Tag:highway=steps

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Public-images-osm logo.svg highway = steps
Stairs with ramp.jpg
Description
For flights of steps on footways and paths. Show/edit corresponding data item.
Rendering in OSM Carto
Rendering-highway steps.png
Group: highways
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
See also
Status: de facto

For flights of steps on footways and paths.

How to map

ElementWay.png

Add a way way along the length of the steps with the tag highway=steps on it.

If known, use the tag incline=up — when the direction of the way points upwards — or the tag incline=down, respectively.

In the past, the tag direction=up direction=down was used instead of the tag incline=up or incline=down, but this was deprecated since the key direction=* is used for several other purposes.

For areas area use also area:highway=steps

Tags to use in combination

  • step_count=* can be added to indicate the number of steps, useful especially for cases where number of steps is low and sparse. It indicates in such cases that steps are less significant obstacle than indicated just by their length.
    • You can even map each individual step as a barrier=step node along the way.
  • handrail=* can be used to specify where the handrail is located.
  • tactile_paving=yes/(no)/incorrect if there is a paving on both ends of the steps that can be found with a blind person's stick.
  • tactile_writing=yes/no indicates whether there is tactile writing available at the handrail(s) of the steps.
    • Note: If the handrail(s) is/are mapped separately with barrier=handrail, the key should be added on to this feature.
    • Note: If possible, the type of tactile writing which is available should always be specified, for example with tactile_writing:braille:lg=yes, see tactile_writing=* for details.
  • surface=* indicates the surface.
  • ramp=* indicates whether a ramp is available.
  • level=* the floor levels connected or passed through by the stairs (e.g. at stations)
    • level=0;1 between the ground floor and the 1st floor
  • width=* width in meters
  • name=* add if the steps have a special name
  • flat_steps=* a tag to express that the steps are actually flat enough to be driven on (e.g. 1 step every meter)
  • Do not use access=yes (it applies to all transport modes), if you want to tag steps as generally accessible to pedestrians the best solution is to not set any access tags.
    • access=no + foot=yes would technically set it as "only pedestrians allowed" but that is quite tricky to process and brings no benefits

Escalator

highway=steps + conveying=yes/forward/backward/reversible

You can also specify the direction of the escalator: incline=up/down. See conveying=* for details.


Examples

Following examples are with full steps-specific tagging. There are also other tags such as surface=*, lit=* etc not mentioned here. It is also fine to tag just highway=steps and leave detail for others.

Picture Tags
Steps.jpg

highway=steps

ramp=no
step_count=*
handrail=yes
handrail:left=yes
handrail:right=yes

Stairs with ramp.jpg

highway=steps

ramp=yes
wheelchair=no
ramp:stroller=yes
ramp:bicycle=yes
handrail=yes

Steps on mountain trail.jpg

highway=steps

ramp=no
wheelchair=no
handrail=no
material=rock
surface=rock

FLT CT6 10.9 mi - 12 log steps - panoramio.jpg

highway=steps

surface=dirt
material=wood
ramp=no
wheelchair=no
handrail=no

Salita inferiore Sant'Anna, Genova, Italy.jpg

highway=steps

surface=brick
ramp=no
wheelchair=no
handrail=yes

Rendering examples

Mapnik steps.png Osmarender steps.png

See also

Possible tagging mistakes

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!