Discover how OpenStreetMap powers smarter mobility and transport planning—connecting communities through maps made by people like you.
As cities grow and mobility needs evolve—from rural road access to urban transit networks—planners and engineers need accurate, up-to-date geographic data to build infrastructure that works for everyone. OpenStreetMap, with its open data and global community, fills critical transport mapping gaps in underserved and rapidly developing regions. Powered by volunteers and supported by urban planning organizations, OSM enables governments, developers, and commuters to navigate connectivity challenges with clarity.
Grab is a ride-share company, built its mapping platform using OpenStreetMap data. GrabMaps integrates hyper-local updates (new roads, one-ways, speed limits) into OSM’s base map, improving route planning and navigation for Grab’s drivers and delivery services across fast-changing Southeast Asian cities and to solve the challenge of fast-changing road restrictions, new roads appearing overnight, and high traffic congestion.
The World Bank, Mapzen, and partners launched OpenTraffic, a project linking crowdsourced traffic speeds to OSM road segments. It processes anonymized GPS data (from taxis and apps) into free, real-time traffic speed datasets using OpenStreetMap’s road network
OpenTripPlanner (Portland) is an open-source multimodal trip planning software system. It uses OpenStreetMap for its street and walking/cycling network combined with transit schedules (GTFS), allowing riders to plan door-to-door trips mixing buses, trains, biking, and walking
CycleStreets is a social enterprise, promoting cycling by the provision of UK-wide information on cycle-friendly routes, and various tools for cycle advocacy groups. It routing engine imports OSM road and cycleway data to plan safe bicycle routes.
A 2025 Streets.mn article/interview explains how OSM data powers many mobility apps. It notes that apps like Transit App use OSM for walking and biking directions. Community forks like OsmAnd and CoMaps provide offline navigation using OSM, offering alternative solutions.
OpenStreetMap US highlights community mapping for sustainable transportation, encouraging contributors to map bicycle and scooter infrastructure. Tools like MapComplete (an OSM-based mapping app) were developed for crowdsourcing bike parking and bike box lanes.
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