Key:tracktype

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Public-images-osm logo.svg tracktype
Tracktype-collage.jpg
Description
Provides a classification of tracks. Show/edit corresponding data item.
Group: road properties
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)
Requires
Useful combination
Status: de factoPage for proposal

Tracktype is a measure of how well-maintained a track or other road is, particularly regarding surface firmness. It usually applies to highway=track but is often used for non-tracks too, especially in less-developed places where many main roads are unpaved. The proposal from which this key originates may be found at Proposed features/grade1-5. The proposal was voted on, but was standardised primarily because of its widespread use.

surface=* refers to surface material and sometimes to material structure. It may suggest a track type sometimes, but because the same surface material/structure can exhibit various degrees of firmness, it is still advisable to add tracktype=*.

smoothness=* in addition provides a classification scheme regarding the physical usability of a way for wheeled vehicles.

How to map

tracktype=* is primarily used in combination with highway=track (around 96% of uses) but it has also noticeable usage on highway=service, highway=path, highway=unclassified. This tag is useful to provide info about road quality, especially for unpaved roads.

Values

Key Value Element Comment Rendering Photo
tracktype grade1 way Solid[1].
Usually a paved surface (called also  Sealed road), often also tagged with surface=asphalt;concrete;chipseal;paved etc.
Mapnik-tracktype-grade1.png
Cesta od Leštiny do Lipnice nad Sázavou (2).jpg
tracktype grade2 way Mostly solid.
Usually an unpaved track with surface of gravel mixed with a varying amount of sand, silt, and clay. See Gravel road on Wikipedia.
May be applicable to heavily degraded and crumbled roads which was paved in past.
Often also tagged with surface=gravel;compacted;fine_gravel etc.
Mapnik-tracktype-grade2.png
Tracktype grade2.jpg
tracktype grade3 way Even mixture of hard and soft materials.
An unpaved track.
Mapnik-tracktype-grade3.png
Tracktype grade3.jpg
tracktype grade4 way Mostly soft.
An unpaved track prominently with soil/sand/grass, but with some hard or compacted materials mixed in.
Mapnik-tracktype-grade4.png
Grade4.jpg
tracktype grade5 way Soft.
An unimproved track lacking hard materials, uncompacted, with surface of soil/sand/grass.
Mapnik-tracktype-grade5.png
Tracktype grade5.jpg
tracktype <no value> way If no tracktype tag is present, the track is rendered with a dot-dash line style (as shown right).
Mapnik-tracktype-not-set.png
Photo not applicable

This table is a wiki template with a default description in English. Editable here.

Rendering

tracktype=* is rendered on the Standard tile layer on the main OpenStreetMap site, as an elaboration on just highway=track.

Additional set of example pictures, from initial proposal

Tracktype.jpg

Possible tagging mistakes

  • grade=* ‒ less commonly used as a mistake for grades=*
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!

See also

  • mtb:scale=* - A classification scheme for the difficulty of trails for mountainbiking
  • sac_scale=* - A difficulty rating scheme for hiking trails
  • horse_scale=* - A rating scheme for the difficulty of trails for trail riding