JonathanM said:
True - it is open for use by anyone. There are differences between that ("green") system and the official GLASS/TRF Wayfinder "grey" system at www.wayfinderproject.co.uk - the principal ones being ....
1) The "grey" system was developed by a GLASS development team, of which Ian Boddison (GLASS RoW officer at the time the project was initiated) was a member and Lead Developer, for use by its membership over the period from Spring 2001 to March 2006. Development by GLASS and TRF members has continued to the present day. The system is intended for use by motorists for the benefit of motorists. The data contained within the system has been entered by its users continuously during the period from its launch at the GLASS AGM in September 2001. It is held in Wayfinder for the benefit of the all Wayfinder users in perpetuity (see FAQ 49). The system is used regularly and updated by many hundreds of users. The names of users who create and update information are openly displayed in the system. Paid access is available to anyone who agrees to the Wayfinder terms of use. Access to the system is included as a membership benefit to GLASS and TRF members. Free access is also available to a limited number of members of clubs that are affiliated to GLASS (TRF doesn't have affiliate organisations) and low cost access to other members of those clubs.
2) Control over the "green" system, which was a copy of GLASS Wayfinder as at 13 March 2006 is in the hands of a company that is limited by guarantee called Wayfinder Project Limited. There are three directors, Ian Boddison, Jon Wildsmith and another who is understood to be a friend of Ian Boddison but who plays no part in the management of the system. User personal information and the data in the system was also "acquired" on 13 March 2006, was subsequently enhanced by importing a number of lanes from an external database owned by Jon Wildsmith but has been relatively static since then due to its much smaller user base. The Wayfinder Terms of Service (see FAQ35) specifically require that users make no claim to ownership of any data or text entered. It is possible that the directors of the company could commercially exploit that data if they chose to do so. You may notice, if you use the system, that the names of those who create and update data are witheld for legal reasons. The system is not primarily intended for use by and for the benefit of motorists. It is open for use by anyone - membership and use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders being encouraged. The system is not supported in any sense by GLASS, by TRF or by LARA. CRAG have denied that they have any involvement in the management of the system, though some of their members are known to be users.
The GLASS/TRF Wayfinder system is under active development - a substantial Google Maps implementation having been put in place during 2007. A replacement system, Trailwise, has also been developed during 2007, is currently under test and will be launched during the early part of 2008. As you will appreciate, GLASS and TRF are desperately in need of funds to assist in the fight to retain rights for motorists to use unsealed routes in the countryside. The GLASS membership of LARA costs around £5000 each year and the costs of parliamentary lobbying are frightening. The "managers" of the "free" system have no need for such funds, because they don't incur these costs.
I need to declare an interest here - as I was an original member of the Wayfinder development team from May 2001 onwards (but it was then called GLASS List of Roads). I continue to be involved in the management of the official GLASS Wayfinder system and am an active member of the Trailwise development team. I have been for some time and remain a personal friend of Ian Boddison.
Cheers
Andrew Kay
