Hello! Dear Local Guides,
We have completed our Map Accessibility 2023 meet-up successfully with our fellow local guides. This meet-up was a part of our regular Map Accessibility campaign. Every year we organise several meet-ups under this banner to map accessibility and update Google Maps. We love mapping accessibility for our hobby and responsibility.
This time we selected our meet-up area at Badda, Dhaka. The meet-up route was Badda Link Road to Hatijheel’s starting point. A total of 8 Local Guides joined me there from different sides of Dhaka city. It is always fun joining Local Guides in a meet-up. Local Guides are always helpful, dedicated, and passionate about what they are doing. It was a practical mapping meet-up, especially checking accessibility. Although we focused overall Local Guides contributions during the meet-up.
The first time we met together and started the meet-up activities with introductions and meet-up agenda. We also chose a route plane for mapping and collecting information for the meet-up. We had a detailed brief for new Local Guides how we collect information during our meet-up and how we contact the business authority or responsive personrs. We also had a short brief about how we work for mapping accessibility and what this feature actually is. Then as a host, I continued the meet-up and guided others to follow me and collect mapping information together. I shared that a local guides meet-up is a practical training session for a quality Local guide journey. Every meet-up has some specialty and encouragement for moving forward with this community.
MEET-UP FEATURES:
We have some specialty in our meet-ups with various features. Although it was an accessibility meet-up we also checked other mapping features like verifying existing information of a business location on maps, Place existence and adding new places, wrong information correction, photography, and making aware everyone of Accessibility for the disabled community and more.
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DISCUSS WITH BUSINESS AUTHORITY-
We usually do this in our every meet-up. We directly discuss with the authorities to check the correct information and share our activities. I think after that we feel free about our activities and business authority also know about Google Local Guides activities.
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LIVE MAP UPDATE AND PRACTICAL MAPPING-
This feature is very helpful for new Local Guides. Practical mapping ideas and information-collecting techniques are very helpful for them. -
EDIT AND ADD NEW PLACE-
We always check whether business information is wrong or correct. If necessary we make an instant edit and update the map. When we see a new business we submit a request to add this on Google Maps. -
COLLECTING PHOTOGRAPHY-
One of the best features and contributions of a Local Guide is taking photographs. We are always aware of business photos and avoid irrelevant photographs. Besides business photos, we also capture photos of our meet-up activities. -
MAPPING ACCESSIBILITY-
This is our special feature. We care about mapping accessibility. We check accessible ramps, elevators, parking, toilets, and kids-friendly zones during our meet-ups. After that, we updated this information on Google Maps. We also focused on accessibility photography.
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RAISING AWARENESS OF ACCESSIBILITY-
In our accessibility meet-up, we do this thing must. Besides mapping accessibility and raising awareness about disabled rights, wheelchair-accessible ramps, separate toilets for women, and kids-friendly zones are highly committed. We also appreciate where we found all the accessibility features.
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MARKING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE PLACES-
Another special feature of our meet-up is a dedicated #MapAccessibility sticker marked in front of the business entrance. Then we request business authorities to display their accessibility facilities to encourage the disabled community, especially wheelchair user can find them to visit their places easily. -
ENCOURING QUALITY GUIDING-
We always encourage Local Guides about quality contributions to become a quality Local Guide. Also, introduce Local Guides Connect and how to start Connect. Always encourage local guides to join Local Guides meet-ups.
We share- Local Guides meet-ups are the bridge of Local Guides friendship, and quality guiding! Without Local Guides Connect, quality Local Guiding is impossible.
Usually, we had a long discussion at the Hatirjheel Lakeside area after the practical mapping. Together we discussed about Local Guides community and its helpfulness. Then we had some snacks and ended the meet-ups.
Meet-up album link - https://photos.app.goo.gl/9R3iXQALx12YPoji9
I hope reading this RECAP will be helpful and inspiring for all the Local Guides. Thanks to the Local Guides who joined in this Map Accessibility Meet-up.
Also, read our last year’s Map Accessibility meet-ups:
Thanks for reading.
Happy Guiding!
accessibility of the map and how to present it more beautifully