Google has been making a big deal out of the enhancements on its Google Maps utility, including urban-tailored features like walking directions and mass-transit guides.

The online versions of such may be working just fine, but the offline targeted advertising in New York’s subways failed to translate, big-time:

As part of a new aggressive ad push by the cash-strapped MTA, the California-based Internet giant “wrapped” three cars of the Times Square Shuttle with colorful vinyl hawking Google as the way to find your way.

The problem is inside the train.

Ads on the wall show riders familiar Google directions saying that to get to Madison Square Garden from Grand Central, you take the 1, 2 and 3 downtown to 33rd St. and walk a block.

The directions completely miss the bit about having to take the shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square first.

Granted, you’d be reading such directions while already riding the said 42nd Street Shuttle line. Still, if you need directions in the first place, you’re likely not familiar enough with the subway system to fill in this blank. Besides, a step-by-step like this is supposed to be comprehensive — otherwise, what’s the point?

It’s been a long while since I’ve ridden the Shuttle; I’ll have to be on the lookout for this bad-ad example next time I’m on it. Assuming they haven’t corrected it already.