I have a new hobby that gets me out walking in my neighborhood, even down side streets I've never visited. It also forces me to slow down and notice all the details I've never stopped to take in!

3 years ago by inasaba to c/simpleliving

The hobby? Contributing to OpenStreetMap. I found an app called Street Complete that makes it exceptionally easy, basically it just asks you questions about features along your walking route. Thanks to doing this, I've discovered several hidden features of the neighborhood like small public gardens full of herbs, public library boxes, and more.

Doing it also feels constructive, because I know I'm helping build up a resource to challenge Google's near-monopoly. It's very satisfying to clear all the dots from the map, and I find myself looking forward to my walks and planning out which streets I'll walk next.

Happy helping!

cazyius 9 points 3 years ago

I love the idea! Do you know if there are any apps doing the same for iOS? Would love to contribute!

path: 0 572292, hotness: undefined, score: 9, children: 7

egrets 6 points 3 years ago

Go! Map is a mobile OSM editor I use frequently. It's not super user-friendly, so might take a little getting used to, but it is reliable and fast.

path: 0 572292 573209, hotness: undefined, score: 6, children: 2

cazyius 1 point 3 years ago

path: 0 572292 573209 591109, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

cazyius 1 point 3 years ago

Awesome, thanks for the tip! Here is the link to Go Map!! in the AppStore if anyone is interested.

path: 0 572292 573209 591154, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

RickyOShae 2 points 3 years ago

Commenting to remember. I’d also love to do this

path: 0 572292 575189, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 1

Mac 2 points 3 years ago

You can save posts.

path: 0 572292 575189 659779, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

inasaba 1 point 3 years ago

iOS is not very good for free software, unfortunately.

path: 0 572292 577855, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 1

cazyius 1 point 3 years ago

I am myself a software developer and contribute to open source software in my work but I’m happy to pay developers for devoting their time to make really good software for iOS.

path: 0 572292 577855 591073, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

bigmode 6 points 3 years ago

I haven't used it for a few years but a while back I had street complete and went in a road trip visiting family, and I was able to map a big portion of each of their neighborhoods.

It also helped me discover a lot of hidden trails around my own neighborhood and eventually one of my gpx traces ended up marking out previously unmapped path through the woods, that even google does not yet have.

path: 0 597492, hotness: undefined, score: 6, children: 2

inasaba 7 points 3 years ago

OpenStreetMap is so much better for trails that it's actually no contest. Plus, the maps can be downloaded offline, so even when you're out of the cellular service area you can still have full access.

path: 0 597492 597511, hotness: undefined, score: 7, children: 1

makingStuffForFun 5 points 3 years ago

Just today it got me out of a pinch on a very remote trail. I was amazed it even had the trail. Big fan.

path: 0 597492 597511 597592, hotness: undefined, score: 5, children: 0

Kindymycin 5 points 3 years ago

This sounds awesome I'll look into it! I bet the folks over at the Degoogle Yourself community would like to see this. Not sure how to crosslink though.

path: 0 597654, hotness: undefined, score: 5, children: 0

handygaber 5 points 3 years ago

This sounds fun! I already added some benches during my walks but never contributed in a major way. Certainly going to check it out

path: 0 577480, hotness: undefined, score: 5, children: 0

Stochastic 4 points 3 years ago

This is a fun app. Less than a day in and I'm over 150 submissions.

path: 0 601838, hotness: undefined, score: 4, children: 0

HolyFriedFish 2 points 3 years ago

This is so neat, I love it! Thank you for sharing!

path: 0 572927, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

brrn 2 points 3 years ago

This sounds so fun and the interface looks very clean. I’ll be looking for an iOS version but may have to dust off an old android in the mean time.

path: 0 574170, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

investorsexchange 2 points 3 years ago

This seems very cool. Thanks for sharing! Does anyone know what iOS app is similar?

path: 0 575181, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

MothBookkeeper 2 points 3 years ago

Just downloaded it! Cool idea, thanks for the post.

path: 0 572791, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

TeaHands 2 points 3 years ago

We've been doing one called CityStrides that similarly has us exploring places we've never set foot before in our town. There are some issues with the data it uses from Open Street Map on occasion so the community are pretty good about getting things fixed up on the OSM side so they can get their completions on the CS side.

path: 0 578896, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

emrikol 1 point 3 years ago

Shame there's not a version for iOS :(

path: 0 582128, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

ItsMyFirstDay 1 point 3 years ago

Thankyou for this, I'll do my bit 😃

path: 0 579974, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 0

SpaceToast 1 point 3 years ago

Would love to contribute if they ever release an iOS app.

path: 0 1506823, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 3

inasaba 1 point 3 years ago

Given that it would require an entire rewrite of the app, and Apple is no friend to open source software, I very much doubt it will happen.

path: 0 1506823 1507200, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 2

SpaceToast 1 point 3 years ago

There are plenty of open source apps on iOS. Apple has nothing to do with that.

Either way, I know it takes time to develop apps and I don’t expect anything. But I’m also not going to switch to Android just to volunteer my own time.

path: 0 1506823 1507200 1510621, hotness: undefined, score: 1, children: 1

inasaba 2 points 3 years ago

Nobody said you had to switch.

path: 0 1506823 1507200 1510621 1512911, hotness: undefined, score: 2, children: 0

simpleliving

@lemmy.ml

login for more options

Live better, with less

Ideas and inspiration for living more simply. A place to share tips on living with less stuff, work, speed, or stress in return for gaining more freedom, time, self-reliance, and joy.

go to feed...

simpleliving

@lemmy.ml

login for more options

Live better, with less

Ideas and inspiration for living more simply. A place to share tips on living with less stuff, work, speed, or stress in return for gaining more freedom, time, self-reliance, and joy.

go to feed...