30 Apr 2025
Barrier Maps for the UK - Updated
The Aim
The aim is to be able to produce useful maps for those who are using trikes, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, etc. I don’t possess the skills needed to produce online maps which would show the barriers that may cause problems, but I can produce maps for a Garmin device which show the problems.
Zoom levels
The level of detail now varies according to the zoom level - at the highest level no barriers are shown at all. At medium, they just appear as the red B in its circle. When you are zoomed in, details of what is missing from the barrier are shown.
Barrier Maps for the UK - Updated
access=private or access=customers
If the barrier is marked as access=private or access=customers, or if the barrier has no access tags, but is on a highway which has the tags access=private or access=customers, then that barrier no longer appears in the maps (Although if the highway has a designation such as ‘footpath’, ‘bridleway’ or foot=permissive, then it will still be shown).
highway=steps
Appears if step_count= is missing. This can be easily updated using Street Complete.
barrier=cycle_barrier
Does appear if the measurements are missing, or cycle_barrier= is not shown as either single, double, triple, diagonal or tilted. All is explained, including the measurements needed on the OpenStreetMap Wiki for cycle barriers
barrier=bollard, and barrier=block
Does appear if the measurement of the opening beside the bollard or block is not shown.
Again, can be easily updated using Street Complete.
barrier=kissing_gate
KISSING-GATE-TYPE Appears if the type of kissing gate is missing. LARGE-KG-MEASUREMENTS appears if the kissing_gate is large & the measurements are missing.
If the kissing gate is of the type large_circular_profile, or large_square_profile, it may be wheelchair accessible, and for these two types the measurements are needed for the opening (maxwidth:physical), and the depth of the recess (“recess” is not a common term, and may need altering in the future when it has been agreed / or not, amongst the OpenStreetMap community).
OpenStreetMap Wiki for Kissing Gates.
barrier=gate or barrier=lift_gate or barrier=swing_gate
Does appear if the measurement of the opening is not present - I accept width, maxwidth, maxwidth:physical or opening.
barrier=stile
Does appear if the type of stile is missing, or the step_count is missing for stiles with steps.
Most stiles will be inaccessible for wheelchair users, or users with limited mobility, but stile=ramblers_gate may be accessible to some people, and it is conceivable that one with a wide opening is wheelchair accessible.
OpenStreetMap wiki for stiles
barrier=horse_stile
Does appear if the type is missing.
Update Schedule
The provisional plan is to update the barriers_filtered map Every Thursday
I’m afraid this was just too time consuming for me - the schedule from 04/09/2025 onwards will be for the map to be produced on the 1st of the month, with all of the other maps.
As with all of the maps, the plain .img file appears first, and should be available to download by 10:00hrs GMT - that’s fairly automated, but the winexe & gmapi files which are provided through torrent downloads requires my input and I’m not always available to do this straight away.
More info
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Main_Page contains all of the information about mapping on OpenStreetMap.
Downloads
Downloading - Click Once!
If you find this, or any of the maps I create are useful to you, please consider making a small donation to a charity or to the OpenStreetMap foundation at https://supporting.openstreetmap.org/donate/
Verifying the integrity of your download
Using my linux computer the command: md5sum trike-2026-02-01.7z
produced the result:
60e12c4b599077a74d616a5938e9926d trike-2026-02-01.7z
If you have any doubt at all about the integrity of your download, please use this basic integrity check of the download, checking the result you get is identical to the result in this list;
For downloading a single file using a bit-torrent program, use the Magnet Link below, or to download all of the bit-torrent files, click this link >: https://daphne-nick.uk/nextcloud/index.php/s/6cQesAz38DWRWBo.
Use the -gmapi- version for Apple/Mac computers (maybe Windows as well? Use the -winexe- version for …. well. Windows!
MD5sums & Magnet Links
Viewing the maps on QMapShack
QMapShack at highest level.
QMapShack at medium level.
QMapShack at lowest level.
Changes - History
- Originally circulated in 2023 when there were two version, one showing all barriers and any tags/measurements that were present, and the barriers_filtered version which shows only those barriers that require attention.
- 22/06/2025 - Updated the search for Kissing Gates to differentiate the larger versions, which may be wheelchair accessible.
Thinking of making your own Garmin compatible maps?
All data produced by me is subject to the same copyright rules as OpenStreetMap.
” OpenStreetMap® is open data, licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF).
You are free to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt our data, as long as you credit OpenStreetMap and its contributors. If you alter or build upon our data, you may distribute the result only under the same licence. The full legal code explains your rights and responsibilities.
Our documentation is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license (CC BY-SA 2.0).”
19 Mar 2025
Contributing
If you would like to support this website and the Garmin Compatible Maps produced, here are a few ideas;
OpenStreetMap
https://www.openstreetmap.org & https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/
OpenStreetMap can be easy to update / improve if you follow the guidelines - have a read of the wiki, and please help us to update and improve the map. It’s worldwide, so improving the area you are familiar with is a great way to help.
