Map Legend and Map Layout Styles

Map Legend GeneralMap Layout/Style

Following is a map Legend so you can see what is what. This is based on two different layouts in the following order for all highways/lines: traditional - Desktop layout. Then Velo Layout (the classic layout for GPS use). There is also a "race" layout for road/race cycling not shown here. It is based on the velo layout, but shows some less information (leaving out information not needed for race/road cycling).

 

Quick guide to the colors used for ways and tracks:

Black: Cycleway or paved track.

Grey: usually unpaved way of lesser quality.

Brown: Path - or footway - the smaller the dots/segments of the line - the less even the surface. Thin continuous lines are of unknown qualit</surface.

In general for brown/red/grey ways: If a way is not rated for difficulty - it will be shown as continous line.

for Classification and explications used - scroll down to the end of this page.

 

The main road types:

 

The main tracks and pathes:

 

 

Other Important Lines

 

Points of Interest

Restaurants and Shopping
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Sport and Tourism
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Municipal and other POI

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Areas

Landuses:

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Sport and Public Places:

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Natural and Tourism

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Abbreviations and Highway Attributes:

Difficulty and state of way/street.

M12 / Mn34 -- the first number is the mtb:scale, the second number the mtb:scale:uphill. "n" stands for the way being part of a mtb route/network. See:http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:mtb:scale
G1 -- tracktype=grade1 See: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tracktype

Note however - that I also map the keys smoothness and surface to tracktype G value. So I try to get the best value - also if it may contradict with the actual value for tracktype.

T2 -- sac_scale=T2 (mountain hiking) See: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:sac_scale

Tv6=Trail_Visibility (6=no, 5=horrible,4=bad,3=intermediate) https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:trail_visibility

Xbk --bicycle=no

 

Routes
See: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/relation:route

  • Cn= Cycleroute / Cycle Network
  • Mn=Mountainbike Route
  • Hn=Hiking Route / Hiking Network
  • Wn=Walking Route / Walking Network

Differentiated by importance as follows (for Mountain Bike Routes as example) - if classified. If not it`s simply Mr.

  • Imn = International
  • Nmn = National
  • Rmn = Regional
  • Tmn = Touristic
  • Lmn = Local
  • Mn= unclassified Mountainbike Route

Rmn34 would be = Regional Mountainbike Route, mtb:scale=3, mtb:scale:uphill=4

Lmn3. = Local Mountain Bike Route, mtb:scale=3, mtb:scale:uphill=unknown.

 

Highways

See: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:highway

Pri=primary / primary_link
Sec=secondary
Ter=tertiary
Cw=cycleway
Min=minor
Unsf=unsurfaced
Uncl=unclassified
Living=living_street
Pdstrn=pedestrian
Trk=track
Pth=path
Ft=footway
Fp=footpath
Brdlw=bridleway
Rd=road
Byw=byway
Ser=service

 

Cyclelane/Cycletrack

See: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:cycleway

Bklane=cycleway=lane
Bktrk - cycleway=track
Opp - cycleway=opposite
Opptrk - cycleway=opposite_track

 

Note: the first letter is always capital - I dropped proper usage of small/capital letters because it creates problems on quite a few older Garmin devices.

 

 

The OpenMTBMaps and VeloMaps come with several different layouts/styles (also known as .typ-files)

There are three main categories:

a) the default layouts - Classic/Classic_Legacy/Wide/Wide_Legacy/Easy/Hiking/Winter/Fenix

The legacy layouts feature the german highway colours (blue/green/red/yellow/white) while the other layouts colour streets from orange/yellow to white similar to google maps. They are all high contrast because they are intended to be used on small screens and with varying levels of sun/shade. On a desktop/laptop sized display they do not look so nice - but enable very quick distinction between kinds of streets or pathes.

b) The desktop layout - (trad/trdn)

This is a low contrast layout only to be used on desktop/laptops - on your GPS device the lower contrast will make it harder to read (only useful if you want to have better contrast for tracks or routes)

So below screenshots of all layouts on a desktop to show the difference:

General OpenMTBMap

The classic Layout. The only difference to the wide layout is the thinner streets. Optimal for lower DPI garmin devices.

Classic_Layout

 

The Classic legacy - notice the different colours of the main streets/highways.

Classic Legacy

 

The Wide layout - same as classic but all lines are wider - for higher DPI devices

Wide Layout

 

The Wide legacy - again different main street colours

Wide Legacy Layout

 

The easy layout - it doesn't include things like cyclelanes/cycletracks that run parralel to other roads, or mtb:scale:uphill difficulty. Otherwise identical to Wide.

Easy Layout

 

The hiking Layout - more details about the difference on the MTB specific screenshot in the next section. The pathes are not colored according to MTB difficulty but according to hiking difficulty. It does show cycling routes and mtb routes but they are shown weakly so if you want to avoid mtb routes you can, walking, foot routes are shown prominently. Also of course no other mountainbike/cycling specific information.

Hiking Layout

 

 

The Simple Topographical map layout - it is more simplified vs the hiking layout . Also it shows hiking, mtb, and cycling routes all only very thin/not prominent. For example there is no differentiation between highway=track / highway=service & tracktype=grade1/tarmac and highway=residential roads.

