24 Hour Wiki

While researching various story ideas for my multimedia package, I found DavisWiki, an open source page devoted entirely to Davis, California.

What I find especially interesting is its Open 24 Hours page, which includes the note, “It’s 3:30am [sic] where can you go, what can you do?” A footnote includes information that at 5 a.m., Fluffy Donuts will be open; the time seems arbitrary and the restaurants and services are not always open seven days a week. (24 Hour Fitness, for example, is open five days a week.)

The page includes other towns—Dixon, Woodland, West Sacramento—in the general of Davis to list, and other towns are often within the general content of the site’s 10,000+ pages. In this case, it means that Davis residents looking for an IHOP at 4 a.m. know to drive to Dixon for pancakes, Woodland for Taco Bell or Sonic, or Sacramento for Carl’s Jr. Conversely, neighboring towns know what Davis offers late at night as a result of the site’s very existence.

DavisWiki is part of Wiki Spot, “a non-profit organization that helps communities collaborate via wikis.” Much like Wikipedia, anyone can contribute and edit the information that is part of the webpage. DavisWiki is the first local wikispot, edited and maintained by Davis residents. Other local wikispots exist in Illinois, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Other projects are dedicated to common interests—Orwell, beer, home schooling—and projects.

As a concept, wikis provide a foundation to allow for up-to-date information. A study in 2005 found that despite scandals of misinformation, Wikipedia was more informative and reliable than Britannica, as a result of constant updates and many contributors. Scandals and inappropriate behavior may have tarnished the possibility for Wikipedia to be considered a truly reliable source, but its open-source software allows the possibility to aid communities.
I think the DavisWiki is truly great. As a large-scale project, it shows community action and involvement. But its 24 Hour page is what impresses me the most. Currently, the listings are the typical box stores open around-the-clock in every town, but it fosters encouragement to patronize the establishments while providing a service to the late-night community. Patrons benefit from the ease of knowing what is open at 3 a.m., while businesses are aided by customers. (Provided the page is updated.)

I’d like to see a BaltimoreWiki. I’d like to see the many taco trucks and street food listed with their cross streets and hours. I’d like to see reviews from various publications included and linked to the businesses. The DavisWiki could benefit from included post-midnight to sunrise hours instead of an arbitrary early morning hour (and the helpful, albeit distracting footnote).
If BaltimoreWiki existed, I’d love for it to foster community involvement and pride, something I worry the city lacks.

[UPDATE] The links weren't working, but I edited the HTML and hopefully they're functioning correctly. Thanks for letting me know, Philip! [/UPDATE]