Time Out maps London's sunniest routes

Time Out reported on Thursday, May 21, that Sunseekr had added a new London feature called Sun Paths, an interactive route-planning tool that shows walkers the sunniest and shadiest ways to get across the city. The feature was published in a Time Out London item by Ed Cunningham and is now live through Sunseekr, the app first known for showing which pubs, cafés and restaurants are in the sun at different times of day. Mo Dawod, the founder of Sunseekr, built the new tool around walking rather than venues. According to Time Out, Sun Paths lets users enter two locations in London and compare route options based on sunlight exposure, including a sunniest route, a shadiest route and a shortest route. (timeout.com) ### Who made the map and what does it actually show? Sunseekr is the company behind the new map, and Time Out said the app was created by “sun-obsessed architect” Mo Dawod. The publication said the platform originally focused on showing which London pubs were in sunshine at certain times of day before expanding to restaurants, cafés and, earlier this year, specific pub terraces and gardens. (timeout.com) Sun Paths extends that same idea to journeys on foot. Time Out said the feature shows walking routes between two locations and is designed for people who want either more sun or more shade while moving through the city. ### How does the route tool decide which streets are sunnier? (timeout.com) Time Out said Sunseekr works by simulating shadows. The publication reported that the app takes into account the position of the sun in the sky and the height of nearby buildings, then uses those calculations to suggest routes with different light conditions. (timeout.com) Real-time shadow calculations are central to the walking feature. Time Out said that means users can avoid being routed into shade when a sunnier alternative is available, or choose the reverse on warmer days by selecting a shadier path. ### What choices do walkers get inside the app? (timeout.com) Users can adjust the time of day in the route planner, Time Out reported, which means the suggested path can change depending on when the walk will happen. The publication also said walkers can choose how much sunlight they want on the route, using settings labeled “light,” “balanced” and “sun-maxx.” (timeout.com) Longer detours are also part of the offer. Time Out said that if a user is willing to walk farther in order to stay in sunshine, the app will generate that option as well. ### Why did Dawod say he built it? Mo Dawod told Time Out that the idea came from his own London commute. “Every day on my commute I walk along the river,” he said, adding that on sunny days he would end up on the shaded bank while “the opposite bank was glowing.” (timeout.com) Dawod told Time Out that frustration led him to ask whether he could fix the problem with a route-planning tool. (timeout.com) He added that “London gets so few proper sunny days” and said Sun Paths was built so Londoners could “enjoy every inch of the ones we do get.” ### Is it only for London? (timeout.com) Time Out said the feature is currently available only in London. The publication also reported that Sunseekr plans to roll out Sun Paths across the UK this summer. The map can be accessed through Sunseekr now, according to Time Out, with London serving as the first market for the walking feature before any broader expansion. (timeout.com)