Poll - How many still use paper maps?

I haven't used a paper map in about four years now. I've used print-out from Mapquest (which doesn't count for our purpose here) until I got the plastic (Nüvi).

GPS is all I use on the road. At home or office, I use either Google map or Mapquest, depending on what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the input! I too find google maps as useful as paper (as long as you have a big screen...lol)

Still used a paper map with my GPS when stuck in traffic to see the overall area.

and that was 5 years ago at least.

There is a 5 old atlas lying around the house somewhere though.

I keep them in the car just in case of a failure but rarely look at them. Once in a great while, I will take a look just to vary my route as I am a traveling salesman covering the same customers so the routes get a bit boring after a while.

Well, I thought maybe once we went digital, we would not use paper maps much, but I was very wrong.

We utilize DeLorme Street Atlas 2008 on our computer, and have a TomTom gps unit, but still find we want to have good, detailed, paper maps as well. Each has it's own purpose. If we were able to get a good electronic topographical map of Canada, we might rely on paper less, but so far have not found one (U.S. only).

We spend our daily life on the road, as full time Rv'ers, and for the past year and next year are just in Canada. We find the three map sources we use all work together for the most efficient and enjoyable travel, and we would not want to be without any of them.

I use my laminated state map. It came in handy on a wet and muddy day when I needed something to kneel on.

I haven't used paper maps since I bought my first auto-routing GPS in 2002, the Street pilot III. I do carry a laptop when I travel with several mapping programs on it in case I want to redo a route or get some GPS coordinates.

Since the Nuvi 750 arrived, haven't used a paper map since.

I have state and local maps stashed in the car ... consult them to show the lay of the land and double check GPS directions, since they are not infallible. They also are handy should you forget your GPS, its battery dies, etc.

I still bring along paper maps whenever I go on a business trip - primarily to plan any side road-trips I will be taking. While the GPS is great for navigation and for POI searches, I still think nothing beats good old paper maps for planning a route.

Yes.
I also bring a spare pair of glasses.

I’ve done away with the Hagstrom maps 2 years ago. The only problem I’ve encountered is when the GPSr routes you into a street that now goes the other direction. Example: a known two way street was turned into a one way street. It’s happened twice so far and nothing that would appear on paper maps anyway.

It is nice to have a papaer map as a backup. If you are just driving from point A to point B, the GPS alone if fine. However, last week we were on vacation in the Napp Valley. I learned that a paper map would have been helpful. If you are exploring an area you are not familiar with, it is nice to have a paper map as a reference. ...especially when you are already underwaya and don't want to pull over and search the GPS while underway. The paper map gives you a fairly detailed look at a much larger area. If you zoom out that far on your GPS, you loose all the detail.

Miss POI and JM,
Is there a "poll" function available in the software or is there an easy way to do this on a regular basis?
This would add a new dimension to the site.
I really enjoyed this.

I will add this to our meeting agenda for this Monday.

I think it is possible, our main focus right now is getting the wiki tools set up so you guys can start making reference pages.

Miss POI

paper map is a great back up, just in case.....

Just moved to the Bay Area, a big picture helps some times to see where all of these freeways lead to..

For any trip away from my home area, I would carry an old map, such as "Southeast US." I would have it as a backup. I also might put it on the seat of my car when I am at a restaurant or rest area, so potential thieves would be less likely to think there is a GPSr hidden in the car.

So, I "have" paper maps as a backup, but never "use" them, other than as a decoy!

I still bring paper maps with me but generally rely on my Nuvi after checking addresses on Google Earth or Mapsource before I leave. That way I'm sure to get where I'm going.

I'm a AAA member so getting paper maps is no big deal.

I plan my trips with the internet maps and print out the directions and I also carry paper maps in my vehicle as back up. I figure "better safe than sorry."

I was cleaning out my old car today, and found a 6-year-old paper map buried in the map pocket.

I would have to say YES. My wife and I love to get state welcome center maps when we travel. We have a collection of state maps from all over.

Garmin Nuvi 350, Magellan GPS 300

2:48PM 03-16-2008
If I counted it right,

Paper Maps (doesn't include print outs from eletronic sources)???

Yes - 34
-No - 31

As of the above datetime, I have quit keeping track. It looks like the answer is Yes (even if is just for backup). It was a close one though.

maps to cover the external antenna mounted to the dash when im not in the vehicle,works good,keeps theives from thinking i have a gps

If only to get an idea of where my destination is in relation to major roadways and landmarks. I either use a paper map or a Yahoo printout. It takes too long to get to get such an overview on a gps.

