Accessibility Quick Check
Bypassing an Inaccessible Map
Google Maps markers are not fully keyboard accessible. This review shows how one map-based site provides a keyboard-accessible alternative so users are not left behind.
Read the full transcript ↓What Is It?
Google Maps markers are not fully keyboard accessible — Tab reaches one marker, then skips to the fullscreen button, leaving all others unreachable.
Why It Matters
Keyboard users cannot access the same content as mouse users, leaving the majority of map markers — and the results behind them — effectively hidden.
How To Test
- Load the page.
- Use Tab to navigate into the map.
- Count how many markers receive keyboard focus.
- Check whether Tab skips past remaining markers.
- Confirm an accessible alternative exists to reach the same content.
The Fix
When a third-party component cannot be made fully accessible, provide an equivalent alternative. Here, a "Go to Results" button in the filter bar gives keyboard users a direct path to the filtered contest results after applying a filter — no map interaction required. This satisfies WCAG 2.4.1.
Related Skills
- Accessibility Testing
- Keyboard Navigation
- Screen Reader Support
- Manual QA
- WCAG 2.4.1
Google Maps markers are not fully keyboard accessible. Google acknowledges this limitation.
Mouse users can click any marker on the map to view contest details. On the Surf Contest Atlas, clicking a marker near French Polynesia opens a tooltip showing the contest name — in this case, the Lexus Tahiti Pro — and updates the results to show 1 of 83 contests filtered.
Keyboard users need to tab to markers or filters to view the same results. Using the keyboard, a filter can be applied — for example, activating the WSL Tour button updates results to show 15 of 83 contests. So far the keyboard experience is working.
The problem appears when the user continues tabbing to explore map markers. Tab reaches one marker near Brazil, indicated by a blue focus outline. But the next Tab press skips directly to the fullscreen button, bypassing all other markers. The following Tab moves to the map navigation controls. Every other marker on the map is unreachable by keyboard.
The accessible alternative: after a keyboard user applies a filter, they can Tab to the "Go to Results" button in the filter bar and press Enter to activate it. Focus moves directly to the filtered contest results — no map interaction needed.
When a fix isn't possible, provide an equivalent alternative. This approach satisfies WCAG 2.4.1 — Bypass Blocks.