Mapping Guide

Mapping Guide⚓︎

This guide covers how to map pedestrian infrastructure for the OpenThePaths 2026 Mappy Hour event.

Quick Links⚓︎

• Event Page: OpenThePaths 2026
• Project: #1017 - Tacoma, WA, US: Pedestrian Infrastructure | #OpenSidewalks

Getting Started⚓︎

1. Log In to the Tasking Manager⚓︎

1. Create an OpenStreetMap account at openstreetmap.org if you don't already have one.
2. Log in to the OSM US Tasking Manager at tasks.openstreetmap.us using your OSM account.
3. Join the OpenSidewalks Mappers Team by visiting 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

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 Rapid / iD Editor

You'll see the embedded 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 editor:

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:

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⚓︎

Additional Curb Tags⚓︎

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⚓︎

Additional Sidewalk Tags⚓︎

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⚓︎

Tagging Quick Reference⚓︎

Essentials⚓︎

Details⚓︎

Saving Your Work⚓︎

1. Click Save in the editor (top right)

2. The changeset comment should be automatically filled out:

   #osmus-tasks-1017 | Tacoma, WA, US: Pedestrian Infrastructure | #OpenSidewalks #OTP26