How to use the Trail Contribution Portal
The Trail Contribution Portal is a web map editor at ridepal.app/portal. It is not a separate screen inside the native iOS or Android app—you open it in a browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) on your phone, tablet, or computer. Desktop or a large tablet is often easier for drawing and merging long trails.
Getting in (iOS, Android, or desktop)
- Go to https://www.ridepal.app/portal.
- Sign in with Continue with Google or Continue with Apple—the same identity you use for RidePal so submissions are credited to your account.
- After the portal finishes setting up access, you are sent to the editor at
/portal/editor. If you already have a session, you may land there directly.
You can sign out from the portal sign-in card. The editor also requires a signed-in session; if you are logged out, it sends you back to /portal.
Pop-up blockers: if Google or Apple sign-in is blocked, the site may fall back to a redirect-based sign-in flow.
The portal sign-in page only offers Google and Apple. If your RidePal sign-in method is not available there, contact RidePal support so they can help you access the portal with the right account.
The four-step workflow
The sidebar stepper matches what you do in the editor:
| Step | Name | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose Mode | Pick what kind of change you are submitting (new trail, edit, merge, delete, or POI). |
| 2 | Map & Geometry | Capture or adjust lines/points on the map using the tools for that mode. |
| 3 | Trail Details | Enter name, description, difficulty, surface, width, photos, and optional extra fields. |
| 4 | Review & Submit | Open the review panel, confirm everything, and send the submission to the admin queue. |
The main button at the bottom of the panel opens Review & Submit when the editor considers the draft ready (for example, after geometry is captured where required).
Submission modes (step 1)
- New trail — Draw a line on the map, import a file, pull candidates from OpenStreetMap (OSM), or build a route from waypoints. Then trim or simplify before submitting.
- Edit trail — Select an existing trail on the map and propose metadata and/or geometry updates.
- Merge trails — Choose a primary trail, use Pick Merge Partner and select a second trail (or use the multi-segment flow when offered), then merge into one draft for review.
- Delete trail — Select an existing trail and submit a deletion request with enough context for reviewers.
- POI — Place a point for a bike-relevant location (for example BMX course, bike park, parking, resort). Use Pick POI Point on the map, then complete the POI fields.
Short descriptions for each mode appear in the portal UI under the mode selector.
Map and geometry tools (step 2)
What you see depends on the mode, but common tools include:
- Draw Trail — Start drawing, click points along the trail, double-click to finish. You can drag vertices afterward.
- Import File — Upload common geospatial formats with line geometry. The portal shows current file-size and point limits in the help text; if an import fails, try simplifying the track elsewhere first.
- OSM — Draw an OSM bounding box or use the current map view, then run an import/search to pick OSM trail candidates and apply one to your draft.
- Route Builder — Drop waypoints in order; the editor builds a routed line using an external directions service, with reasonable use limits to protect performance.
- Simplify & Trim — After geometry exists, optional sliders reduce points or keep only part of the line; use Apply when ready.
Your draft fields are kept in the browser so a refresh is less likely to wipe everything; still save important text elsewhere on flaky connections.
Trail details and photos (step 3)
Fill in the fields the mode requires: name, description, difficulty, surface, trail width, optional review notes for admins, and image uploads when you want photos attached. Advanced sections may let you add custom metadata key/value pairs.
Review, submit, and tracking
Use the Review & Submit button to open the summary modal, then confirm. You should see a submission confirmation dialog with optional reference IDs, plus what happens next (admin review, approval into the RidePal database, notifications if changes are needed, and trust updates).
In the sidebar, expand My Submissions to see pending, approved, and rejected items with dates and modes; use Refresh to reload the list. Your pending submissions can also appear on the map overlay for context while you work.
Trust score, limits, and promotions
The portal loads your contributor profile from the server, including trust stats and daily submission limits (exact numbers depend on your account and policy). Quality and approval history affect your trust score.
From time to time the editor may advertise contributor benefits (for example complimentary RidePal Pro after enough approved submissions). If a banner appears, it reflects the current public promotion—details and eligibility can change.
Relationship to the mobile apps
- iOS and Android — Use the portal in the browser; there is no “Trail Portal” menu item required in the native app. Many riders keep the editor open on a computer and the app on the phone for reference.
- In-app trail feedback — Quick flows like suggesting improvements from a trail in the app may still exist; the portal is for deeper geometry work, merges, OSM imports, and structured submissions.
Tips
- Zoom in before OSM search or large imports so requests stay fast and relevant.
- Read the in-portal help blurbs (they cover Draw Trail, Import File, Merge Trails, Simplify, Trim, and related topics).
- First visit may show an onboarding overlay; dismiss it when you are ready—the map works the same afterward.
Related
- Earning badges and climbing the Leaderboard — Trail Contributor badges
- How to cancel or manage your subscription