PassableBack to the map

Routes that work for the way you get around

Passable finds walking routes around the University of Waterloo campus and uptown Waterloo for people who can't just take the shortest path: wheelchair users, people with strollers, and anyone walking in winter. When someone reports a problem, such as a blocked sidewalk, an elevator that's out or an icy ramp, routes change for everyone within seconds.

How routes are chosen

Wheelchair

Never uses steps, raised kerbs or rough ground like gravel or grass.

Stroller

Never uses steps. Rough surfaces and kerbs are avoided where possible.

Winter

Avoids steps and unpaved paths, and reacts most strongly to ice reports.

When no fully accessible route exists, Passable still shows the one with the fewest barriers and says exactly what they are, rather than just "no route".

  • Mapped: the map data describes the surface, kerbs and steps.
  • Assumed: not mapped, but almost certainly fine (sidewalks and roads here are paved).
  • Not mapped (dashed): no accessibility details. Check as you go.

Reporting problems

Anyone can report a problem, with no account needed. A report starts as reported, becomes confirmed when two other people say "still there", and disappears when people say "it's gone" or when it expires on its own: ice after 12 hours, construction after a week. Each confirmation resets the clock. Reports marked Demo are simulated, for demonstrations.

Limitations

  • Slopes aren't considered. Elevation isn't in the data, so a steep path can be suggested to a wheelchair user.
  • Indoor routes are mostly missing. Only 8 elevators are mapped, and indoor corridors usually aren't connected to the outdoor paths.
  • Crossings are recognised only where they're mapped as their own path.
  • Reports come from people. They're unverified until others confirm them.
  • Only the UW campus and uptown Waterloo area is covered.

Where the map data comes from

Paths, sidewalks, crossings, steps, kerbs and surfaces come from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). The basemap is from OpenFreeMap. Coverage in this area, measured when the data was imported:

  • About 70% of footpaths have a surface type. The rest are shown as assumed or not mapped.
  • 1,277 mapped kerbs, 246 sets of steps and 2,167 crossing segments.
  • Smoothness, slope and explicit wheelchair tags are on fewer than 2% of paths.

Privacy

There are no accounts. To count one vote per person, your browser gets a random anonymous ID, stored on your device. A report stores where and what it is, plus that anonymous ID. Route requests are logged without any identifier (profile, distance and timing only) to measure performance. Your IP address is used for rate limiting (to stop spam) and is kept only in short-lived counters that expire within minutes.