Tuesday, November 10, 2015

How To Do 'WikiMapping' For Princeton Bike Masterplan!



By now, hopefully you have considered how to make your voice heard for the new 'Bike Masterplan', which is under development. If not, please consider the options below, and feel free to share this post with your friends and neighbors! To give input for the Bike Masterplan, you can:
  1. Fill out the online form at the municipal website by clicking here.
  2. Send an email with your comments to: engineering@princetonnj.gov
  3. Print out this form, fill it out, and mail it to Princeton Engineering Dept, 400 Witherspoon St.
  4. Go to the Public Meeting! This Thursday, 11/12/2015, 6.30 p.m. at the Community Room at the municipal building at 400 Witherspoon Street. Click here for full details.
  5. Do 'WikiMapping'!
OK, some of you will be asking, what on Earth is 'WikiMapping'?? It's a website where local residents can add comments directly to a map of Princeton, to indicate where there are problems for cyclists, or where better facilities are most needed. It's pretty easy to use. Start by going to the webpage for the WikiMapping by clicking the following link: http://wikimapping.com/wikimap/PrincetonBicycleMasterPlan.html.

Then, register by entering your email address and a password of your choice. (Registration is necessary to prevent fake comments. You can also use your Facebook credentials to log in, but 'anonymous' commenting is disabled.) It looks like the image shown above. 

Select one of the options at the top of the screen to make a new comment. Use the 'add street comment' to draw a line on the map labeling an entire street that you think needs improvement. Or click the 'add spot/intersection comment' button to mark one specific point or intersection that you think needs attention. You can then type additional comments, which will show up next to where you marked on the map, so for example, you could write "too much speeding traffic here, new bike facility needed!' or 'more bike racks needed here!'

If you want even more fun, you can click on the comments that other users have left, and write whether you agree or disagree with them! As you can see from the image above, quite a few suggestions have already been made using the WikiMapping feature. The WikiMap suggestions will not necessarily form part of the final plan, but they are a useful extra way to give input.
It's a great tool, because you can leave very specific suggestions for the consultants. But remember, all the other ways of leaving feedback are equally valid, so do what works best for you! 

1 comment:

  1. One more waiste of money. Ride your bicycle on the sidewalks. Done ... no need for $$$ master plan or bation. Cut gov taxing, spending and control of citizens.

    ReplyDelete