Cyclist Input Map
Instruction Detail and FAQ

Index

Instruction Detail

1. Seat yourself at a computer with broadband Internet access.  Dial-up access may work, but will be tediously slow.  If you'd like to help but don't have access to a good Internet connection, please email your suggestion to Steve, being as specific as you can as to the location.
   
   
2. Start your Internet browser.  Any recent versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome all work fine.
   
   
3. Click here to access the cyclist input map.  This will open the map in a new tab/window in your default browser.
   
   
4. If you're not familiar with Google Maps, take a moment to have a play and understand how it works.  Use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out, click and hold the left mouse button to pan the map as you move the mouse, see how the navigation slider in the top left works similarly, drag the little man from the slider to a street and jump to Streetview.  After closing Streetview and returning to map view, click on the Satellite and Map boxes in the top right to toggle between the views (note the North Shore satellite map is incredibly detailed as you zoom in).
   
   
5. Click on the features already located on the map to get an idea of what's required.  Note that as features are added to the map, their titles are also added to the menu bar on the left hand side.
   
   
6. By now you're no doubt itching to add some of your own features, but are wondering how.  You'll notice up in the top right hand corner of your browser window a Sign in link.  Click on this, and sign in to your Google account.  If you don't have one, click on the Create an account now link.  It's free to set up and use an account, and it's necessary to have one to add features to the maps.  However if you'd prefer not to have a Google account, just email your suggestions in as per Step 1.
   
   
7. Once you're signed in, you'll now see your account name at the top right of your browser window, and you'll see an Edit button just to the right of the bold Auckland region cyclist input map heading in the left hand menu.
   
   
8. You are now able to add your own features, and you also have the ability to edit and delete other people's!  Please take considerable care here!  It is impolite to delete the work of others, or to modify it.  However it is perfectly acceptable to annotate your own information to a feature someone else has created if you feel it adds to the benefit someone else will receive when reading it.  ARTA staff will periodically review cyclist input and transfer a concise summary to the relevant base map before deleting the entry from the cyclist input map.  And of course, in accordance with good Internet etiquette, profanity, anger, insults, flame wars, off-topic items etc are strictly prohibited.  Think to yourself, "A school child may be reading this to help them choose the best route between home and school", and construct your message accordingly.
   
   
9. Think about the nature of the hazard or advice.  For example, while all intersections are potentially hazardous, what makes this one stand out?  While all cafes serve coffee, why is this one particularly cycle-friendly?  Ok, now we're ready to add the feature to the map.
   
   
10. Zoom in to the location of the feature.  Switch on Satellite view as it will help you locate the feature accurately.
    
    
11. Click the Edit button.  You'll see three icons appear up by the slider bar.
    
    
12. Click the middle placemark icon, then click and hold while you drag it to the correct location.  Don't worry if it's the wrong shape or colour at this stage. 
    
    
13. In the pop-up box, fill in the title and description in a similar fashion to other features.  By default you'll just enter plain text, but if you click Rich Text you'll be able to bold, underline etc, and insert links and photos. 
    
    
14. If you want to change the icon symbol, click on it and choose the most appropriate from the palette presented.  Typically, use red for a serious hazard, blue for cautionary, and light blue as an advisory/informational.  Use the coffee cup for a cafe, and the green bike symbol for cycle-friendly facilities.  Click OK and you're done!
    
    
15. If you want to make changes, you can drag the feature to a new location (click & hold), or click on it to edit the text.  Screwed it up completely?  Just hit delete (don't do this to anyone else's feature).
    
    
16. Back on the left hand menu, click Done to take you out of edit mode so you can admire your handiwork as others will see it.  Thanks!
    

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)