Bicycle and pedestrian tagging in Australia

Contributions to this page are welcome. Please contact Ortho is hot (ortho_is_hot on osm, edits, contrib, heatmap, chngset com.) if you want to help

This page proposes to standardise the tagging and mapping methods of (primarily) bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure within Australia.

Introduction

Unfortunately for cyclists in Australia, there remains a problem of infrastructure discontinuity between states, cities, and even local government areas. As such, it is often the case where one piece of infrastructure for cyclists abruptly, and sometimes dangerously, ends. Therefore, the below examples aim to achieve uniformity with the tagging schema for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Not all fields are required, however the more information, the better. It is hoped that this will facilitate, in particular, better routing, but also allow for research, analysis, improved map rendering, and other benefits which OpenStreetMap data is known for.

State differences

(Note: as a NSW resident, I may miss some differences between rules in different states of Australia. Please let me know if you find any errors).

• Bicycles are not allowed on footpaths (sidewalks) in Victoria and New South Wales (some exceptions apply)

Road crossings

Zebra crossings

On nodes at the intersection with the road and footway: highway=crossing

crossing=marked

crossing_ref=zebra

crossing:island=yes/no

highway=crossing crossing=marked crossing_ref=zebra crossing:island=yes

Off-road infrastructure

Sidewalks

A sidewalk is an area for pedestrians to walk along the side of the road. In some states cyclists can use the footpath, and in all states children under a certain age are also permitted to cycle on the footpath.

Sidewalk

How to map

footway=sidewalk highway=footway surface=concrete

890914145 890914145 (iD JOSM history)

Shared Paths (not segregated)

Shared paths are paths designed for the use of both bicycles and pedestrians. Paths which are not segregated mean that bicycles and pedestrians are in the same traffic streams. A non-segregated shared path can be identified by the following legal instruments:

Shared path sign (R8-2)

Shared path pictograms (with or without directional arrows)

Shared path blue pictogram (with 10kmh advisory)

How to map

bicycle=designated foot=designated highway=cycleway lanes=2 segregated=no surface=concrete

Sutherland Cronulla Active Transport Link Sutherland Cronulla Active Transport Link (iD JOSM history)

Shared paths (segregated)

TODO

On-road infrastructure

Bicycle Contraflow

A contraflow allows cyclists to ride in the opposite direction of motor vehicle traffic. It is more common where space is limited e.g. laneways, narrow one-ways. These only apply when specifically signposted, as there is no automatic exception for bicycles to violate one-way restrictions or no entry signs except where explicitly allowed.

How to map

highway=residential cycleway:backward=opposite_lane oneway=yes oneway:bicycle=no

Arundel Street Arundel Street (iD JOSM history)