Validate my idea 🤯

[_W_]

Hi all, 

I’m thinking of creating a navigation app (iOS and Android) to allow route creation and group navigation - question is, is it compelling enough for you to use, and indeed pay for??

Outline idea is route creation on a map, schedule a drive of that route and invite participants. Route creation (USP1:) checks the waypoints don’t cause any micro loops, assists with fixing if they do. Route navigation (USP2:) getting ‘close enough’ to a waypoint and carrying on without actually hitting it just moves on to the next one (maybe also easily manually skip waypoints while driving). Also (USP3:) ‘real time’ track all participants so you can see where they are (the important part is knowing how far away the person behind you is. You’d know where someone is lost but if they’re using the app they’re not really lost…). Speed, (USP4:) easily start an average speed tracking ‘session’ while driving, calculates and displays that average till you stop it.

Android auto and CarPlay integration, but also just use your phone screen support. 

Definitely a free option, something like navigating a route once a month, joining drives with a small number of participants (basically usage that won’t cost me a fortune). Annual payment for weekly navigation and/or large group drives. Maybe £5

All thoughts welcome 🙂

 

Side note if you got this far, the average speed tracking is hard because your phone filters and samples the location data, which means on very wiggly roads the phone will say you’ve travelled a shorter distance than you have - no problem on the motorway but could be tricky on Derbyshire average speed check zones. In theory the average shown will tend high because it appears the distance is shorter, so it should be safe at least.

[hartleyj]

Hi. Met a Caterham owner in the queue for Brittany Ferries who swore by the 'RouteMe' app. Swore by it for just what you're suggesting. I tried it, even subscribed for a while to get enhanced features, but ultimately I just didn't seem to get on with it. Perhaps it's just me (or maybe it was the Dutch logic involved!). Anyhow, worth checking it out if you haven't already done so.

Other thoughts - with such low subs would your idea be worth it? Would it need a different version for Iphone/Android?

Good luck if you decide to go ahead. You could count me in!

 

[martenr1975]

Interesting idea, I can certainly see the value of those benefits but I think they may largely exist already - I use TomTomGo for route planning - plan on desktop and sync for route to appear on TomTomGo app on phone, display in car via Android Auto. I make sure waypoints are truly en route.

Essential for me is the speed camera warning (Inc AVG speed in AVG speed camera zone) and live traffic.

And TomTom maps are stored on phone so navigation not interrupted when not in data reception.

Group tracking could easily be done via a WhatsApp group and "share live location"

Annual cost is £20/yr which is an absolute no brainer for me.

Hopefully that's helpful in terms of what's out there.

 

[Oakman]

As you know Wain, it would need to be idiot proof - at least for me !   I could loose the haystack whilst looking for the needle when it comes to tech. 

You've accurately identified what would be exceptionally useful for LITP type run outs and other group events like Badgers Up North Run.  If people naturally divide into smaller groups depending on pace and traffic. 

I would be interested for sure 👍🏼

Paul

[winthattt]

Wain (sp), I think it would need a bit more to really take off. My suggestion is it could mark “favourite” stops for car runs (like Hassop) and could show other groups planning a run and time, potentially for a meet up or wave by.  Lotus run, Sunday at 7 meets Land Rovers etc. 
 

Where you would have to be very careful is making it useless for car-meets or cruise-meets. The idiots that drive at 120mph on public roads. They need no encouragement and a meet up app could be useful to them.  Of course, giving free access to the police would stop them and people like us would not mind. You would have to be careful to check you are not promoting “motorsport” on the highway. Dean and Ray will have advice on that matter.

[Dave-hp]

A route app that allows shared location for a particular purpose has some value. A bit like a whatsapp group chat.

I frequently use Apple location for family members, in particular when my daughter or wife is travelling a distance, so I can see where they are, and check out any hold ups ahead. (e.g M1 or M25!) 

Also, if my mum (she's 80) gets stuck or lost enroute to Kent, and Im in the midlands. She will sometimes get lost taking a diversion. Knowing where she is often the first point to get her back on track.

So an easy way for 'friends' to be sharing location is a good feature.

And could be used for multi purpose, thats how you sell it. 

I.e. a meet up, a drive, a group gathering for an evening meal, those who go into town in the evening, clubs etc. Young people at Uni keeping safe, sharing their location with a flat mate or family, so they know where they are. It could be used for those who are going on treks or long walks. Lots of uses beyond a drive.

So in short, a shared locator, map, with the option of adding a shared route destination. A lead could alter the route or destination, share with the group and the others follow. 

Not sure if there is anything like that....not a bad idea though. 

[_W_]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I think part of the question is about how easy it is to use some of the different features spread across different apps, as some of my features exist but as far as I know not combined. I haven’t found WhatsApp location share to be that useful because it’s outside the navigation app. Can help when someone is lost but not so much in trying to prevent it from happening.

I like the idea of including something about common locations of interest, the drive-by could be interesting (read expensive 😆). I have ideas for group interaction (clubs) in future, and publicly available routes.

 The ‘friends’ sharing location is interesting, feels like it would more suit multiple people coming from different places to meet and that makes it similar to the drive-by (specifically it would be attainable if planned by groups who know each other, expensive is me searching for overlaps)…

The raw keeping someone updated on your location should, I think, be served better by platform location share (which can also tie in to fall detection and satellite call for help).

 Lots of food for thought, thanks.

[Jonathan E]

I use MyRouteapp for route planning here and in Europe it does much of what you suggest in your post. Sharing location could get tricky in some of the areas I’ve travelled due to lack of any signal can be away from any sort of mobile signal for quite some time?

[_W_]

My route app completely free! 😳

[Jonathan E]

4 minutes ago, _W_ said:

My route app completely free! 😳

Not free by any stretch but very good 👍 I’ve created and driven thousands of miles using it in some of the most out of the way places in Europe and it hasn’t missed a beat. Probably overkill for what your proposing but as a route planner it’s superb.

Edited November 26, 2025 by Jonathan E

[_W_]

What’s the charges? So far even though I have an account it won’t let me in to some places (login required, doesn’t work after logging in again) and the route generated for some test waypoints doubles back on itself repeatedly (I think it’s generating routes itself, it is fast).

 Interesting and worth some investigation, thanks

[_W_]

i see, website has subscription details. I see some reviews directly complaining about problems I want to solve. Certainly demonstrates there’s a good market of interested users.

[Jonathan E]

Charges:3:95 euro per month for the full package or 79 euro for a lifetime membership, although they often have discount weekends.

Doubling back: it has the ability to create a circular route could be that is set?

Not sure why it’s giving problems logging in. There’s a very big community so there is a huge library of routes if you don’t want to create your own. It’s worth spending a little time to understand how it works and the desktop version is far more intuitive than the phone version and you can convert your routes to pretty much any file format to use on various Sat nav’s/Apps etc

Edited November 26, 2025 by Jonathan E