Tag:crossing_ref=zebra
![]() |
![]() |
Description |
---|
A zebra crossing or zebra road markings. ![]() ![]() |
Group: crossings |
Used on these elements |
Requires |
Useful combination |
|
Status: approved![]() |
Tools for this tag |
|
![]() |
Due to misuse of the tag for any crossing with zebra markings, the actual meaning may not always be clear. It is suggested to use crossing:markings=zebra for the mere presence of zebra markings (regardless of their legal significance), and we can try to reestablish the meaning of crossing_ref=zebra to mean a legal zebra crossing. This would also be in line with the documentation found at crossing_ref=* . |
This tag describes either a legal zebra crossing or the presence of zebra markings (depending on the mapper), characteristic light (usually white) stripes. Zebra markings are named after the animal due to the resemblance to their stripes. There might be additional requirements for a crossing to be considered a zebra crossing, e.g. traffic signs, or blinking lights.

In some countries, traffic signal controlled crossings have zebra markings as well.
How to tag
Add crossing_ref=zebra
to the highway=crossing
node . Also add the appropriate
crossing=*
tag-value (e.g. crossing=uncontrolled
, crossing=zebra
or crossing=traffic_signals
).
Optionally, add it to the highway=footway
way in combination with
footway=crossing
.
Variations in road markings
Zebra crossing predominantly feature fairly wide white stripes perpendicular to the path of the crossing pedestrians, alternating with stretches of unmarked road. However, sometimes a different colour or pattern is used while remaining close to the archetypical zebra crossing design. As long as they are recognized as zebra markings crossing_ref=zebra
still applies.
Common variants are yellow stripes for temporary (but legal) road markings, and stripes coloured with the canonical colours of the rainbow in their common order (usually as a sign of protest or formal municipally backed support for the LGBT community).
Software support
Renderers
OSM2World applies a white-striped texture to the crossing way. [1]
Straßenraumkarte Neukölln applies white stripes to the crossing [2] and reserves a parking-free buffer zone around the crossing that is larger than for crossing=marked
. [3]
The CARLA autonomous vehicle simulator renders the crossing as a marked crosswalk. [4]
See also
highway=crossing
the main tag for a pedestrian crossing of a road orrailway=crossing
for a pedestrian crossing of a railroadcrossing=zebra
for zebra crossingscrossing=marked
for marked crossingscrossing=uncontrolled
for uncontrolled crossingscrossing=traffic_signals
for crossing with traffic lights.crossing:markings=zebra
- Regularly spaced bars along the length of the crossing. (Called "continental" in the United States.)