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AccessMap Guide

AccessMap Guide⚓︎

This page contains information about accessing and using AccessMap at the Clark County Walk/Roll Event.

What is AccessMap?⚓︎

AccessMap is a free, web-based pedestrian trip planner developed by the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington. Unlike typical navigation apps, AccessMap provides detailed information specifically designed for people with mobility challenges, those who are blind/low-vision, or have other accessibility needs, including:

  • Sidewalks and footpaths: Mapped pedestrian networks with detailed attributes based on OpenSidewalks data
  • Elevation changes: Color-coded paths indicating steepness
  • Curb ramps and barriers: Identification of obstacles like raised curbs and stairs
  • Customizable routing: Routes tailored to your specific mobility preferences

Accessing AccessMap⚓︎

No download required! AccessMap is a web application that works directly in your browser.

  1. Open your web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) on any device

  2. Navigate to https://accessmap.app

  3. Select Vancouver, Washington from the available regions

Event Routes⚓︎

During the Clark County Walk/Roll Event, participants will follow a walking route from Gaiser Hall (Clark College) to Washington Street. The route is split into two sections.

Route 1: Gaiser Hall to Washington Elementary⚓︎

Open Route 1 in AccessMap

Route 2: Washington Elementary to Washington Street⚓︎

Open Route 2 in AccessMap

Reference: Google Maps Route⚓︎

For a general overview of the full walking route, you can also view the route on Google Maps.

Real-Time Navigation⚓︎

During the walk/roll event, you have the opportunity to use AccessMap for step-by-step navigation:

  1. Enable location services on your device when prompted

  2. Follow the highlighted route on the map

  3. AccessMap will provide step-by-step directions as you move

  4. The app includes details on tactile landmarks and other features useful for navigation

Providing Feedback via Comments⚓︎

AccessMap allows you to leave comments about barriers, issues, or observations along your route:

  1. While viewing the map, tap on a location where you want to leave feedback

  2. A popup will appear with details about the selected feature. Navigate to the "Leave feedback about this feature." text entry box.

  3. Describe the issue or observation (e.g., "Broken pavement", "Missing curb ramp", "Temporary construction barrier")

  4. "Submit" your comment

Your feedback helps improve the accuracy of the data for all users.

Exploring Data Before the Event⚓︎

We encourage participants to review the current sidewalk and pedestrian data for the route and surrounding area using the OSConnect Data Viewer:

OSConnect Data Viewer - Vancouver, WA

This viewer displays the OS-CONNECT database - a standardized collection of sidewalk and pedestrian infrastructure data for Washington State. After the event, you can revisit this view to see the difference your contributions have made to the dataset.

Differences Between AccessMap Comments and AVIV ScoutRoute Quests⚓︎

Feature AccessMap Comments AVIV ScoutRoute Quests
Purpose Free-form notes about barriers or experiences Structured data collection about specific features
Format Text descriptions Multiple choice, numeric entry, structured responses
Use Case Reporting issues, sharing observations Adding detailed feature attributes

Both types of feedback are valuable! Use AccessMap comments for general observations and AVIV ScoutRoute quests for detailed, structured data contribution.

Additional Resources⚓︎

TCAT Wiki Documentation⚓︎

  • AccessMap - Overview of AccessMap and related guides
  • OpenSidewalks - Learn about the OpenSidewalks data standard that powers AccessMap
  • TDEI - Learn more about the Transportation Data Exchange Initiative

External Resources⚓︎

Contact⚓︎

If you encounter any issues or have questions, please contact the TCAT team at uwtcat@uw.edu.