Two French cyclists tourists, cycling from Delhi to Kathmandu by way of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, were caught in an unexpected bind when they became dependent on Google Maps for guidance and were forced to try to get out of their predicament without a route to take. Mr. Brian Jacques Gilbert and Sebastian Francois Gabriel, the cyclists, turned away from their intended path because of the app leading them towards a shortcut passing through Baheri in Bareilly, as confirmed by local police.
The tourists, having started from Delhi on 7 January, were going to Nepal from Tanakpur in Pilibhit. However, their nighttime cycling led them to the isolated Churaili Dam area, where villagers spotted them on a deserted road around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Unable to communicate with the Frenchmen due to the language barrier, the villagers escorted them to the Churaili police outpost for their safety.
Cycling Gone Wrong: French Cyclists Lose Way to Nepal, Reaches Bareilly
According to the Baheri Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, these tourists had been cheated by Google Maps because it led them into an unknown area in the dark. Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya intervened later and made sure that the travelers were safely transported to the house of the village Pradhan overnight.
Friday morning, traffic officials handed them route directions so that they could continue their bicycle ride to Kathmandu. Police stressed the focus on the safety of the tourists, especially because of the geographic location and the time of night.
The scare reveals the possible difficulties of acting upon the information given by navigation apps in unfamiliarised territories, in particular, areas of reduction of connectivity or roads not suitable for tourists.
This unanticipated detour not only highlights the importance of new navigational approaches but also reminds us of the courtesy enjoyed by the people and the law in India.
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