Tag:highway=path: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:00, 28 December 2022

Description

A generic or multi-use path that is not wide enough for normal use by double tracked vehicles and that may or may not be open certain modes of public traffic.

Rendering in OSM Carto

Group: highways

Used on these elements

Implies

Too narrow for normal use by four wheeled (double tracked) vehicles

Useful combination

access=*
foot=*
bicycle=*
horse=*
motor_vehicle=*
surface=*
sac_scale=*
mtb:scale=*
width=*
smoothness=*
trail_visibility=*

See also

Status: approved

More details at taginfo

Tools for this tag

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overpass-turbo
OSM Tag History

highway=path is used for paths that are too narrow for use by four wheeled vehicles and for which all and any of highway=footway, highway=cycleway, highway=bridleway and would be inappropriate or inadequate (or simply not sufficient), but which are nonetheless usable for travel or navigation, regardless of the legal access-regime (a path only accessible for the landowner is still a highway=path, but tagged with access=private).

This tag refers to a generic path, either multi-use or unspecified usage, the path may have any type of surface. This includes walking and hiking trails, bike trails and paths, horse and stock trails, mountain bike trails, paved ways used both by cyclists and pedestrians as well as combinations of the above. Also included are other modes of transportation like local and regional trail infrastructure.

For urban paths which are designated primarily for pedestrians (potentially with bicycle=yes), some argue it's better to use highway=footway, others prefer only use highway=footway for formal footways (with a footway-traffic sign or sidewalks). Actual usage of highway=footway vs highway=path differs between mappers and areas.

If a path is wide enough for 4-wheel-vehicles (wider than 2 m), and it is not legally signposted or otherwise only allowed for pedestrians, cyclists or horseriders, it is often better tagged as a highway=track or highway=service.

For the mapping of public rights of way in the UK (specifically England and Wales), see UK public rights of way.

Legal access

A highway=path may be either

closed to public traffic ( access=private or access=no )
only open for a single mode of transport ( e.g. foot=yes ; vehicle=no ; horse=no )
open for some, but not all kinds of non-motorised traffic ( e.g. foot=permissive ; bicycle=designated ; horse=no ; motor_vehicle=no )
open for all forms of non-motorised traffic ( e.g. foot=permissive ; bicycle=designated ; horse=permissive ; motor_vehicle=no )
open for (some or all) forms of two wheeled motorised traffic ( e.g. foot=yes ; bicycle=designated ; horse=no ; mofa=yes ; motor_vehicle=no )

When left untagged for forms of access=* as above, data users can only guess whether a highway=path has been evaluated by a mappers for legal access=* or whether a path was added without regarding legal access (such as when adding from aerial imagery). In reality -and depending on the region- many highway=path that in OSM do not have tags for modes of transport such as bicycle=* , have legal access-restrictions that prohibit cycling (and some are closed for the public all together). To make the legal situation clear for other data users, please add explicit tags for access=* (including foot=* ; bicycle=* ; horse=* ) in line with the actual legal regime on the path in the real world.

Tagging

Optional tags
Key	Value	Comment
`access`	*	Access values are used to describe the legal access for `highway=` (including `foot=` ; `bicycle=` ; `horse=` ).
`surface`	*	Surface values provide additional information about the physical surface of roads/footpaths. Because there is no consensus on the exact differences between `highway=footway`, and highway=path, the use of the `surface=*` tag is recommended to disambiguate with `highway=footway`.
`sac_scale`	`hiking` `mountain_hiking` `demanding_mountain_hiking` `alpine_hiking` `demanding_alpine_hiking` `difficult_alpine_hiking`	A difficulty rating scheme for hiking trails.
`mtb:scale`	`0–6`	A difficulty rating scheme for mountain-biking.
`dirtbike:scale`	`0–6`	A difficulty rating scheme for dirt-biking.
`trail_visibility`	`excellent` `good` `intermediate` `bad` `horrible` `no`	This key describes attributes regarding trail visibility and orientation.
`incline`	`0–100%` `up` `down`	For marking a way's incline (or steepness/slope).
`width`	Length, numeric	Describes the actual width of a way. The default unit is metres.
`informal`	`yes`/`no`	Distinguish purposely built paths from informal ones, a.k.a. `path=desire`.
`operator`	*	The name of the organization that maintains the path.
`symbol`	*	Describes the symbol that is used to mark the way along the route

Please check the description about the inadvisability of using the tag access=designated.

