Originally Posted by
Daniel4
I'm not sure about separate gps units but Google maps and other apps in your smartphone receives feedback from road users.
This works because there is an always-on high-speed data connection between users on the roads and Google's (or Apple's) centralized servers (computers). There were some GPS units that could receive some traffic data but it was limited (these might have been more-or-less obsoleted by Google/Etc.)
Separate GPS units lack the always-on high-speed data connection and the centralized server. (The Karoo has an option for a high-speed data connection but it doesn't use it like Google Maps does. The Karoo is just a smartphone, which means you could run Google Maps on it.)
Originally Posted by
Daniel4
However, when I'm riding and come across those traffic cones, I visually scan ahead into the restricted area and check if I can ride safely in there ( ie no open pits to fall into). It's a bit of a refuge from busy traffic. But if I need to change lanes then it's also likely all those cars are also going pretty slowly too. So my merging into them and riding with them isn't anymore slower than they would be without me there.
The traffic information is generally trying to support driving. So, yes, a cyclist might have other options.