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AccessMap User Manual

AccessMap User Manual⚓︎

This user manual explains how to use the AccessMap web application.

For a list of all guides on the TCAT Wiki, refer to the Guides List.

About AccessMap⚓︎

AccessMap is a free, web-based pedestrian trip planner developed by the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology (TCAT) at the University of Washington. Unlike general-purpose navigation apps, AccessMap is designed to support the full diversity of how pedestrians travel — accounting for mobility aids, vision, and physical ability — and to give users meaningful control over their route.

AccessMap provides:

  • Pedestrian-specific routing — routes on sidewalks, crossings, and footways rather than roadways
  • Elevation awareness — color-coded visualization of incline grades along paths
  • Barrier and curb ramp information — identification and optional avoidance of raised curbs and stairs
  • Customizable mobility profiles — tailored routing for manual wheelchair users, powered wheelchair users, support cane users, and blind/low-vision users, as well as a fully customizable profile
  • Screen reader support — step-by-step directions with landmark-based alerts for non-visual navigation
  • Feedback — the ability to leave comments on map features to help improve the underlying data

AccessMap is powered by OpenSidewalks and OpenStreetMap data.

Quick Start⚓︎

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to AccessMap.app
  2. Select a region from the region selector in the top bar
  3. Choose a mobility profile that fits your needs, or customize your own!
  4. Search for or select a starting point and destination to plan your route

AccessMap AccessMap

Table of Contents⚓︎

AccessMap User Manual Table of Contents

Getting Started⚓︎

This section explains how to access AccessMap, select a region, and take the built-in tour.

Interface Overview⚓︎

This section introduces the AccessMap interface, including the sidebar, map controls, and legend.

Mobility Profiles and Preferences⚓︎

This section explains how to select a pre-defined mobility profile and how to customize individual routing preferences.

Planning a Route⚓︎

This section explains how to set a starting point and destination, plan a route, and read the route display.

This section explains how to follow step-by-step directions and use screen reader alerts for non-visual navigation.

Leaving Feedback⚓︎

This section explains how to leave comments on map features to report observations and help improve the data.