--- title: Mapping Guide tags: - Guide - External - User # exclude-from-parent-guides-list # exclude-from-main-guides-list --- ## Mapping Guide This guide covers how to map pedestrian infrastructure for the [Mappy New Year 2026](index.md) event. --- ### Quick Links - **Project**: [#1017 - Tacoma, WA, US: Pedestrian Infrastructure | #OpenSidewalks](https://tasks.openstreetmap.us/projects/1017) --- ### Getting Started #### 1. Log In to the Tasking Manager 1. **Create an OpenStreetMap account** at [openstreetmap.org](https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/new) if you don't already have one. 2. **Log in to the OSM US Tasking Manager** at [tasks.openstreetmap.us](https://tasks.openstreetmap.us) using your OSM account. 3. **Join the OpenSidewalks Mappers Team** by visiting [tasks.openstreetmap.us/teams/27/membership](https://tasks.openstreetmap.us/teams/27/membership) and selecting **Join team** at the bottom right. 4. **Navigate to the Tacoma project** by opening [tasks.openstreetmap.us/projects/1017](https://tasks.openstreetmap.us/projects/1017) #### 2. Select a Task 1. Select **Contribute** on the bottom right of the project page 2. **Choose** an available task (white tiles on the map) 3. Select **Map selected task** to open the iD Editor You'll see the iD Editor on the left and task information on the right. The magenta boundary shows your task area. --- ### What to Map We're mapping the **pedestrian network**: sidewalks, crossings, and curbs. These features enable routing applications to provide pedestrian directions. #### Priority Order 1. **Crossings** - Map these first to anchor the network at intersections 1a. **Curbs** - Mark curb types at crossing endpoints 2. **Sidewalks** - Draw sidewalk centerlines along streets 2b. **Connectors** - Link sidewalks to curbs! --- ### Mapping Crossings Crossings are paths pedestrians traverse to cross streets. #### How to Map 1. Select the **Line** tool 2. Click at one edge of the street (curb location) 3. Click where your line meets the road centerline (this connects to the road network) 4. Double-click at the opposite curb to finish #### Tagging Search for these presets in the iD Editor: | Crossing Type | iD Preset | Tags | |---------------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Marked** (has painted lines) | "Marked Crosswalk" | `highway=footway` + `footway=crossing` + `crossing:markings=yes` | | **Unmarked** (no painted lines) | "Unmarked Crossing" | `highway=footway` + `footway=crossing` + `crossing:markings=no` | #### Tag the Crossing Node The middle point where the crossing intersects the roadway should be tagged: - `highway=crossing` - `crossing:markings=yes` or `crossing:markings=no` #### Additional Crossing Tags If you'd like to add additional detail that is important for accessibility-focused routing: | Tag | Values | Description | |--------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------| | `crossing:signals` | `yes` / `no` | Are there pedestrian signals? | | `crossing:island` | `yes` / `no` | Is there a pedestrian island? | | `surface` | `concrete` / `asphalt` | Crossing surface material | --- ### Mapping Curbs Curbs are points at the edge of the street where crossings begin and end. #### How to Map The endpoints of your crossing line are curb nodes. Select each endpoint and tag it. #### Tagging | Curb Type | iD Preset | Tags | Description | |-------------|----------------|---------------------------------|------------------------| | **Lowered** | "Lowered Curb" | `barrier=kerb` + `kerb=lowered` | Curb ramp present | | **Raised** | "Raised Curb" | `barrier=kerb` + `kerb=raised` | Standard curb, no ramp | | **Flush** | "Flush Curb" | `barrier=kerb` + `kerb=flush` | Level with street | #### Additional Curb Tags | Tag | Values | Description | |------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------| | `tactile_paving` | `yes` / `no` | Detectable warning surface presence | --- ### Mapping Sidewalks Sidewalks are pedestrian paths along streets. #### How to Map 1. Select the **Line** tool 2. Draw a line along the **center** of the sidewalk 3. Search for "Sidewalk" and select the preset #### Tagging | Feature | iD Preset | Tags | |--------------|------------|----------------------------------------| | **Sidewalk** | "Sidewalk" | `highway=footway` + `footway=sidewalk` | #### Additional Sidewalk Tags | Tag | Values | Description | |-----------|------------------------|------------------| | `surface` | `concrete` / `asphalt` | Surface material | #### Important Rules - Draw sidewalks down the **center** of the path - Connect sidewalks to service roads (driveways, alleys) where they intersect by adding a node (point) that both ways (lines) share --- ### Tagging Crossing Links Optionally, the short sidewalk **connector** segments between sidewalk centerlines and curb nodes can be tagged with `crossing_link=yes` to help identify these features, which often have different properties such as an incline or different surface material. #### How to Map 1. Select the **Line** tool 2. Click on a curb node (at the end of a crossing) 3. Draw a line to the sidewalk centerline 4. Double-click on the sidewalk to connect 5. Search for "Sidewalk" and select the preset 6. Add the `crossing_link=yes` tag #### Tagging | Feature | iD Preset | Tags | |--------------|------------|----------------------------------------| | **Sidewalk** | "Sidewalk" | `highway=footway` + `footway=sidewalk` | --- ### Tagging Quick Reference #### Essentials | Feature | Tags | |------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Sidewalk (Line) | `highway=footway` + `footway=sidewalk` | | Crossing (Line) | `highway=footway` + `footway=crossing` + `crossing:markings=yes`/`no` | | Crossing (Point) | `highway=crossing` + `crossing:markings=yes`/`no` | | Curb (Point) | `barrier=kerb` + `kerb=lowered`/`raised` | #### Details | Tag | Applies To | Values | |--------------------|----------------------|-----------------------| | `surface` | Sidewalks, Crossings | `concrete`, `asphalt` | | `crossing:signals` | Crossings | `yes`, `no` | | `tactile_paving` | Curbs | `yes`, `no` | --- ### Saving Your Work 1. Click **Save** in the iD Editor (top right) 2. The changeset comment should be automatically filled out: `#osmus-tasks-1017 | Tacoma, WA, US: Pedestrian Infrastructure | #OpenSidewalks #MappyNewYear2026` 3. Click **Upload** 4. In the Tasking Manager panel on the right, mark the task status by answering: "_Is this task completely mapped?_" - Select **Yes** if you finished adding all of the essentials in the area - Select **No** if more mapping is needed. 5. Click **Submit task** Done! **Thank you** so much for contributing to this project. Your contributions directly impact the lives of pedestrians in the area that use OpenStreetMap-based applications to safely navigate their environment. --- ### Tips - **Use street-level imagery**: Open the Map Data panel on the right and, under the Photo Overlays menu, check Bing Streetside or Mapillary layers for street-level imagery, which can be helpful for determining curb types. - **When in doubt, don't guess!** It's better to not include a detail (such as a curb type) when you aren't confident about it - this allows on-the-ground surveyors to add the missing data and prevents routing applications from suggesting a route that isn't actually accessible. - **Connect to roads**: Ensure crossing midpoints share a node (point) with the road they cross! - **Check existing features**: Some areas may already have partial mapping - verify the existing data and update it as necessary.