Mobility Profiles and Preferences
Mobility Profiles and Preferences⚓︎
This section explains how to select a pre-defined mobility profile and how to customize individual routing preferences.
For a list of all guides on the TCAT Wiki, refer to the Guides List.
Profile Selection⚓︎
AccessMap includes several pre-defined mobility profiles, each designed to optimize routing for a specific set of needs. Profiles set recommended default values for routing preferences such as maximum steepness and barrier avoidance.
The profile panel is located in the sidebar. Select a profile to apply it to your route planning.
| Profile | Description |
|---|---|
| Manual wheelchair | Optimized for manual wheelchair users — avoids steep inclines, raised curbs, and inaccessible crossings |
| Powered wheelchair | Optimized for powered wheelchair users — allows somewhat steeper inclines than the manual wheelchair profile |
| Support cane | Optimized for users who use a cane or walking aid — higher slope tolerance and permits raised curbs and stairs |
| BLV profile | Optimized for blind and low-vision users — no steepness restrictions and enables all screen reader alerts |
| Custom | Allows full manual control over all individual routing preferences (see Customizing Preferences below) |
Tip
If you are unsure which profile to choose, start with the one that most closely matches your primary mobility consideration. You can always switch profiles or switch to Custom to fine-tune individual settings.
Customizing Preferences⚓︎
Selecting the Custom profile unlocks individual preference controls. These let you configure exactly how AccessMap plans your route.
Routing Preferences⚓︎
| Preference | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum uphill steepness | The steepest uphill incline (as a percentage) AccessMap will include in a route. Lower values produce flatter routes. |
| Maximum downhill steepness | The steepest downhill incline (as a percentage) AccessMap will include in a route. Lower values produce flatter routes. |
| Street avoidance factor | Controls how strongly AccessMap avoids routing on streets without sidewalks. A value of 1 avoids streets; 0 treats streets like any other path. |
| Avoid barriers | When enabled, AccessMap avoids paths with raised curbs and stairs that may be impassable for some users. |
| Avoid noise | When enabled, AccessMap avoids sidewalks and crossings adjacent to high-traffic primary streets. |
Steepness Values Reference
Incline is expressed as a percentage grade. For reference:
- 5% is a gentle slope, generally manageable for most manual wheelchair users
- 8% is near the maximum slope permitted by ADA standards for ramps
- 15% is a steep hill, the default maximum in AccessMap
Screen Reader and Landmark Settings⚓︎
These settings are particularly relevant for blind and low-vision users using a screen reader:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Landmarks Distance | The maximum distance (in meters) from the route within which nearby landmarks are included in step-by-step directions |
| Surface alerts | Alerts when the surface type changes along the route (e.g., from concrete to gravel) |
| Incline alerts | Alerts when the route transitions to a notably uphill or downhill section |
| Building alerts | Alerts when the route passes notable buildings |
| Landmark alerts | Alerts when the route passes nearby landmarks (benches, bins, signals, etc.) within the configured landmark distance |
Tip
Screen reader alerts are delivered through your device's assistive technology as you travel. Enable your screen reader before starting navigation so alerts are announced automatically.
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