddr=Birmingham+UK&dirflg=r";
```

N.B. The data supporting public transit route types are not always available. I tried the area you used in your sample (London, Birmingham) and found it was not supported.

open google maps to bus directions

Solution

Problem