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Comment by TD-Linux | Hacker News Reader

OpenStreetMaps has begun to add routing information, and it's becoming very good lately. It would be nice to see Citymapper work with them, as both sides could benefit - OpenStreetMap quality in citymapper's supported cities would improve (though OSM is already quite good in those cities), and citymapper could gain support for more cities. This is the route MapQuest has gone with MapQuest Open.

Still, I'm glad to see Google Maps competitors alive and kicking. Google Maps is one of the main lock-in apps that keeps people inside the closed Google Play Services ecosystem.

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CityMapper does use OSM data, for walking and cycling in particular. (Cycling directions come via the OSM-based CycleStreets, I believe.)

This really validates OSM's approach. Every single time there's a thread about OSM on HN or Reddit or whatever, someone pops up and says "Google rocks, OSM sucks, because your maps are dog-ugly and there's no routing/clickable Starbucks/whatever".

Explaining to them that "no, OSM is just a dataset, osm.org is merely a minimal browser for map contributors" is hard. But having apps like CityMapper, which are actually _better_ than Google, really makes the point.

Personally I'd choose a certain other OSM-based router over CityMapper/Cyclestreets for bike routing, but I may, ahem, be biased.

"Google Maps is one of the main lock-in apps that keeps people inside the closed Google Play Services ecosystem."

I can't speak for others. But as someone that tried the Apple "ecosystem" after being on google, I have a big appreciation for it. A lot of websites/apps these days use google for single sign-on, pretty much meaning that I don't have to type my damn login every time I install a new app, etc.

But, on the Ipad, I had to type my password in so many times. And my password is 25+ characters long, with mixed upper and lower case. Easy on a keyboard, but on a touch-screen keyboard it is a PAIN.

I think a lot of people on this website always try to avoid such logins. Google already has enough of my data and I don't want to lock myself into a system if I don't have to.

And do you really need a 25+ char password for every blog you comment on?

Apple has 99 faults, but your lack of touch typing skills ain't one :)

I can touch type, just not on a touch screen :)

OSM has had routing information for years. There are loads of train lines and train stations. Bus routes have been there for a while, but they are a little harder to map. You can't do them from aerial imagery, or by walking around. Timetables are much harder, and aren't in OSM (I think)

Here's public transport things that are in the OSM database: http://www.öpnvkarte.de/

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