Time Out map shows sunniest, shadiest London routes

Time Out reported on Thursday, May 21, that Sunseekr has added a London-only feature called Sun Paths, a route planner that shows sunnier or shadier ways to walk between two points. The feature was created by architect Mo Dawod, who founded Sunseekr after building tools to show which pubs, cafés and restaurants are in direct sunlight at a given time. Time Out said the new tool calculates routes using real-time shadow data rather than just distance. Dawod said a wider UK rollout is planned for this summer. ### Who built the walking tool and what does it do? Mo Dawod, described by Time Out as a self-described “sun-obsessed architect,” built Sunseekr first as a way to show which London venues were in the sun. Time Out said the app launched in London last summer and has since expanded to dozens of cities, while still covering non-pub venues such as restaurants and cafés. (timeout.com) Sun Paths is the app’s new walking feature. Time Out said it lays out the sunniest route from A to B based on real-time shadow calculations, and Sunseekr’s own page describes it as an interactive walking route planner that calculates the sunniest path to a destination. ### How does the map decide which route is sunny or shady? (timeout.com) Time Out said Sunseekr simulates shadows by taking into account the position of the sun in the sky and the height of nearby buildings. Secret London, describing the same feature, said the tool uses shadow simulation together with Mapbox navigation software and OpenStreetMap data to calculate sunny, shady and shortest routes. (timeout.com) The route can also be adjusted by time of day. Time Out said users can change the time and choose how much sun they want on the walk, with settings labeled “light,” “balanced” and “sun-maxx.” If a user is willing to walk farther to stay in sunlight, the app can plot that longer route, the publication said. (timeout.com) ### Does it only work for people looking for sunshine? Time Out said the feature also includes a shadiest-walks option for people who want to avoid direct sun. That means the same route engine can be used either to maximize exposure or reduce it, depending on conditions and preference. (timeout.com) Sunseekr’s own materials frame the tool around “the sunny side of life,” but Time Out’s report makes clear that shade is part of the product, too. That matters because the feature arrives as London heads into warmer weather, the article said. ### Why did Dawod say he built it? (timeout.com) Dawod told Time Out that his own river commute prompted the idea. “Every day on my commute I walk along the river,” he said. “On sunny days I’d somehow end up in the shade the whole way, while the opposite bank was glowing.” He said that frustration led him to ask whether he could “fix it.” (timeout.com) Time Out quoted Dawod as saying, “London gets so few proper sunny days. SunPaths is built so Londoners can enjoy every inch of the ones we do get.” Secret London separately reported an Instagram post from Dawod saying he had spent eight months building the feature. ### Where is it available now, and what comes next? (timeout.com) London is the only city where Sun Paths is currently available. Time Out said the feature is live in London now and will be rolled out across the UK this summer. Sunseekr’s own page also says it is “currently live in London” and that more cities are coming. (timeout.com) The next step is the broader UK launch. Time Out directed readers to check the feature on Sunseekr, while Sunseekr’s page says additional cities are planned after the London release. (timeout.com)