A quick note about the recent OpenStreetMap Oxford meet-up and a bit of encouragement for people to organise their own local get togethers:

I initiated a meet-up for Oxfordshire based OSM folks via Lanyrd and sent a few tweets around. By the end of the evening we had about 10 people in attendance, representing everyone from the new-to-OSM to the very-experienced-indeed. A good time seemed to be had by all and there was much discussion of what future events, and mapping activities, might look like. I was especially pleased to get a copy of Richard Mann’s fantastic Oxford Bus and Cycle Map (I Googled up some photos here). If you’re interested in joining us next time, probably at the start of February 2013, keep an eye on Lanyrd Oxford and the Oxford talk list.

If you’d like to meet up with fellow mappers in your area, get arranging yourself a meet-up! Put something up on Lanyrd, tweet some people, email your local list and message nearby mappers. If your days are short and cold, as they are in Oxford, don’t try to map anything, just go to a local pub. Presumably your local mapping colleagues are like minded, interesting and enjoyable folks.

Sociable mapping is much more enjoyable than going it alone!