See also: draft proposal for a general path classification (proposed March 2015).

Usage as a universal tag

Integrated in JOSM:

Example	Mapping	Description	CyclOSM
	`highway=path` + `foot=designated` + `bicycle=designated` + `segregated=no`	Signposted foot and bicycle path.
	+ `smoothness=excellent/ good/intermediate` or + `surface=paved/asphalt/concrete/paving_stones`	with a smooth surface
	`highway=path` + `foot=designated` + `bicycle=designated` + `segregated=yes`	Signposted foot and bicycle path with dividing line.
	+ `smoothness=excellent/ good/intermediate` or + `surface=paved/asphalt/concrete/paving_stones`	with a smooth surface
	`highway=path` + `foot=designated` + `bicycle=designated` + `mofa=yes`	Signposted foot and bicycle path with additional permission of motorised bicycles (mofas).
	`highway=path`	A generic multi-use path open to non-motorized vehicles, implicitly allowed for pedestrians, cyclists, …, see OSM tags for routing/Access-Restrictions Be aware that due to the wide variety of path qualities, routing engines may apply a penalty for cycling or other modes of transportation for paths without other tags that specify surface or access conditions.

Examples

Segregated cycle- and footway. It can be mapped as highway=path + surface=paved + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes + footway:surface=paving_stones + cycleway:surface=asphalt

See also: Path examples and Highway tagging samples

A path for bicycles and horses could be tagged as:

A UK bridleway could be tagged as:

A generic path in a remote area without legal access restrictions:

highway=path
motor_vehicle=yes - default is no so must override it with yes

Example rendering

OSM Carto	OSMAnd
Red dotted lines (used to be dark gray dashed lines)	Black dashed lines

A highway=path with any of the tags horse=designated, bicycle=designated, foot=designated may be rendered equally to a bridleway, a cycleway or a footway, depending on the map.

Disputed usage for scrambles

People scrambling up a mountain route, likely https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/517237335

highway=path is described as a generic path usable by pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles such as bicycles, and livestock such as horses. However, for lack of a more specific tag, it has also become commonly used for steep, rugged routes that do not fit this description. On these routes (or sections) an able bodied person does not walk upright, but instead scrambles using hands and feet to proceed up or down the slope. Riding a bicycle or horse on a scramble is functionally impossible in most cases.

Because of this, usage of highway=path for scrambles is disputed and there is a lack of consensus on how to properly tag them. A proposal for a new tag highway=scramble has been made but has not gained enough support for approval:

Data consumers

This tag is complicated and hard to interpret for data consumers^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4].

Be aware that due to the wide variety of path qualities, routing engines may apply a penalty for cycling or other modes of transportation for paths without other tags that specify surface or access conditions.

Popular request is to always include surface=* to allow distinguishing at least unpaved forest paths from cycleway with an asphalt surface^[5].

StreetComplete is a specialized editor, that among other tasks finds path where surface=* is missing.

References

↑ "Right now I am consuming data for a cycling router and highway=path is the bane of my life."
↑ "Horridly complex tag, everyone uses it differently."
↑ Just as an example, from a data-consumer POV, here's my current rules for rendering highway=path (...) I have seen highway=path used to mean anything from something that is not even visible on the ground, to something that is impossible to distinguish from a small road (...) Map renderer's frustration, I suppose... https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/tagging/2020-May/052747.html
↑ New road style for the Default map style - highway=path is evil (search for "highway=path, highway=footway problems")
↑ For the love of God, if you must use highway=path, please, please, please, please add a surface tag with a commonly-used value.

[1] "Right now I am consuming data for a cycling router and highway=path is the bane of my life."

[2] "Horridly complex tag, everyone uses it differently."

