WheelMap

Wheelmap is a crowdsourced global map for finding and rating the wheelchair accessibility of public places. Created by the Berlin-based non-profit Sozialhelden (Social Heroes) in 2010, the platform uses a simple traffic light system to categorize locations: Green means fully accessible (no steps at the entrance and all rooms are accessible); Yellow means partially accessible (one step no higher than 7cm); and Red means not accessible. Users can also specifically rate the accessibility of toilets. Based on OpenStreetMap, Wheelmap empowers mobility-impaired individuals—including those using wheelchairs, walkers, or even parents with strollers—to plan their day with confidence. The platform currently provides information on over 3.2 million public places in 33 languages. Beyond a directory, it functions as an advocacy tool, encouraging business owners to improve their premises after seeing a "red" rating. The platform also utilizes real-time data to show the operational status of elevators and escalators at transit stops, ensuring that "accessible" routes remain functional in practice.