OpenCycleMap uses

Recently I've been updating the wiki map OpenStreetMap. It is an open source map of the earth, with large contributions and imports of gevernment data, but also built by over 100K individual contributors using free mapping tools such as JOSM and Potlatch. There are several major "renderers" of the data, the one I frequently use is OpenCycleMap, which is primarily aimed at showing information useful to cyclists.

The layer can also be seen on the main OSM page by selecting the "cycle map" layer

My interest in OSM was only a mild curiosity. I read about the project, tried a few edits, and wished for the opensource mapping project to do well. Then one day I was attempting to find a bike route from Wards Island in Manhattan to Queens. I intended to cut across to Wards Island from Manhattan, circle the island exploring paths and then leave the island on the Queens side via the Triboro/RFK bridge. I knew there was a ramp up to the Triboro since I had once crossed it as part of an organized ride. I didn't know if there would be sings on the island or i would just be lost. Google maps and others mostly show Wards island a green blob, as if it were just one big forest. There were no maps anywhere showing the location of this ramp from the island to the bridge. I called the MTA Bridge authority and they gave me directions over the phone. Hilarious!

Finally I decided using OpenStreetMap I would just map it myself. I brought my GPS and took photos, but I did not have a great deal of success using JOSM on my own. Luckily I found out about a mapping party in NYC hosted by a CloudMade ambassador Russ Neslon. He showed me how to import my photos and display them in the JOSM mapping software, and how to draw and label routes.

I've documented a few bike paths and entrances to the Island from the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. Now I need understand renderers so I can make a really accurate view of Ward's island, unlike the view on major mapping websites. There are ball fields and picnic grounds, but also a lot of private and semi public 'authorities' that occupy the big green blob, such as the Dept of Water and Sewerage treatment, the Fire Dept of NYC, the Triboro Bridge Authority, and a private tennis center.

OpenCycleMap has been used extensively in the UK and Europe to document long distance bike routes. In cities mappers have been documenting the roads with cycle lanes and cycle tracks not on the road.