Paper maps and the friendly local with knowledge of the area will always have their place...especially if you forget your GPS.

Locals?

Ummm...whenever I go from one place to the next, I have 5 ppl telling me 5 different things...lol.s

I use the GPS for all of my navigation. On trips for fun, I carry a small 3" x 5" atlas that has one state per page. This is useful for the 'big' picture view of the route. This particular atlas has scenic highways highlighted in yellow. That helps to plan the routes and identify cities or landmarks to include in my trip. For everyday navigation to specific destinations, it's all GPS.

Bill

I have a city/burb and a state map in my cars map pocket. It has not been removed since I got my first Nuvi.

Not while in the car since I got my Garmin. I'm planning a trip from So Cal to Dubuque and back in June to see the in-laws, and for our preliminary routing we are using a large atlas. It may be in the car as a backup during the trip, but between my GPS and my iPhone, I don't expect to need it.

I use the subway card map in NYC! I don't think it will ever go away since GPSRs don't work well with all the large buildings. My Nuvi350 takes a long time to get a signal in Manhattan unless I'm in central park or near the ocean.

I use a paper map almost every day, I look at the maps provided by NYC for zoning information. I am in the commercial real estate business and could not function without them. I look at them online and then print them.

If you want to make a detour more then a couple of miles, you still need the paper.

...REDUNDANCY!

I carry 'paper' as a back-up in case the 'plastic' stops working!

Mike

I think it is good to have one on hand in case of technical problems.

I still have a local and national book map in my car. Rarely touch either, but sometimes when I'm trying to get a larger perspective (look at a whole state), I refer to the paper map.

d.dub/

Truly, I still perfer electronic maps more, even for "the bigger picture".

I use electronic maps because, for one, they are free. Two, I can zoom in and out depending on what I want to see.

Been using my MS S&T for the past couple years for planning, just got the GPS mod and cord. Until now always have done the paper thing, just to many years with the old things.

Still using Thomas Guide.

Hey I'm a cheapskate!

When we travel, we still carry a Road Atlas or traditional paper map. Even on a laptop, you can't beat the instant perspective and higher detail of a paper map. Having viewed the "big picture" before we start, I put it away and rely on the GPS while actually driving.

I used to use the AAA TripTiks for long trips. I also carried the road atlas book. Since internet mapping and direction sites appeared, the use of paper maps was reduced. Since the GPS hit my dash, I have not ordered a TripTik or gotten a new atlas from my insurance agent. The old one is still in the trunk though as a backup.

Do they still make those? LOL! I don't mind using the paper maps if I need to go off in the country(woods-wilderness) my little nuvi isn't made for that kind of thing.

Since I am a AAA member and maps are part of the membership, I do keep paper maps as a backup. I am a firm believer in backups in general, and although they are rarely used, like insurance policies the first time you need them, they are like gold and you will be glad you had a contingency plan. I was happy I backed up my hard drive when my primary hard drive crashed two years ago, I was also happy to have backup power from my UPS when power failed and I was relieved last October when the skies in Southern California were black with smoke and I couldn't acquire a satellite signal with my Nuvi to be able to break out my paper maps and navigate with them. There is no substitute for preplanning backup options.

Paper?? what's that? lol.. i laugh everytime i think of that. I mean really, i think my GPS has paid for itself already......All the ink and paper i used printing maps and i would still get lost...GPS is the coolest thing next to frozen pizza

I too use my GPSr and Google Maps et al for my day-to-day. I've used paper maps on two notable occasions during the last few years: 1) to draw a search radius during my house hunt and 2) used AAA paper map of Arizona to see which routes were identified as "scenic."

Prior to switching to the Nuvi 660, I would sometimes print out a Google Map route or MapQuest route as a backup to my StreetPilot 2620.

I stopped using any maps since I started using my gpsr's but with issues that can develope,I think it only prudent to have a back-up. I'm really big on back-ups...(particularly women), so from now on, I will carry a paper map, as well.

My backup for street navigating with my Nuvi on far away trips is another GPSr Magellan Color (not user friendly), on the water the backup for the Garmin marine is an old etrex (yellow)

I do all my trip planning in Streets and Trips then use the Nuvi for the actual trip. Like some others on this site, I also print out strip maps from Streets & Trips and use them as a backup.

I always carried a map in my car as an backup, also used it to hide my gps under.