Hi, I’m Matt McCutchen. I started using OpenStreetMap in 2014 because it was the primary map of OsmAnd, then (and still?) the best (mostly…) open-source map application available for a mainstream open-source mobile operating system. I support the goals of OpenStreetMap and use it for a number of purposes, though I still use Google Maps for navigation when time is of the essence (because OpenStreetMap still has more errors and I haven’t found a way to get traffic data). One notable place I’ve found where OpenStreetMap really shines (at least in my area) is in local parks: it often has significantly more detail about the trails, pitches, amenities, etc. than Google Maps. Of course, official maps from the respective park authorities may be even more complete and accurate, but they aren’t integrated into a convenient application like OsmAnd.

I’m a casual editor and have a mild interest in helping to improve mapping standards and OpenStreetMap-related software. I’m not yet involved in any larger policy discussions.

My assessment of what edits are worth my time to make (compared to my other hobbies) is somewhat arbitrary and varies over time, and I make no claim of self-consistency. I try to promptly map high-impact road-network changes in my area, but that’s about the only thing for which I’ll make a dedicated surveying trip. Aside from that, I mainly correct errors and make small additions for places I’m visiting anyway. Having a better sense of the actual value to the public of my contributions would be really helpful, but I don’t know it’s practical to get it. In the meantime, I’m continuing to contribute as long as I find it fun. I’m a pretty small-scale editor; I realize that larger-scale imports and data cleanup might have significantly greater benefit per unit of work, but I’m just not ready to take on the process of getting the necessary community approvals.

I chose my previous username (m3232) in the hope of remaining pseudonymous, so that my OpenStreetMap edits wouldn’t leak information about my travel habits. That was fine as long as I just made simple, uncontroversial edits. But as of May 2021, I’m giving up pseudonymity because I’d like to be able to refer others to my contributions and engage in technical discussions under my real name. My wiki account still has the old “m3232” name for now; I may get that updated at some point. I may create a separate pseudonymous account in the future for edits that present greater privacy concerns.