[3] Just as an example, from a data-consumer POV, here's my current rules for rendering highway=path (...) I have seen highway=path used to mean anything from something that is not even visible on the ground, to something that is impossible to distinguish from a small road (...) Map renderer's frustration, I suppose... https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/tagging/2020-May/052747.html

[4] New road style for the Default map style - highway=path is evil (search for "highway=path, highway=footway problems")

[5] For the love of God, if you must use highway=path, please, please, please, please add a surface tag with a commonly-used value.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{ValueDescription
-|key=highway
+| key = highway
-|value=path
+| value = path
-|description=A generic or multi-use path open to non-motorized traffic.
+| description = A generic or multi-use path that is not wide enough for normal use by double tracked vehicles and that may or may not be open certain modes of public traffic.
-|osmcarto-rendering=File:Rendering-highway_footway.png
+| osmcarto-rendering = File:Rendering-highway_footway.png
-|osmcarto-rendering-size=125px
+| osmcarto-rendering-size = 125px
-|image=Image:GuideFootPathCycleYes.jpg
+| image = Image:GuideFootPathCycleYes.jpg
-|onNode=no
+| onNode = no
-|onWay=yes
+| onWay = yes
-|onArea=no
+| onArea = no
-|onRelation=no
+| onRelation = no
+| implies = Too narrow for normal use by four wheeled (double tracked) vehicles
-|implies=
-*{{Tag|motor_vehicle|no}}
+| combination = *{{Tag|access}}
-*{{Tag|emergency|destination}}
+*{{Tag|foot}}
+*{{Tag|bicycle}}
-|combination=
-*{{Tag|access}}
+*{{Tag|horse}}
+*{{Tag|motor_vehicle}}
 *{{Tag|surface}}
 *{{Tag|sac_scale}}
@@ Line 21: / Line 22: @@
 *{{Tag|smoothness}}
 *{{Tag|trail_visibility}}
-|status=Approved
+| status = Approved
-|statuslink=Proposed_features/Path
+| statuslink = Proposed_features/Path
 }}
+{{Tag|highway|path}} is used for paths that are too narrow for use by four wheeled vehicles and for which all and any of {{tag|highway|footway}}, {{tag|highway|cycleway}}, {{tag|highway|bridleway}} and would be inappropriate or inadequate (or simply not sufficient), but which are nonetheless usable for travel or navigation, regardless of the legal access-regime (a path only accessible for the landowner is still a {{Tag|highway|path}}, but tagged with {{Tag|access|private}}).
-{{Tag|highway|path}} is a '''generic path''', either multi-use or unspecified usage, open to all non-motorized vehicles and not intended for motorized vehicles unless tagged so separately. The path may have any type of surface.
-This includes walking and hiking trails, bike trails and paths, horse and stock trails, mountain bike trails, paved ways used both by cyclists and pedestrians as well as combinations of the above.
+This tag refers to a '''generic path''', either multi-use or unspecified usage, the path may have any type of surface. This includes walking and hiking trails, bike trails and paths, horse and stock trails, mountain bike trails, paved ways used both by cyclists and pedestrians as well as combinations of the above. Also included are other modes of transportation like local and regional trail infrastructure.
-Also included are other modes of transportation like local and regional trail infrastructure not appropriate for motor-vehicles in more remote areas of the world.
+For '''urban paths''' which are designated primarily for pedestrians (potentially with {{tag|bicycle|yes}}), some argue it's better to use {{tag|highway|footway}}, others prefer only use {{tag|highway|footway}} for formal footways (with a footway-traffic sign or sidewalks). Actual usage of {{tag|highway|footway}} vs {{tag|highway|path}} [https://github.com/gravitystorm/openstreetmap-carto/issues/1698#issuecomment-134905532 differs] between mappers and areas.
-This tag is used for paths for which all and any of {{tag|highway|footway}}, {{tag|highway|cycleway}} and {{tag|highway|bridleway}} would be inappropriate or inadequate (or simply not sufficient), but which are nonetheless usable for travel or navigation. They might be not intended for any particular use, or intended for several different uses. Intended uses can be indicated with the various access keys; e.g., {{Tag|bicycle|designated}} and {{Tag|foot|designated}}. Check the description about the inadvisability of using the tag {{Tag|access|designated}}.
-For '''urban paths''' which are designated primarily for pedestrians (potentially with {{tag|bicycle|yes}}), it's better to use {{tag|highway|footway}}.
 If a path is wide enough for 4-wheel-vehicles (wider than 2&nbsp;m), and it is not legally signposted or otherwise only allowed for pedestrians, cyclists or horseriders, it is often better tagged as a {{tag|highway|track}} or {{tag|highway|service}}.
