Author: Dan Raven-Ellison
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Update 28: Podcast with Jack Davey & Leila Manion – Independence, Access for All and Wheelchair Basketball
I sat down with Jack Davey and Leila Manion to talk about independence, accessibility and the freedom to explore. Jack shares stories from playing professional wheelchair basketball in Germany, coaching the Exeter Otters and designing wheelchairs, while Leila brings her experience of championing disability inclusion with Disability Together.
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Update 27: When should we badge a route as a Really Really Good Way?
We want it to be really easy for people to see if a route is a Good Way to follow or not. To help with that we have simplified and updated how we display route ratings, while also allowing to show lots of detail. You can see the current version of the new system above.…
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Update 26: Podcast interview with Zsolt Schuller – Cycling, Connection and the Freedom to Explore
Listen to our latest podcast. I went for a bike ride along the Exe Estuary Trail from Exeter to Topsham with Zsolt Schuller. Zsolt shares stories from his work developing cycling routes and helping people reach National Trust places without a car, alongside his own cycling adventures, including an epic journey across Europe to Hungary.…
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Update 25: Help us generate lots of useful route tags
What would you like Good Ways for? Ancient Trees, Big Dogs, Toilets and Wild Swimming? Or Wheelchairs, Street Art, Coffee, Buses and Sea Views? We want everyone to be able to find routes that are good for them by searching for keywords or tags.
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Update 23: How to Grow a Goat
Ready for something different? I’m delighted to share our new project: How to Grow a Goat. The new and free app will give families daily activity ideas that help kids to play, explore, and spend more time outdoors.
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Update 22: Introducing The Good Ways podcast
I’m very excited to introduce The Good Ways Podcast – a new way for our members, supporters and followers to keep up with Good Ways, whether you’re out and about or listening from home. We’re sure other people will listen too, but first and foremost we’re making this podcast for Good Ways members: to keep…
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Update 21: What do you think of these new designs for our desktop app?
Tried using our desktop app yet? Built by Toby, it’s already super-powerful but we know it could look better. That’s where Anton comes in, and he’s just shared a new prototype design for us to test. As a Founder Member, we’d love to know what you think of it.
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Update 20: Join our first major campaign before we’ve even launched it
Please keep this message to yourself for now. We’ve got big plans for the winter, and we’d like the following project to be a surprise… We have some very big ambitions for Good Ways – many of which are far too big for any one person to achieve on their own.
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Update 18: Help shape our culture. What do you think of these commitments?
These are our draft commitments. We want to know whether they feel right, if the tone is OK, whether anything important is missing, and whether there is anything here that Good Ways should not promise – or ask of people using it.
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Update 17: Wear Good Ways. Spread the word!
We’ve just opened a Good Ways shop – with T-shirts, hoodies and jumpers designed to take Good Ways out into the world. Wear yours on the trail, around town or wherever you wander. Stay warm, start conversations and help more people discover Good Ways.
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Update 16: Know someone in Exeter who enjoys walking, wheeling or cycling?
I’m very excited to share that we’re launching a Good Ways pilot in Exeter, with a burst of activity this autumn and the project continuing into next year.
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Update 15: Help test the Good Ways app on your next walk, run, wheel or ride!
I have some good news. The first version of the Good Ways app is ready for testing by Founder Members. For now it is just a simple navigation app, but it lays down the foundation for something very special later.
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Update 14: Our initial guiding principles
Last month we asked what principles should guide Good Ways. Thank you to everyone who commented and completed the survey. From this work we have drafted three guiding principles…
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Update 13: What you’ve told us about our first prototype so far..
Thank you very much to everyone who explored our first Good Ways app prototype, completed the survey or left a comment. We have read every response – not just the scores, but all of the comments, suggestions, criticisms and ideas too.
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Update 12: What do you think of our first prototype?
We are very pleased to share a first prototype of the Good Ways app with you. It would be great to know what you think of it. The more people to feedback the better we can make the app for more people.
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Update 11: Got a good slogan, tagline or phrase for us?
A good slogan or brand line can be incredibly memorable. It can give an organisation more character, express what it stands for and communicate an important message in just a few words.
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Update 10: What principles should we be guided by?
What principles should guide us? How should we treat each other? What responsibilities do we have when using a route or sharing route information? How should we care for people, places and nature? How should data be treated? What should Good Ways itself promise to do?
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Update 9: Introducing our brand new Good Ways identity! 🚀
Thank you very much to everyone who’s voted and commented on the direction of our new brand. We’re delighted to share our final decision, which you can see by scrolling through the images below.
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Update 8: What colouring should we use for route lines?
The colour of route lines really matters. It can make routes clearer, easier and more inviting. When browsing a map, which of these options would you prefer?
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Update 7: Know a local group or organisation with good routes to share?
Visit almost any neighbourhood or village in the country and you’ll find groups with brilliant local routes to share, often backed by specialist knowledge of the area – from routes that are especially accessible, to ones that are great for enjoying nature or perfect for children.
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Update 6: Help decide our colours and typography
We want our typography and colours to be accessible, readable, versatile and enjoyable.
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Update 5: We’ve no logo! Which of these identities should we choose for Good Ways?
Good Ways is so new we’ve not even got a brand yet. We’ve not got a logo, colours, choice of font, photo-style or an identity. Choosing these will shape our future relationships and success. Anton, our designer, has been working on lots of possibilities. We’ve narrowed them down into two initial concepts and would like…
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Update 4: Who might use Good Ways.. and why?
We want to make it easier for everyone to find the best routes for them. To help with that we’ve been doing lots of thinking about all the different people and groups that might use paths, routes and Good Ways for different purposes. Out of that work we’ve drafted the Good Ways Wheel. Each ring…
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Update 3: What kinds of movement should Good Ways support?
As we develop the Good Ways app we’re keen to hear your thoughts, ideas and opinions. There will be lots of opportunities to feedback on questions, prototypes, the app and project as a whole. Sometimes we will share rough and raw things that we know are not finished yet. We’ll be doing that intentionally so…
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Update 2: We’ve been awarded Active Travel England innovation funding!
We’re thrilled to share that we’ve secured funding through the Department for Transport and Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund to develop a new pilot project in Exeter, Devon. The project will focus on creating a demonstrator for trusted local walking, wheeling and cycling routes – helping people discover easier, safer and more enjoyable ways to…
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Update 1: What would you like Good Ways to do?
We are focussed on making it easier for you and your community to find and follow the best available active routes – whatever your interests or needs. We’ve big and ambitious plans to make that happen, but we’ll be starting small. The first versions of the app will be very basic. Much more basic than…
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We’re making something awesome together. Will you join us?
I am so pleased you are reading this. I would love for you to be part of the Good Ways journey. We’re starting small, but we’ve plans to build something truly awesome and we’re delighted that you are here. This is just the first of many updates. Most posts will be short, keeping you in…