Getting started with CycleStreets
CycleStreets.net is a web application providing cycle journey planning together with photos of the routes to give you an idea of what they’re like. There are options for finding the fastest, quietest, or a balanced route.
This page provides a quick introduction to CycleStreets (with links for further information) and a summary guide to contributing cycle route data.
Where CycleStreets sits within the OSM community
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is like a Wikipedia version of GoogleMaps. It’s a fully open source and crowd-sourced project. The geodata in the OSM system is gathered and entered by volunteers and is freely available for anyone to use. Furthermore, if you find an inaccuracy in a map you can actually go in and fix it.
OpenCycleMap
OpenCycleMap is an OSM rendering layer aimed at showing information useful to cyclists. The maps are used in a number of websites and applications. The layer can also be seen on the main OSM page by selecting the "cycle map" layer.
CycleStreets
A project originating from Cambridge Cycle Campaign. Provides cycle journey planning together with photos of the routes to give you an idea of what they’re like. There are options for finding the fastest, quietest, or a balanced route. The website's help page makes it easy to get started.
Maps are provided by OpenCycleMap.
The CycleStreets routing engine is exposed via a programming interface for other applications to use.
Bike Hub iPhone app
'Cycle satnav' app. Finds quickest or quietest cycle routes and locates nearest bike shops. Features turn-by-turn navigation, with voice instructions and vibrating alerts.
Now also available on Android.
Uses the CycleStreets routing engine. Funded by Bike Hub, the UK cycle industry's levy scheme.
Contributing to OpenCycleMap / CycleStreets
- Editing maps requires registering with OSM.
- CycleStreets now has it’s own integrated editor (based on OSM’s Potlatch 2).
- OSM fundamentals
- Tutorial
- Further documentation is available inside the Potlatch editor (via the Help button).
Tags
The tags used by the CycleStreets router are documented here.
If more than one tag value seems to apply to a particular key (e.g. cycleway=lane; cycleway=segregated), choose the one that seems most important.
The following subset is sufficient to get started:
| Tags applying to ways | |
| highway=trunk | A roads with green signs. |
|---|---|
| highway=primary | A roads with black and white signs. |
| highway=secondary | B roads. These generally link smaller towns and villages. |
| highway=tertiary | Non-minor roads wider than 4 metres (13') that are not A or B roads. They tend to have dashed lines down the middle, whereas unclassified roads do not. |
| highway=residential | Roads accessing or around residential areas but which are not a classified or unclassified highway. |
| highway=unclassified | No administrative classification. Unclassified roads typically form the lowest form of the interconnecting grid network. |
| highway=track | Roads for agricultural use, gravel roads in the forest etc.; usually unpaved/unsealed. |
| highway=path | A non-specific or shared-use path. |
| highway=cycleway | Designated cycleway, i.e. mainly/exclusively for bicycles (hence, seldom applicable in the UK). |
| There are several other values for highway that may be applicable for cycle routes, (e.g. bridleway, ferry) – see the link above for details. Some require bicycle=yes to override their contrary default (e.g. footway, pedestrian). | |
| cycleway=track | Cycle track separated from cars. |
| cycleway=lane | Cycle lane on the highway. |
| cycleway=shared | Shared with other users. |
| cycleway=segregated | Pedestrians and cyclists are separated. |
| name=<name> | e.g. The Big Track |
| ncn_ref=<number> (or ncn=yes|proposed) | National cycle network |
| rcn_ref=<number> (or rcn=yes|proposed) | Regional cycle network |
| lcn_ref=<number> (or lcn=yes|proposed) | Local cycle network |
| Tags applying to nodes | |
| crossing=toucan | Crossing where bicycles may be ridden across. |
| amenity=cafe|pub|toilets|bicycle_parking|telephone|atm | |
| Tags applying to relations | |
| type=route | These two tags are generally used together to define a cycle route as a collection of ways. |
| route=bicycle | |
For tags beyond those specifically useful to cyclists, see the OSM tag reference.
Using GPS traces
A GPS device is helpful for mapping new cycle paths. Load GPA traces via the main OSM site then click on My Tracks while in the Potlatch editor to select a particular trace.
Adding photos
You have to register with CycleStreets to add route photos. The Photomap help page on their website explains all.
Map legend
CycleStreets uses OpenCycleMap maps. The official OpenCycleMap legend is a little out of date. Here's an attempt to plug the gap:
| Zoomed out | Zoomed in | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | National cycle network |
 |  | Regional cycle network |
 |  | Local cycle network |
 |  | Cycle lane |
|  | Cycleway (or footway where cycling is permitted) |
|  | Footway |
|  | Track |
|  | Bridleway |
|  | Ferry |
|  | Cycle parking |
|  | Bicycle shop |
OpenCycleMap represents many other amenities of interest to cyclists – such as cafes and pubs – with intuitive, easily recognised symbols.