Simple Topo Layout

 

The Desktop layout - the colors and features/objects are similar to Wide  but it has much less contrast. So it is much more pleasing to the eye on a big screen. However on your GPS device it will be much harder to read. You can use it if you always follow tracks (not routes) and want them to pop out more.

Desktop layout

 

The winter layout - same as easy but additonaly shows sledge trails, nordic skiing  trails and so on. Normal ski-slopes are also visible in the other layouts as they exist all year round. This layout has many things that are only visible in winter.

Winter Layout

 

The Fenix layout - this is here only for completion - it uses the best colours for the 64 colour display of the Fenix 5/6/7 series - however note on your watch they will look quite differently to the screenshot here. The features shown are a bit reduced as the display size is very small so to show the most important things for mtb / cycling only. It has very wide lines 

Fenix Layout

OpenMTBMap Winter_special

Notice the dashed lines showing Nordic skiing slopes in Ramsau am Dachstein which is famous for nordic skiing. Also shows sledge trails or some more features that are only visible in winter and removed for summer. Ski Slopes are usually well visible in summer too so visible in all openmtbmap layouts.

The blue dots for example are winter hiking trails - only existing in winter (usually a groomed trail on a field).

Winter Layout OpenMTBMap

OpenMTBMap MTB vs Easy vs Hiking speical

An example to show the difference of the Hiking layout not showing features for mtbikers to make the map easier but also usable for hikers.

First the wide layout with all features for mtbiking

Wide Layout

 

now the a bit reduced easy layout (notice the mtb:scale:uphill information is missing)

Easy Layout

 

now the Hiking layout (hiking routes are black dashed):

Hiking Layout

Inner City example

OpenMTBMap Standard features layout (as on Wide layout) - vs the Easy layout - and later VeloMap inner city example

OpenMTBMap Wide layout

 

vs the easy layout missing the blue arrows for against oneway cyclelane on the center road. Also the living streets is shown as a normal residential street in the easy layout - I left out some not so important features and simplified them. Also the POI are less visible for shops and restaurants uncluttering the map.

OpenMTBMap Easy Layout

 

VeloMap Wide layout - nearly identical inside the city to the OpenMTBMap wide layout. The big difference to the OpenMTBMap is that some footways/pathes that are likely not allowed to be cycled, or not good surface are only shown very thinly. So better for commuting/riding fast.

This is of course much more distinct if in some forest/mountain. Note it also misses the cycle route, that is because I used an older map for this screenshot when the cycle route was not yet built/present in Openstreetmap.

VeloMap Wide Layout

 

The VeloMap Wide Easy Layout - same as the OpenMTBMap Easy layout - removed the cyclelanes/cycletracks parallel to roads, and simplified some things like living streets.

VeloMap Wide Easy

 

The VeloMap Racing / Road Bike Layout - the difference will be more visible outside cities to the easy layout. - note previously it did not show buildings. I re included them because you now can remove the buildings alltogether (do not install them, or use the gmapsupp.img downloads instead of sending via MapInstall)

Race Layout Velomap

General VeloMap

The Velo Layout - thinner lines for low DPI devices. Street colours similar to google maps (though a bit more orange/red to still see differences in size of streets)

Velo Layout

 

The Velo Legacy Layout - Germany style street colours for very easy differentiation of the main streets. Same width as Velo.

Velo Legacy Layout

 

The Velo Wide Layout - same as Velo but wider streets for newer/higher DPI Garmin devices

Velo Wide Legacy

 

Wide Easy Layout - does not include cycletracks or cyclelanes that are parallel to streets and some more for most not important things.

Look further down to the Inner City section to see the actual difference.

Wide Easy

 

The Road Bike / Racing layout - this leaves out many things not interesting for a road biker to quicker identify the streets useful for road biking. Note that if you do not want the buildings - then leave out the buildings layer (buildings add too much clutter for road biking in my opinion)

Racing / Road Bike Layout

 

The Simple Topo - Simple Topographical map layout. It is simplified to not show any information that a normal topographical map would also not show. So for example highway=track & tracktype=grade 1 (tarmac) is shown the same as highway=residential. Service roads are also shown like residential roads. It's the easiest to understand and get used layout. Cycle routes are only shown thinly - not prominently like in other layouts.

Simple Topo Layout

 

The Desktop Layout - Same as Wide but much less contrast. This is much nicer to look at on big screens / desktop but not very useful on your Garmin GPS device - except if you want the map to be low contrast to have higher contrast for the pink colour of the GPX tracks.

Desktop Layout

 

The Fenix Layout - heavily reduced and colour adapted layout for the small displays of Fenix 5/6/7 watches which can only show 64 colours. It looks actually a bit different on your watch than the screenshot - though also differs a lot due to angle/sun/backlight

Fenix Layout

VeloMap vs OpenMTBMap

Sometimes people ask me should I use OpenMTBMap or VeloMap - let's put it clearly. If you are commuting or road biking or recreational cycling the VeloMap is much quicker and easier to read - because it has way less information. Here I show an example without contourlines and without buildings. If you want to hike or mtbike you need more information, you want more prominent trails so the map becomes more complicated to read. For Gravel I think in general the OpenMTBMap is more useful. For riding a trekking bike because you frequently have bad surface quality - but you prefer good surface over gravel roads just not huge roads with cars - the VeloMap will usually be better.

