Grid references for events

[Familytaxi driver]

Do any of the internet maps eg google maps search by grid ref anymore. If a club only lists a fixture by name + grid ref I'm struggling to find where it is. I don't own all the ordnance survey maps. The only place I can find is on the ordnance surveysite under "get a map" and I'm sure many people who may consider going to a low key event would give up before finding that.
Also on the internet maps is there an easy way of finding a postcode for a particular place?
Thanks.

[denzil53]

I use this website to convert from grid reference to postcode.

http://www.nearby.org.uk/conversions.cgi

It normally gets you close enough to see the O-signs.

[cbg]

So use the OS Getamap service ... or lose it?

http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm

[GML]

Streetmap accepts grid references. Just make sure that there isn't a space between the letters and the numbers (it doesn't like that). Has the added advantage (to my mind) of using 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 OS maps.

[SIman]

Streetmap's smart search can use Grid Refs.

[Familytaxi driver]

Yep use it I suppose.
I just checked an event for this weekend and it only had a grid ref - took me a good few mins to find out how to find where is is.
Now uploading our club events onto website and the fixtures list I've been given just gives a country park + Grid ref. I wanted to make it easy for newcomers to check exactly where it is. I put a link to google maps and drop a marker on it but the Grid Ref doesn't seem very user friendly to newcomers. I suppose I can put another link to OS website "get-a-map" and start educating/helping the uninitiated.

Having read the new posts I could put a link to streetmap as well/instead - Thanks.

[martin]

On streetmap.co.uk
Move the arrow to where you want it (click move arrow button first)
At the bottom of the map it says:
Click here to convert coordinates.
Use this to get postcodes and grid references.

[Paul Frost]

I'm thinking about dropping the use of grid refs in event details due to the lack of support in their use.
In the old days (pre computer maps) a grid reference was only really useful if you had an OS map of the area and that's a reducing likelihood.

I don't think Sat Navs use them much, or at all.
Google has never heard of them.
Most web based maps/applications don't or they hide the ability to use them.

Latitude and Longitude are the new kids in town (or should that be the return of?)

I always provide a link to a Google Map and sometimes Bing (was MultiMap) and on my websites provide a map and visually drag a pin or locate via address or postcode for users when they publish event info.

So Grid Ref is dead, long live Lat/Long!

[eldroc]

In the old days, the best way to show the location of an event was to give a grid reference, which the potential competitor could look up on an OS map, or a decent road atlas.

Nowadays, the best way is to give the grid reference with a hyperlink to Google Maps, Streetmap or whatever. A paper flyer only needs to provide the URL of the web flyer (which will contain links to Google Maps or whatever) which is a lot easier to remember/type in/find than a two-alpha plus six-numeric reference.

The competitor only needs to know where the event is (and how to get there), not its distance from a reference point somewhere west of the Scilly Isles.

See http://www.stragglers.info/event/20101128.phpfor an example of good practice (although the webmaster has complaints from AOL users who's customised browser seems to be unable to display Google maps...)

[Tatty]

We always use an OSmap. Don't do away with GR's. Hubby refuses to have a sat nav

[Blonde bombshell]

I'd have thought that more information is best. Don't do away with GRs, they are useful for people who live in the 'area', but don't know the exact location. Add lat/long and/or postcode for those with living away from the area. These can be used on multimap or satnav.

[seabird]

For many events post codes, taken from GRs (which I always use!), need to come with a health warning. They can leave you several miles away from your race and sometimes on the wrong road.

For urban based events Post codes tend to be as reliable as GRs.

I always prefer Streetmap to the alternatives. Bing recently has been quite erratic and on several occasions has placed our correctly registered events in the Irish Sea, off Blackpool - which is sheer anguish for a Yorkshire club!

[EddieH]

Grid refs for me any day. I always use them. A poscode covers a huge area, particularly in the country, and whilst I understand lattitude and longitude perfectly I have no ready means of identifying points tha way.

[Clive Coles]

I too favour the retention of Grid references on our web sites and flyers ~ Post codes are only useful if there happens to be a building near your event car park.

But, as Sat Navs become more sophisticated, we probably also need to start giving Long/latitude co-ordinates as well.

For me the best map product available at present to locate a venue is Google maps. I actually agree with their "Get directions" results ~ I sometimes find Street map directions a joke. Multimap/Bing is better in this respect.

Sadly though Google maps does not currently support a grid reference search. I think only Street map supports that facility. So we probably should include both Google maps and Street map links on our event publicity. Obviously a solution favoured by SOS on their website.

Grid references are a British thing ~ if you look at web pages advertising events overseas Google maps seems to be by far the most utilised software product. Perhaps in time Google Maps will support British Grid reference searches.

[Scott]

I agree that grid references alone are not sufficient - I can think of nothing less friendly to newcomers than a flyer or website that states "Location: GR AB123456" with no further explanation.

Grid references have a lot of fans, and I don't think they should be scrapped from event flyers just yet, but I would much rather see a flyer with no grid ref but a Google Maps url and some sensible description of location ("5 miles north of Ashton on the A123") than vice-versa.