Planning a Route

Planning a Route⚓︎

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

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

Setting Your Waypoints⚓︎

A route in AccessMap consists of two waypoints: an origin (waypoint A) and a destination (waypoint B). There are several ways to set waypoints:

Using the Search Bar⚓︎

1. Select the Search address field in the sidebar

2. Type the name or address of your starting location

3. Select the correct result from the list that appears

4. Repeat to set your destination

Using a Feature on the Map⚓︎

You can also set waypoints by tapping or clicking on any location on the map. If an element is selected, its details popup will open, providing the options to select Route From Here (to set the origin) or Route To Here (to set the destination).

Using Your Current Location as the Origin⚓︎

To use your current GPS location as the starting point for your route:

1. Select the Start route from your location button on the map (near the map controls at the bottom right)

2. If prompted, allow your browser and AccessMap to access your precise device location

3. AccessMap will use your current position as the route origin

Understanding the Route Display⚓︎

Once a route is planned, it is displayed on the map as a colored line connecting your waypoints. The color along the route conveys information about incline grade:

• Colors indicate whether a given segment is flat, gently sloping, or steep
• Steeper segments are visually distinct from flat or gentle ones
• Refer to the Map Legend (see Interface Overview) and the incline bar at the bottom of the screen for the specific color meanings

Route Summary⚓︎

A Route summary bar also appears at the bottom of the map showing:

• Total distance (in meters)
• Estimated time (in minutes)

The summary bar provides two buttons:

Trip Information⚓︎

Select Trip Info from the route summary bar to open the Trip Information panel. This panel provides a detailed overview of the planned route:

Adjusting Your Route⚓︎

If the planned route does not match your needs:

• Change your mobility profile or preferences — different profiles optimize for different constraints, which may produce alternative routes (see Mobility Profiles and Preferences)
• Update your waypoints — revise your origin or destination address using the search bar

Sharing a Route⚓︎

AccessMap routes can be shared by simply copying the URL in your browser's address bar after planning a route. The URL encodes the current map view, selected waypoints, and routing profile, so anyone who opens the link will see the same route.

Previous: Mobility Profiles and Preferences

Next: Navigation