I love OpenStreetMap, but I currently map mostly in MapMaker. I want to share that with you so that OpenStreetMap gets better and I come back here since it suits my values much more.
I’ll explain why I started using MapMaker. My navigation app (Mappero on n900) can be configured to use different tile sources. As I mostly cycle, I found the OpenCycleMap to be the best by far ! Mappero can also be configured to get routing information from different sources, but only google works. So I use google for routing. Since I’m cycling most of the time, I want my navigation app to get accurate cycling routes which google does not provide so far. So when MapMaker became available in Canada, I started mapping cycling trails so that google can indicate me the right way.
The problem I face is that as far as I know, there is no world wide routing system based on OSM. In my case, that make OSM dependent on GoogleMap for routing. So I want better cycling trails on google map for it’s router.
Another problem I find about routing. When I search for my address on OSM main page, I get at the wrong place and need to put way to much information. I live on Ontario St, but I cant write only Ontario, it needs to be rue de l’Ontario. My suggestion to this, is to use google for looking up start and destination and use OSM data for routing, that would be the best !
Now that I’m mapping on MapMaker, I feel more feedback from it than from OSM which encourage to keep on mapping. My mapping needs to be approved by others. I can review modifications from other MapMaker users. I get asked about the validity of my modification. They eventually suggested me to organize MapUp (Mappers gathering). They suggested me to take part in the forum. They even sent me a t-shirt. All this makes me feel less alone and more part of a community than with OSM and encourage me to map. Even if I know OSM is all about the community, It does not make me feel as much important.
Also, when I went to see my grandma in Val d’Or, I was surprised to see that OSM has about no streets in a city of near 40 000 people. See by yourself :
http://www.openstreetmap.org/index.html?mlat=48.100005&mlon=-77.783338&zoom=14&layers=O
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.100005,-77.783338&spn=0.1,0.1&q=48.100005,-77.783338&hl=fr
When google+ came out, facebook added a way to group your friends and publish only to subgroups, copying google+ circles. I think OSM should get inspired by MapMaker to reenforce it’s community.
So in short, 3 things seems to be missing/incomplete in OpenStreetMap :
- An open routing service
- More feedback and a take me by the hand and show me the community when I start mapping.
- Having the minimum of data that allow people to start mapping every where possible.
I hope this will help going forward to make sure OSM is the BEST community for mapping.
Kristian