OpenMTBMap Wide Layout

 

vs the much simpler VeloMap - both wide layout. Note you can add the buildings and contourlines to the VeloMap.

VeloMap Wide Layout

12 comments to Map Legend and Map Layout Styles

  • wesuw

    Hallo! Offensichtlich fehlt in der Legende “https://www.velomap.org/de/velomaporg/map-legend/” unter “Straßen, Wege und Linien” die Markierung für besondere Radwegenetze mit der breiten blauen Linie, siehe Kartenausschnitt velomap_france_25.03.2022 (im Desktop Layout).
    Nur durch Setzen von Wegpunkten konnte ich herausfinden was diese Linie genau bedeutet (siehe Wegpunkt “Voie Verte Du Pont-Du-Gard …”.

    • extremecarver

      oh ja – je nach Layout sind die Fahrradrouten nur schwarz oder schwarz bzw blau je nach Priorität – ich müsse die Screenshots oben mal anpassen. Aber am PC reicht auch Maus länger über den Weg halten und der Name kommt im Popup.

  • Kater

    Hallo Felix,

    kann es sein, dass in der derzeitigen Velomap die OSM-Tags “highway=service” und “highway=services” verwechselt werden? Mapsource 6.16.3 zeigt bei jedenfalls an einem Parkbucht neben einem kleinen Sträßchen durch den Wald überraschend eine “Autobahnraststätte” an. Ich habe in JOSM nachgesehen: Der Parkplatz ist korrekt getaggt als “highway=service; service=parking_aisle”. Es handelt sich um OSM-Way 120586675, Velomap Luxemburg vom 05.02.2022.

    • extremecarver

      Das ist ein Punkt – keine Linie. ist dort kein Punkt/POI in OSM vorhanden? (Könnte teil des Weges sein).

      • Kater

        Nein, der Way 120586675 besteht aus 6 Punkten, alle ohne weitere Tags. Daneben ist noch ein einzelner POI (Node 1540255978, “tourism=picnic_site”.

        • extremecarver

          okay – hab es mir gerade auch angeschaut. es ist mir ein absolutes Rätsel wieso dass dort auftaucht. Ich habe mal ein paar Regeln verändert – aber nein im Prinzip habe ich nichts woraus der POI dort erstellt werden darf (POI aus Linien erstellen ist zwar aktiviert, aber es ist ja eindeutig highway=service und nicht highway=services )

          • Kater

            Es scheint auch andere Elemente zu betreffen. Beispiel: Node 3142727421, highway=rest_area

            • extremecarver

              Ich schaue es mir nochmals in der neuesten Version an.

            • extremecarver

              Stimmt, rest_area wird scheinbar eher für Picknick Platz verwendet – dies werde ich korrigieren und durch den Picknick Tisch ersetzen.
              Aber somit habe ich den anderen Fehler gefunden – Ein Polygon dort ist auch als highway=rest_area & landuse=grass getagged. Ich denke ich lasse den Picknick Tisch für solche Fälle drinnen. Zum nächsten Update also korrigiert..

              Zuvor habe ich mich zu sehr auf das higwhay=service konzentriert und gesucht warum das als services erscheint. Das Polygon mit highway=rest_area habe ich übersehen bzw früher war im Wiki rest_area etwas anders dargestellt – quasi als Raststation auf Autobahn nur ohne Tankstelle. Daher habe ich es ident dargestellt. Die Beschreibung ist ja noch immer so – aber die Beispiele und Nutzung eher anders.

            • extremecarver

              Hmm, die deutsche Wiki Beschreibung ist eher so dass die Karte zuvor korrekt war:
              https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/DE:Tag:highway%3Drest_area
              und das dort einfach Tagging Fehler sind: “Ein Autobahnparkplatz oder Rastplatz ist ein Ort, an einer Autobahn oder größeren Fernverkehrsstraße,”

              bzw ich müsste ein komplett neues Symbol dafür erstellen. Ich werde es jetzt mit services gleichschalten WENN operator als Tag existiert.

              • Kater

                Oh weh… dann ist das also ein häufig vorkommender Taggingfehler. In den vergangenen Tagen habe ich mir (via Velomap und MapSource) Karten von unterschiedlichen Regionen Europas angeschaut und dieses Tagging doch recht häufig vorgefunden, auch, von den Dolomiten nach Korsika, weitab von jeglicher Fernverkehrsstraße…

                • extremecarver

                  bzw Inkonsistenz mit dem Wiki. Im Wiki ist es wohl quasi als große Raststätte ohne Tankstelle beschrieben, angedacht. Aber die Plätze die du verlinkt hast sind eher Picknickplätze an Straße mit Parkmöglichkeit. Das zu unterscheiden ist für mich beim Karten erstellen so wie derzeit genutzt kaum möglich.

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