 : ''For the mapping of public rights of way in the UK (specifically England and Wales), see [[UK public rights of way]].''
+== Legal access ==
+A {{Tag|highway|path}} may be either
+* ''closed'' to public traffic ( {{Tag|access|private}}  or {{Tag|access|no}}  )
+* only open for a single mode of transport  ( e.g. {{Tag|foot|yes}} ; {{Tag|vehicle|no}} ; {{Tag|horse|no}}  )
+* open for some, but not all kinds of non-motorised traffic  ( e.g. {{Tag|foot|permissive}} ; {{Tag|bicycle|designated}} ; {{Tag|horse|no}}  ; {{Tag|motor_vehicle|no}} )
+* open for all forms of non-motorised traffic ( e.g. {{Tag|foot|permissive}} ; {{Tag|bicycle|designated}} ; {{Tag|horse|permissive}}  ; {{Tag|motor_vehicle|no}} )
+* open for (some or all) forms of two wheeled motorised traffic ( e.g. {{Tag|foot|yes}} ; {{Tag|bicycle|designated}} ; {{Tag|horse|no}}  ; {{Tag|mofa|yes}} ; {{Tag|motor_vehicle|no}} )
+When left untagged for forms of {{Key|access}}  as above,  data users can only guess whether a {{Tag|highway|path}}  has been evaluated by a mappers for legal {{Key|access}}  or whether a path was added without regarding legal access (such as when adding from aerial imagery). In reality -and depending on the region- many {{Tag|highway|path}}  that in OSM do not have tags for modes of transport such as {{Key|bicycle}} , have legal access-restrictions that prohibit cycling (and some are closed for the public all together).  To make the legal situation clear for other data users, please add explicit tags for {{Key|access}}  (including {{Key|foot}} ; {{Key|bicycle}} ; {{Key|horse}} ) in line with the actual legal regime on the path in the real world.
 == Tagging ==
@@ Line 50: / Line 59: @@
 | {{tagKey|access}}
 | *
-| Access values are used to describe the legal access for {{Key|highway}}.
+| Access values are used to describe the legal access for {{Key|highway}} (including {{Key|foot}} ; {{Key|bicycle}} ; {{Key|horse}} ).
 |-
 | {{tagKey|surface}}
@@ Line 92: / Line 101: @@
 | Describes the symbol that is used to mark the way along the route
 |}
+Please check the description about the inadvisability of using the tag {{Tag|access|designated}}.
 :''See also: [[Proposed features/pathtype(alternative)|draft proposal for a general path classification (proposed March 2015)]].''
@@ Line 203: / Line 213: @@
 == Data consumers ==
 This tag is complicated and hard to interpret for data consumers<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Richard/diary/20333 "Right now I am consuming data for a cycling router and highway=path is the bane of my life."]</ref><ref>[https://www.cyclestreets.net/help/journey/osmconversion/ "Horridly complex tag, everyone uses it differently."]</ref><ref>Just as an example, from a data-consumer POV, here's my current rules for rendering highway=path (...) I have seen highway=path used to mean anything from something that is not even visible on the ground, to something that is impossible to distinguish from a small road (...) Map renderer's frustration, I suppose... https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/tagging/2020-May/052747.html</ref><ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Mateusz%20Konieczny/diary/35389 New road style for the Default map style - highway=path is evil] (search for "highway=path, highway=footway problems")</ref>.
+Be aware that due to the wide variety of path qualities, routing engines may apply a penalty for cycling or other modes of transportation for paths without other tags that specify surface or access conditions.
 Popular request is to always include {{tag|surface}} to allow distinguishing at least unpaved forest paths from cycleway with an asphalt surface<ref>[https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/Richard/diary/20333 For the love of God, if you must use highway=path, please, please, please, please add a surface tag with a commonly-used value.]</ref>.
@@ Line 209: / Line 221: @@
 ==See also==
-* {{Tag|highway|track}} - for roads for agricultural use, gravel roads in the forest etc.
+* {{Tag|highway|track}} - for roads for agricultural use, gravel roads in the forest etc that are wide enough for normal use b.
 * [[Path controversy]] gives explanation how this is different/similar from {{tag|highway|footway}} and other types of ways.
 * {{tag|area:highway|path}} - for marking, in addition also exact shape/area of a path

Tag:highway=path: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:00, 28 December 2022

Contents

Legal access

Tagging

Usage as a universal tag

Examples

Example rendering

Disputed usage for scrambles

Data consumers

See also

References

Navigation menu

Tag:highway=path: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:00, 28 December 2022

Legal access

Tagging

Usage as a universal tag

Examples

Example rendering

Disputed usage for scrambles

Data consumers

See also

References

Navigation menu

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