On 10 November, Garmin and Waze launched a joint feature called Live Cycling Alerts. A cyclist wearing a Garmin watch or bike computer can show up to drivers in Waze for the duration of a ride. Nearby cars see a moving cyclist icon on the map and get a notification that someone on a bike is ahead or alongside. Both companies describe it as the first collaboration of its kind between a sports electronics maker and a navigation service.
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What exactly has launched
The foundation will be familiar to Garmin owners. LiveTrack lets you share your position, speed and route with family and friends during a workout: they open a link and see where you are riding. That broadcast now has one more audience, drivers using Waze. In its press release, Garmin says the benefits of LiveTrack are being extended to motorists so they can better understand what is going on around them.
The driver sees no name, no route and no ride history. According to Garmin, the cyclist’s personal information is neither passed to Waze nor displayed there. Waze draws a moving icon on the road and shows a temporary alert that a cyclist is nearby. As soon as the rider ends the activity on their Garmin device, the alerts switch off automatically.
How to switch it on
- You need a compatible Garmin Edge bike computer or Garmin smartwatch, a smartphone and the Garmin Connect app.
- In Garmin Connect, the cyclist opts in to sharing data with Waze. Without this step, nobody will see you on the map.
- When an outdoor cycling activity starts, the device shares your location with Waze through LiveTrack. Sharing is temporary and lasts only for that one ride.
Garmin describes LiveTrack itself as a free feature for owners of compatible devices. Neither Garmin nor the specialist press mentions any separate charge for the Waze alerts. Drivers have nothing to set up: they just need Waze on screen.
Where it works and which devices qualify
Garmin’s press release says the feature is available now but does not name countries. MacRumors reports that the update is rolling out worldwide in Waze for iOS and Android. The coverage says nothing about Android Auto or CarPlay, so how the alerts look on a car’s built-in screen is still unclear.
The announcement has no full list of supported models. Garmin only says “compatible Edge bike computers and Garmin smartwatches”, so it is best to check your model on Garmin’s support page or directly in Garmin Connect after updating.
Waze operates at serious scale: the company says 200 million drivers use the service worldwide. Garmin vice president Susan Lyman explains the launch by saying the company is known for safety features and the new tool gives drivers real-time visibility of cyclists. Guy Berkovich, vice president and general manager of Waze, says the alerts are meant to help drivers slow down in time and share the road calmly with cyclists.
What it means for cyclists
The idea is sound, but it only works when two conditions are met: you have a Garmin with LiveTrack enabled, and the driver nearby has Waze open. Electrek points out in its coverage that an icon on a map will not make road riding safe on its own. Many drivers use other navigation apps, and many drive with no navigation at all. So Waze cannot be your only protection.
It does complement what a cyclist can do personally: a bright rear light that people notice from far away, a mirror that shows a car coming up behind you, and a phone on the handlebars with navigation instead of a phone in your pocket. All of these work with any driver, not just Waze users. That matters especially in November, when it gets dark early and many commutes happen at dusk.
If you already own a Garmin, update Garmin Connect and Waze and see whether the new setting has appeared. If you do not, there is little point buying a watch for this one feature: the same basic safety measures cost a fraction as much.
What to add: popular products for safer riding
Below are four AliExpress products covering the main jobs: being seen from behind, seeing what is happening behind you, and keeping navigation in front of your eyes. All are among the best sellers in their categories.
ROCKBROS rear light with brake sensor
One of the most-bought rear lights on AliExpress. According to the seller, it has an aluminium body, water protection and USB Type-C charging, and the headline feature is the brake sensor: when you slow down, the light gets brighter, like a car’s brake light. For city riding that is a signal drivers understand instantly, and it needs no app. It is currently £9.33.
Price on 11 November: £9.33
Sold: 9337+ pcs, positive reviews: 96.7%
View on AliExpress
COOSPO TR70 radar rear light
If you want to know about a car behind you in advance, radar lights are the answer. The COOSPO TR70 from the brand’s official store combines radar, a brake light and 7 lighting modes, with IP67 protection. In spirit it is closest to Garmin’s new feature, only working in the opposite direction: it warns you, not the driver. At £60.59 it costs far more than an ordinary light, but it solves a different problem.
Price on 11 November: £60.59
Sold: 2763+ pcs, positive reviews: 97.0%
View on AliExpress
Handlebar rear-view mirror
The cheapest way to see what is behind you without turning around. The mirror clamps to the handlebar, rotates 360 degrees and fits mountain and road bikes. It is sold singly or as a pair, with the option chosen on the product page. More than 11 thousand people have bought it, and it costs £1.61.
Price on 11 November: £1.61
Sold: 11367+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
View on AliExpress
Handlebar phone holder
If you ride with navigation on your phone, it is better mounted on the handlebars than pulled out of a pocket on the move. This mount rotates 360 degrees, can be removed and fitted, and works on both bicycles and motorbikes. It costs just £1.34 in the 11.11 sale and is among the best-selling holders.
Price on 11 November: £1.34
Sold: 11712+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
View on AliExpress
In short
Garmin and Waze have built something useful: cyclists with a Garmin can now choose to appear on drivers’ maps during a ride, without revealing their name or route. The feature is free, is switched on in Garmin Connect and has no published list of compatible models yet. It only reaches drivers who have Waze open, so a light, a mirror and a proper phone mount remain the foundation of road safety. Prices in the cards are as of 11 November, the day of the sale, and may change.
