Route Planning For Real Lives
Sidewalks are the vital threads linking us to travel options, but they come with challenges. AccessMap.app bridges gaps by providing detailed info on pedestrian paths, transit stations, elevation changes, curb ramps, and more. Tailor routes to your mobility and preferences for a hassle-free journey. Now with native support for screen readers and step-by-step instructions for both indoor and outdoor facilities. Your path to accessibility starts with AccessMap.app, because everyone deserves to connect seamlessly in our communities!
Customizable mobility preferences
- Maximum uphill steepness
- Maximum downhill steepness
- Street avoidance
- Avoid barriers (raised curbs and stairs)
- Avoid noisy/crowded streets (sidewalks and crossings adjacent to primary streets)
AccessMap Non-visual Experience
Most mass-produced apps and even signage meant for wayfinding provide only visual cues. Whether it be signage with street names or a map with directional arrows, they are seldom accessible to people with vision impairments. AccessMap Multimodal indicates landmarks such as waste bins, benches, APS signals, and other landmarks that are likely to be encountered along a pedestrian route by a cane user. Additionally, we organize information in a hierarchy for our step-by-step directions so that users may navigate more quickly among street names, landmarks, and other wayfinding information. Further, our step-by-step directions are intended to be detailed yet consistent, using descriptors like slight and sharp to distinguish different kinds of turns. While all of these features are useful, they would be less effective if the user had to actively get to each directional card and check the related information. Alerts on AccessMap also provide timely alerts through the user’s screen reader to indicate directions, tactile landmarks, street names, and even the buildings one is passing by as they traverse!
AccessMap is a web-based, accessibility-first route planner. It uses detailed information about sidewalks, curb ramps, slopes, and crossings to generate walking and rolling routes that reflect a person’s mobility needs rather than just street centerlines.
- Plan routes that respect your slope and curb ramp preferences.
- See barriers like missing sidewalks or challenging crossings in advance.
- Explore safer connections to transit and community destinations.
- Leverage the same OS-CONNECT data that agencies use for planning.
AccessMap combines a connected pedestrian graph with configurable accessibility preferences. It uses OS-CONNECT as the data foundation and converts user mobility settings into a routing cost function that avoids or penalizes features like steep slopes or missing curb ramps.
- Individuals with disabilities and older adults planning daily trips.
- Caregivers and service providers.
- Community organizations and advocates highlighting gaps and barriers.
- Agencies and planners using OS-CONNECT for analysis and ADA work.
- Researchers and developers building new accessibility-aware tools.
AccessMap is currently available in selected regions with high-quality OS-CONNECT or partner pedestrian network data. Additional regions can be added as data becomes available and validated in the same schema.
AccessMap is part of a broader ecosystem that includes tools such as AVIV ScoutRoute and GoInfoGame. These tools enable residents, advocacy groups, and agencies to collect and verify detailed information about sidewalks, curb ramps, and crossings that can be integrated back into OS-CONNECT.
- Built on a pedestrian-first network rather than car-oriented streets.
- Supported by public investment and research at the University of Washington.
- Developed as part of the Transportation Data Equity Initiative and OS-CONNECT.
- Co-designed with people with disabilities and community partners.
For Individuals and Community Members
Open AccessMap, enter a start and end point, set your accessibility preferences, and explore available routes.
For Agencies, Planners, and Developers
Work with OS-CONNECT data, TDEI Workspaces, and the AccessMap routing engine to support equity analyses, ADA Transition Plans, and multimodal transportation design.
The AccessMap interface is designed to support screen readers, keyboard navigation, and adequate color contrast. We minimize data collection and do not sell user information. Details are provided in our accessibility statement and privacy policy.