Mandatory Driving Waypoints for Parking Navigation

Summary

​Allow crag editors to define a specific driving route to the parking area by using mandatory waypoints. This ensures users follow landowner-approved roads instead of the "fastest route" suggested by GPS, which often leads through private property and causes access issues.

​The Problem: The "GPS Shortcut" Trap

​Currently, when a user clicks "Navigate" to a parking lot, the navigation app (Google/Apple Maps) automatically calculates the fastest route. In many rural or sensitive areas, this leads to a major problem:

• ​Trespassing: GPS often routes climbers through private roads or farm tracks where driving is forbidden.

• ​Access Bans: Even if the "Access" text description warns against these roads, many users follow the GPS line blindly. This is currently one of the leading causes of friction between landowners and the climbing community.

​The Solution: Mandatory Waypoints

​27crags should allow editors to add a "Safe Entry Point" (waypoint) that is automatically included in the navigation link. By forcing the navigation through a specific intersection or road section, we can ensure users approach the parking lot from the correct direction.

​Technical Implementation

​The "Navigate" button should support the Google Maps Directions API URL scheme. By leaving the origin empty, the app automatically uses the user's current location.

​URL Format:

[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&waypoints=](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&waypoints=)[WAYPOINT]&destination=[PARKING_COORDINATES]

​Practical Example:

If the parking is at Evatuntie 337 but the only allowed access is via the Evatuntie 1 intersection, the link would be:

[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&waypoints=Evatuntie+1&destination=Evatuntie+337](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&waypoints=Evatuntie+1&destination=Evatuntie+337)

​Suggested UI Change

• ​Add an optional field in the Crag/Parking editor: "Driving Waypoint (Optional)".

• ​If filled, the "Navigate" button generates a multi-point link.

• ​If empty, the button functions as a standard single-point destination.

​Impact

• ​Access Preservation: Proactively prevents trespassing and helps maintain good relationships with landowners.

• ​User Experience: Climbers don't need to cross-reference text instructions while driving; the "correct" route is handled automatically by their GPS.