Bikemap and OpenStreetMap

The map material of Bikemap is based on the data of OpenStreetMap (OSM), the "Wikipedia of maps". OSM is a freely accessible cartography project with the goal of providing an open and free online map for everyone. The open source principle allows every user to participate in keeping the map up to date. We invite everyone interested to learn more about OSM at wiki.openstreetmap.org and contribute to accurately mapping areas you know well. We update our maps to correspond to the OSM data on a regular basis.

Have you discovered a mapping error whilst using Bikemap? If so, please follow the steps outlines in this article: Missing bike paths and other information in the map. 

What is OpenStreetMap?

OSM is a freely accessible map that everyone can contribute towards. No great technical knowledge is necessary. Users from all over the world have the opportunity to keep the map up to date using their expert local knowledge. OpenStreetMap not only provides information about transport connections, roads and paths, but also contains additional information about the area such as accommodation, restaurants, public facilities and tourist attractions.

The difference to Google Maps is that OSM is freely accessible and not subject to copyright. Because the data from Google Maps can only be used under restrictions and often for a fee, OSM is a practical alternative. Today, a large number of apps use OSM as a data basis not only because it is available free of charge, but also because it is continuously updated by a worldwide community. 

How can I edit OpenStreetMap?

There are several ways to contribute to the improvement of OSM.

Make changes directly to the map.

To do this, you first need to create a free account at www.openstreetmap.org. You can then type the location to be edited into the search bar. From here, clicking on the "Edit" button opens the map editor, where changes can now be made to the current map section. 

After saving the edited data, the changes are then checked by other users. The approval of these users is required for the changes to be officially incorporated into the map. It can therefore be the case that corrected errors can take some time to become visible in OSM and subsequently on Bikemap. As a general rule however, this process should not take longer than two weeks.  

Recording routes with a GPS device and uploading them to OSM.

By providing raw data, routes are mapped more accurately in OSM. With a GPS device, trips can be recorded which can then be uploaded to OSM and processed.

More information about this can be found here: Recording GPS data and uploading it to the OSM.

Reporting an error in the map material

If you notice errors in the maps on Bikemap, these must first be corrected in OSM. 
Detailed steps on how you can correct an error in OpenStreetMap are outlined in a separate article: Missing bike paths and other information in the map.