OpenStreeMaps: free software's answer to Google and commercially-restricted geo-data

It's the additional information to the maps which have most value I think. Like garages (repair shops), supermarkets, gas stations and the like.

Sometimes I try using something else than Google maps, but the competition is just worse because they have far less points of interest. Therefore, people like me use Google when searching for the location of a sport accommodation, restaurant, cafe or something like that. I was pretty disappointed Google Maps doens't have a function to find the nearest post box or ATM, but I still didn't find out how to add those.

Then, I encountered an error in Google Maps: When I ask some route, I am always directed through the parking lot of the hospital. Not a smart place to drive through if you're in a hurry. Apart from the consideration there are barriers at the entrance and exit.

So, being a nice "open" citizen, I contacted TomTom to ask them if they could fix the issue. I used their 'fill in' form and such, and received a confirmation. But a year later, nothing changed.

On OSM however, all the barriers at the hospital were already on the map, and I found numbers of cycling lanes too (which aren't on Google Maps, so if you go cycling and ask Google for a direction, you receive senseless routes from now and then).

It's not honest, Google knows everywhere I want to go (Even with Google sharing, route calculations starting at my address identify me), but if I want something in return - them fixing the maps with the info I provided to them for free (!), they don't act. So again, I'll start trying becoming less dependent on Google Maps.