You fill out “quests” like if sidewalks have tactile ramps (for accessibility), what type of roads, road size, store hours, if bus stops are illuminated or have a shelter, bike spots, etc.
It’s been a few days and I’m addicted. And it’s a good way to contribute to OpenStreets and reduce supporting commercial map tools like Google Maps/Apple Maps.
I learned about it during a No Stupid Questions post about mobile games that reward you for walking.
I’m still relatively new and on the Global Leaderboard, ranked 1000 out of 5000.
I think you should’ve linked the game for easy access, just saying.
Thanks for doing this!
Oh hey, I think I’m the guy from that post! Lol
Glad you’re enjoying it! I’ve been having a lot of fun with it too - even if my wife sometimes thinks I’m crazy when I “just quickly run over here” to check the hours for this place, haha.
My “Global Rank” is a bit over 5000, but I’m not sure if that’s the same number as you’re looking at, given the range. 400th in Canada, though!
I enjoy it, too. Because of the granular data (e.g. what’s this road made of?), it’s got me thinking a lot more about my community, instead of just taking everything for granted.
Same! I now actively noticed when a street doesn’t have specific accessibility needs. I even went, “This bus stop has a bench AND a trash can? What a treat for riders!”
And instead of saying “let’s twit about it,” you say “let’s osm about it!”
Beware! This app is an entry drug and soon you might find yourself being heavily invested in OSM, editing more complex data in other apps or on your computer…
Like Wikipedia, and articles that don’t use semicoulons correctly.
*semicolons
I’ve always wanted to try this but is there a privacy implication? I guess it connects to an openstreetmaps account, which will then keep a public history of all the places you’ve been.
Jawg would know everywhere where you go, since they provide the tile data. I don’t think they would be able to link it to an OSM account though
The public would be able to identify where you go because your changes would be published against your username, as it is with Wikipedia
Yeah it’s the public part I meant. All changes would be shown under a single account.
there is a narrow alleyway near me that all the GPS systems seem to think is a road. It isn’t a road, you cannot travel down it. It’s bugged me for years, if we updated in this app will I fix it for other GPS systems or is this a standalone thing that only nerds use?
It would only contribute to OpenStreetMaps, not Google of Apple Maps.
I’m ranked in the top 500 for the US!
I like and appreciate what this is doing for the cause, but personally i don’t think I’d find myself wanting to play this.
I’d be curious to know what others think so far though. It does seem like I’ve been seeing more things on OSM too, so maybe it is helping?
Vespucci seems very interesting. Thanks for sharing
Holy fuck this is great. I’ll be using this thanks.
