Classic, good Mapquest going away

I predicted this was going to happen. A website that I’ve been using since the 20th century is being shut down, and while the name continues, it’s not really the same. (It also may mean that no Internet mapping site is available anymore for older operating systems/browsers.) The green terrain and yellow lines of Mapquest are going to be gone, leaving nothing but a drab landscape ahead.

Beginning July 2016 [possibly July 11 -ed.], you will no longer be able to access this version of MapQuest.com. So, if you haven’t yet, it’s time to check out the new MapQuest.com! With faster loading, sleeker and easier to read maps, along with less intrusive advertising, it’s time to make the move. Plus, you can now access your saved maps and accounts!

The “new” Mapquest learned all the wrong lessons from the Internet mapping systems that followed and usurped it. Most notably, it is very hard to see county lines — I suppose we have to be thankful they’re there at all, because Google continues to be stupid.

While the imagery has changed some since the original website’s inception, this loss should be considered the death of the Mapquest that, despite its foibles, opened up the world of Internet mapping.

This entry was posted in Geography, Maps. Bookmark the permalink.