Open Street Map

Open Street Map

Whilst searching for cool tools for my phone and the GPS I use with it, I found Open Street Map or OSM.

To quote from the OSM wiki….

“OpenStreetMap creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive or unexpected ways.”

Anyone with a bit of practice can edit the map. Sign up for a username and map your local area.

I have been saving GPS tracks on my phone using TrekBuddy whilst out in the car or on the bike. These can then be uploaded into the OSM editor and the dots joined to make routes. Tag them with a type e.g. road, cycleway and with a name eg “A41”, “Wirral Way” and the next time the map is re-rendered (re-generated) your road or whatever appears.

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