Kelly, Here is how it works. The map data is structured such that each street is classified by the map data provider such as residential, arterial, highway and so forth. The route calculation then uses those classifications to figure out pedestrian verses a vehicle route. I have found situations where a route wasn't used as pedestrian because the road was considered a highway, like highway 99, which would be a highway outside of town but it is Main street in town and quite crossable. Other times, the reverse is true. If you have any of the other Sendero products, you can see the classification of every street. Sendero has no control over these classifications. Hence all the disclaimers that tell you not to trust the data or the GPS signals. Proceed with caution! There are stories about how someone drove their car into a river because the GPS directed them that way. I hope most users are more skeptical than that and use the technology with common sense. Mike -----Original Message----- From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2014 5:42 PM To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Using Seeing Eye GPS as a Pedestrian I’m glad this topic was raised. Living in a big city that strictly follows a grid street design, I have noticed that the Seeing Eye GPS app suggests pedestrian routes that an independent blind traveler would never take. It seems the Seeing Eye app offers the shortest route possible. This often results in routes that take many turns or ones that require the blind traveler crossing streets without traffic controlled intersections. For example, I was walking from the Rockwell brown Line L station in Chicago at 4648 N. Rockwell to the Lincoln Square location of the Crossfit Defined gym at 2750 W. Lawrence. The Seeing Eye app wanted me to go north to Leland, west to Talman and then cross busy Lawrence. There is no traffic light at Talman. Instead, I chose to go on Rockwell north to Lawrence and cross at the traffic light and then go west to my address. The entire trip is only three tenths of a mile. A similar situation happened this week when I wanted to travel from my office at Washington and Dearborn in Chicago to the Industrious shared work space at 320 W. Ohio. This is a distance of one mile. The seeing Eye app told me to go north on Dearborn to Wacker Drive, go one block west to Clark street then go north to Hubbard Street. On Hubbard, I would walk just a few hundred feet to Wells Street. Then, the app wanted me to go north on Wells Street and then to take a left turn on Grand Avenue. I then needed to take a right turn when I reached Franklin Street so I was going north again. Then only after 290 feet, I finally turn left going west on Ohio street to my address. An independent blind traveler would simply go north on Dearborn or Clark to Ohio and then west to the address. These routes were created using Tom tom maps. It is perplexing to me why a travel aid for the blind would create such complex pedestrian routes going short distances. There are full sidewalks on Rockwell and all the way up Dearborn and Clark streets. The many turns and avoidance of traffic lights does not make sense. With Apple maps, the end user is often given three choices of routes to take, each with a different set of priorities. One route may favor major streets. Another may have the shortest distance or travel time. Another may offer the fewest turns. With the Seeing Eye, GPS the end user has no choice. Kelly On 7/8/14, Sofia Gallo <sofiagallo13@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > So I've noticed that most of the threads discuss using GPS while in a > car or paratransit service, so I figured I would start a discussion > for those who use the app mostly for walking routes. > > Any experiences, tips or suggestions to share? > > I recently started using the app in NYC, and it is extremely accurate, > even with the tall buildings. > To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): > http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm > > Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to > gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject. > To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject. ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 3986/7831 - Release Date: 07/10/14 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 3986/7831 - Release Date: 07/10/14 To change your email settings (unsubscribe, digest only, or vacation mode): http://senderogroup.com/social_media/email.htm Additionally, to unsubscribe send an email to gps-talkusers-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject.