Tag:highway=cycleway

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Public-images-osm logo.svg highway = cycleway
Path-bicycledesignated.jpg
Description
For designated cycleways Edit this description in the wiki page. Edit this description in the data item.
Rendering in OSM Carto
Cycleway osm.png
Group: cycleways
Used on these elements
should not be used on nodesmay be used on waysshould not be used on areasshould not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
Implies
Useful combination
Status: de facto

The highway=cycleway tag indicates a separate way for the use of cyclists.

How to map

To tag a cycleway just create the way way and tag it with highway=cycleway. If the cycleway has a name then add a name=* tag to it. To indicate that the cycleway is part of a cycle route, see Cycle routes for a full guide.

When not to use

Cycling infrastructure that is an inherent part of a road - particularly "cycle lanes" which are a part of the road - should usually not be tagged as a separate cycleway, but by adding the cycleway=* tag to an existing highway=* instead.

The Bicycle page provides more information about how to tag bicycle-related infrastructure in general.

Foot access on cycleways

Tagging a way with highway=cycleway implies that the route is designated for bicycles.

Different countries have their own rules as to whether foot access is allowed by default on cycleways. See default access restrictions. In countries where foot access is not allowed by default, use the foot=designated or foot=yes tag when foot access is allowed. In this case, you can add the segregated=* tag to indicate whether or not there is a separate pedestrian lane present.

Ways that are not marked as cycleway by traffic signs (and are therefore open to non-bicycle traffic (e.g., moped or horse) should typically be tagged as highway=path instead of highway=cycleway, but see duck tagging as well. However, highway=path without any additional information about surface quality, etc... can be hard to interpret for bicycle routers and other data consumers due to the wide variety of path types ranging from perfectly flat and paved ways that simply lack explicit cycleway signs to mountain hiking routes that are completely impassable for bicycles[1]. Adding additional tags such as surface=* makes it easier for data consumers to properly categorize and make use of ways tagged as highway=path.

Usage for shared paths

The iD preset "Cycle & Foot Path" uses highway=cycleway along with bicycle=designated and foot=designated. On the other hand, the equivalent JOSM preset tags this as highway=path with bicycle=designated and foot=designated.

In either case adding also segregated=yes or segregated=no is helpful.

Special situations

  • cycleway=* - If the cycleway is mapped as part of another highway (especially bicycle lanes).
  • oneway=yes - If cyclists are only allowed to ride in one direction on the cycleway.
  • bridge=yes - If the cycleway goes over a street or waterway.
  • tunnel=yes - If the cycleway goes below a street or waterway.

Examples

Description Picture Tags
Dedicated cycleway Sciezki wroclaw wyspianskiego 1.jpg highway=cycleway

(add access restriction tags like foot=yes or foot=no if access is different from the default access restrictions)

Cycleway with sidewalk Cycleway with sidewalk.jpg highway=cycleway + sidewalk=right

sidewalk=* implies segregated=yes however many cycleways have segregated=yes tagged explicitly.

Combined cycle- and footway Radweg Schee Silschede cut.jpg highway=cycleway + foot=designated + segregated=no

or

highway=path + bicycle=designated + foot=designated + segregated=no

Dedicated cycleway and footway, segregated from each other but being a single object Witosa bike 2.jpg highway=path + bicycle=designated + foot=designated + segregated=yes

or

highway=cycleway + foot=designated + segregated=yes

or

highway=cycleway + sidewalk=right/left/no (largely specific for the Netherlands[2])


cycleway:surface=* footway:surface=* may be useful here

One-way cycleway One-way cycleway.jpg highway=cycleway + oneway=yes

Rendering

Old OSM Carto OSMAnd

Cycleway mapnik.png
Blue dotted lines

Cycleway osmand.png
Blue dashed lines

See also

References