Garmin cyclists can now opt in to appear as live icons on the Waze app, alerting nearby drivers to slow down and watch for them. The feature is free for Garmin Edge bike computer and Garmin watch users. After opting in once through Garmin Connect, sharing starts automatically when an outdoor cycling activity begins and stops when the ride ends.
Waze drivers near the cyclist see an anonymous cyclist icon moving along the road and receive a Live Cycling Alert. The feature runs on LiveTrack, Garmin's existing live location-sharing tool. Garmin says the rider's name, identity, and route are hidden, with no personal information shared or displayed in Waze.
The feature has significant limits. It works only on Waze, not Google Maps, which has far more users. The location data travels from the Garmin device to the rider's phone, then to Garmin's servers, then to Waze, and finally to the driver's phone. On weak signal, this chain can create lag that puts the icon in the wrong location. A rider without a phone or whose phone loses signal will not appear on Waze at all.
The feature requires a compatible Garmin device, a phone running Garmin Connect with a data connection, and an outdoor cycling activity. Indoor rides do not trigger the alert. Alerts reach drivers only when Waze is open on their phone.