Bikemap legends
Bikemap offers numerous map styles to choose from. Map styles are based on our own design or on the existing styles of OpenStreetMap. Find information on how to understand all of Bikemap's maps and find out what the different colours mean in this article.
Bikemap's Maps
The Basic, 3D, Night, Satellite, MTB (Mountain Bike) and Eco map styles are our own creation.
Our own map styles show cycle routes and important places like bike shops or workshops amongst other things. The most important feature they all show are official cycling routes. These can include paths that are only for cyclists and/or official routes that go on normal roads with no segregated cycle path.
Cycle Routes
How we categorise these and how they're shown on all our map styles are as follows:
The data we use to know if something is a road, track or path comes from our data source OpenStreetMaps (OSM). According to them the definitions and how they might look in the real world for cyclists are as follows:
ROADS: A prepared surface or pathway designed for motor vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians to travel from one location to another. Typically constructed of materials such as asphalt, concrete, gravel, or compacted earth and usually part of a network that connects cities, towns, and regions.
Real World: These would mostly be roads that are part of a wider cycling local, national or international network. There might be bicycle markers on the road or signs that indicate it is a cycling route, but there will be no official segregation.
TRACKS: A minor or unpaved road that is not considered part of the general-purpose road network. They can be used for recreational activities such as cycling but also for agricultural, forestry, or similar purposes using a motor vehicle.
Real World: These would mostly be found outside of cities in more rural areas. It could be a minor road that is part of a wider cycling network, or a forest path that is part of a wider cycling network but also used by motor vehicles for agricultural purposes.
PATHS: A generic route for non-motorized traffic such as pedestrians, cyclists, or equestrians, often narrower and less formal than a road or track.
Real World: These should be segregated cycle paths in cities and rural areas where motor vehicles are generally not allowed. In cities they are likely to be asphalted, whilst in rural areas the surface type and quality can vary a lot.
Normal Roads
Roads, paths and tracks that are not part of a cycle route are shown as follows:
Public Transport
On our maps you will be able to see icons for buses, trains and trams. They are as follows:
Miscellaneous
We also show other types of road/transport that might be important for cyclists:
More information about the map styles on Bikemap can be found here.
Mountain Bike Map Style Legend (MTB)
Our MTB map style displays all mountain bike trails. They are grouped as followed:
Points of Interest/Community Reports
On all the maps we have available you will be able to see lots of POIs including our very own community reports. You can find out more about the different categories here. They will look like this:
OpenStreetMap and OpenCycleMap
The OpenStreetMap (OSM) and the OpenCycleMap (OCM) map styles use the maps and designations from OpenStreetMap (OSM). OpenStreetMap is a project in which geospatial data are collected and mapped by local people around the world. The resulting map contains extensive and up-to-date data on streets, paths, shops and much more.
In general: The thinner (or dotted) the line - the more difficult, worse or uneven the condition of the path. Lines are shown in different colours. Their meanings are as follows:
- Red: Tracks which are wide enough for a car to pass
- Black/Grey: Cycleway or paved track
- Blue: Designated bike path
- Green: Single trail / small trail with MTB classification from 0 (easy) to 5 (good trail skills needed)
- Brown: Dirt road
A more detailed legend of the OSM can be found here.
Please contact our support-team if you have any further questions or feedback!