Tag:area:highway=path

area:highway = path
Description
An area representation of paths.
Group: Area:highway
Used on these elements
Useful combination
surface=*
Status: in use
Tools for this tag
taginfo · CH · CZ · FR · GB · HU · IE · IN · JP · PL overpass-turbo
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An area representation of a highway=path. area:highway=path describes the shape, i.e. the two-dimensional outline of the area of a path, or parts of it. It is used as a form of Micromapping in addition to the routable, linear way tagged as highway=path.

This tag is not the same as highway=path + area=yes which represents a non-linear feature such as a square or plaza where multi-directional travel is permitted.

How to map

Correct tagging

• If it's a simple path area, just draw an outline around it, and add tag area:highway=path.
• If it's a more complicated one, draw an outline around it, add tag area:highway=path, draw all inner parts, then select all elements and make a multipolygon relation from it.

Optional tags:

• surface=* (What is the path made of? E.g. concrete, asphalt)

Tagging mistakes to avoid

• Dont' left an area:highway=path area without linear highway=path way going through its middle.
• Don't draw an area:highway=path area for crossings. Correct tagging of them is explained in a second table below.
• Don't draw an area:highway=path area for unpaved paths. Draw only a linear way through its middle.
• Don't draw one area:highway=path area for separated "foot & bicycle" paths. Draw 2 areas : area:highway=footway for foot part and area:highway=cycleway for bicycle part (see second table below).

Example tagging

Case	Area tags	Mapping examples
Polygon	area:highway=path
Multipolygon	area:highway=path + type=multipolygon Correct tagging of footway multipolygon depends on character of place, you can: draw a multipolygon on a larger landcover area (eg. leisure=park, see example photo) or add proper landcover tag to every inner element or complete empty inner parts with proper landcover areas (eg. building=yes)

Example tagging of connected objects

Case	Way tags			Area tags	Diagrams	Mapping examples
Non-segregated "foot & bicycle" crossing	highway=path + path=crossing + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=no			Draw an area around streets intersection, treating stop lines and crossings as its edges and tag it with: area:highway=* (class of highway, eg. area:highway=primary) + junction=yes If it's a single crossing being far away from streets intersection, draw it just as a linear way crossing street area without junction=yes tag.
Segregated "foot & bicycle" crossing	Method 1 (one linear way): highway=path + path=crossing + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes			Draw an area around streets intersection, treating stop lines and crossings as its edges and tag it with: area:highway=* (class of highway, eg. area:highway=primary) + junction=yes If it's a single crossing being far away from streets intersection, draw it just as a linear way crossing street area without junction=yes tag.
	Method 2 (two linear ways): Through foot part: highway=footway + footway=crossing Through bicycle part: highway=cycleway + cycleway=crossing
Segregated "foot & bicycle" crossing with traffic calming island	Method 1 (one linear way):			Street area: Draw an area around streets intersection, treating stop lines and crossings as its edges and tag it with: area:highway=* (class of highway, eg. area:highway=primary) + junction=yes If it's a single crossing being far away from streets intersection, draw it just as a linear way crossing street area without junction=yes tag. Foot part of the island: area:highway=footway Bicycle part of the island: area:highway=cycleway Side parts of the island: landuse=grass or leisure=garden or traffic_calming=island
	highway=path + path=crossing + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes	highway=path + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes	highway=path + path=crossing + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes
	Method 2 (two linear ways): Through foot part:
	highway=footway + footway=crossing	highway=footway	highway=footway + footway=crossing
	Through bicycle part:
	highway=cycleway + cycleway=crossing	highway=cycleway	highway=cycleway + cycleway=crossing
Pedestrian crossing	highway=footway + footway=crossing			Draw an area around streets intersection, treating stop lines and crossings as its edges and tag it with: area:highway=* (class of highway, eg. area:highway=primary) + junction=yes If it's a single crossing being far away from streets intersection, draw it just as a linear way crossing street area without junction=yes tag.
Bicycle crossing	highway=cycleway + cycleway=crossing			Draw an area around streets intersection, treating stop lines and crossings as its edges and tag it with: area:highway=* (class of highway, eg. area:highway=primary) + junction=yes If it's a single crossing being far away from streets intersection, draw it just as a linear way crossing street area without junction=yes tag.
Segregated "foot & bicycle" path	Method 1 (one linear way): highway=path + foot=designated + bicycle=designated + segregated=yes (path way should be joined through a mutal part of the footway/ cycleway areas, see example screenshot)			Foot part: area:highway=footway Bicycle part: area:highway=cycleway (both areas should be joined to each other if there is no physical barrier between them, see example screenshot)
	Method 2 (two linear ways): Through foot part: highway=footway Through bicycle part: highway=cycleway
Traffic calming paving on a street edge (This element should be treaten as kind of a traffic calming area, not footway)				traffic_calming=island

Visualisation

OSMapa/ area

See also

• Proposed features/Street area
• area:highway=footway
• area:highway=cycleway
• traffic_calming=island