Local Guides Meetup in Scorching Heat: A New Horizon in Accessible Restroom Exploration!
Under the scorching heatwave that began on May 9th, with Google Weather showing a blistering 36°C and a heatwave warning across Bangladesh, we Local Guides gathered for a special purpose.
Mindful of the intense heat, we had already packed ample oral saline packets and drinking water. Our plea to all Local Guides was simple: carry drinking water, a cap, or an umbrella.
The main agenda of our meetup was to locate accessible public restrooms in our city and make them easily discoverable for everyone by adding them to Google Maps.
Meetup Commencement and Journey:
Three of us Local Guides, including Faysal Bhai and @sohelahmedsujon Bhai, set off from Mohakhali, covering approximately 20 kilometers towards Tongi. Meanwhile, our long-time Local Guide, @Imran_Hosen Bhai, had already arrived at Tongi College Road, about 15 kilometers from Shalna. Upon reaching the meetup point, the four of us reunited, took a few selfies, and officially kicked off our meetup.
We arrived at the meetup venue.
To beat the immediate heat, we started by enjoying some refreshing green mango juice from a local shop.
This instantly revitalized us, and we then embarked on our primary mission: searching for public restrooms.
Accessible Restroom Discovery and Google Maps Contribution:
After a considerable walk and much searching, we finally found a public restroom with the help of Google Maps. We all physically visited the location and immediately confirmed that it was not wheelchair accessible 
.
We spoke with the staff on duty, requesting them to inform their superiors about the necessity of building a wheelchair-accessible ramp.
Following this important visit, we promptly updated the information for the restroom on Google Maps and added a detailed review, specifically highlighting its accessibility status.
Discussion and Conclusion:
Later, we found comfort at a sweet shop, where we enjoyed curd and cold water.
It was there that we had a detailed discussion to finalize our meetup’s core agenda. The meetup concluded with us sharing Local Guide stickers and exchanging valuable experiences.
Some of the photoshoots and Albums from the day.
Our sole endeavor through this effort is to make Google Maps more helpful and accurate, particularly concerning accessibility information. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read our post. We humbly request you to join this noble initiative by finding and adding accessible restrooms in your city to Google Maps.