One of the easiest ways to update the map is using an app on your phone. I would recommend StreetComplete, which is an ideal way of updating existing data quickly - I use it on a regular basis. StreetComplete is an ideal way of updating the sizes of gateways and barriers - adding this data improves the Trike map, and the results can be seen on the next, monthly, version of the Barrier map.
Donating to OpenStreetMap is another way to help - please visit https://supporting.openstreetmap.org/.
All of the Garmin Compatible Maps offered here are derived from OpenStreetMap.
Donate to the Charity “Shine”
https://www.shinecharity.org.uk/
Shine specialises in supporting people with Spina Bifida &/or Hydrocephalus. The effects of either of these conditions can become apparent before birth, or may become apparent much later in life.
As a charity they have supported our granddaughter who was diagnosed as having spina bifida before she was born.
We weren’t really aware of either condition, and their website helped enormously to explain in terms which we could understand, what the conditions are, and the effect they were likely to have. Our daughter also spoke to their staff, receiving support, information, and guidance in enormous quantities. They have specialists such as physiotherapists who contact and support the local NHS staff, giving them the information they need to provide the best possible care.
17 Feb 2024
Fundraising for the charity Shine
On the 19th May 2024 Daphne & Nick are treking up Snowdon, aiming to arrive at the summit in time for sunrise, and raising funds for the charity Shine which has done so much to help our family.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/nick-and-daphne-snowdon
We would be very pleased if you were able to donate towards this charity - see their ‘Just Giving’ link above.
Thank You.
12 Jan 2024
Trike Map for the UK
Updated April 2026
Byways and Restricted byways now appear on the map, and are routable if they are wide enough for a trike to pass through. Changes to the routing involving many roads, especially if they have cycle lanes.
I ride a recumbent trike, and have found many barriers to me riding cycle paths which have caused me problems. This map is an attempt to allow other trike riders (& me!), to plan our rides with some idea of what obstacles we will encounter, and whether to plan an alternative route.
I’ve been involved in updating OpenStreetMap (OSM) for many years, and have found it works on the basis of I update the area I live in to the best I can, then go on holiday and benefit from someone elses efforts. Adding information to OSM is very simple, and I’ll create some guides and include them on this site so you can carry out updates yourself - if it needs doing, then do it! I often carry out surveys whilst on holiday, and update OSM later.
Trike Map Download
Downloading - Click Once!
If you find this, or any of the maps I create are useful to you, please consider making a small donation to a charity or to the OpenStreetMap foundation at https://supporting.openstreetmap.org/donate/
Verifying the integrity of your download
Using my linux computer the command: md5sum trike-2026-02-01.7z
produced the result:
60e12c4b599077a74d616a5938e9926d trike-2026-02-01.7z
If you have any doubt at all about the integrity of your download, please use this basic integrity check of the download, checking the result you get is identical to the result in this list;
For downloading a single file using a bit-torrent program, use the Magnet Link below, or to download all of the bit-torrent files, click this link >: https://daphne-nick.uk/nextcloud/index.php/s/6cQesAz38DWRWBo.
Use the -gmapi- version for Apple/Mac computers (maybe Windows as well? Use the -winexe- version for …. well. Windows!
MD5sums & Magnet Links
Download links above
As usual, these files are supplied for you to use at your own risk. There are guides available on the OpenStreetMap wiki explaining how to install these ‘maps’ on your garmin device.
I aim to update the map from the latest OpenStreetMap data at least once a month, and frequently more often. The map is in the early stages of development as I’m still trying to get it to show the barriers I need to avoid to my satisfaction.
Trike Map - What it does
Icons
At higher zoom levels all you see is the icon, as you zoom in details of the barrier will appear.
This icon represents a barrier which has been updated with all tags describing its type, and, if needed, sizes of any openings. The barrier there will probably block your route and prevent you going further. Zoom in to show details of the barrier.
This icon is used when the tagging is incomplete - we can’t be sure if this will block your progress or not. Adding the missing tags on OpenStreetMap is needed. Zoom in to see more information on what is needed.
Routes and features shown on this map
- Great Britain showing National, Regional & Local cycle routes.
- Other Countries / Regions - please contact me if you would like another Country - it’s my hobby, there is no charge, but it would be good if you updated OSM.
- Steps are shown if there are 2 or more steps - arbitary decision by me - I can generally manage a kerb, which is step_count=1, but maybe not anything more than that - the number of steps are shown on the map and I can then decide whether to try or not.
- Any barrier tagged as either access=private or access=customers is not shown on this map.
- Cycle barriers will appear if either their width of opening or any other dimension makes it possible I won’t fit through with my widest trike, which is 82cm wide.
- Any barriers that do not have size tags, and could therefor be a problem - there are a great many of these!
- Relief map shading on Garmin Basecamp & some devices.
.
Trike Map - can you use it? There are so many barriers shown on the map, with the majority of them not relevant to a trike rider, that at the moment I don’t feel this map is actually useful, however, you are welcome to download it, and try it yourself. In many respects its more useful on a computer for planning a ride before you do it, as you can see any potential problems. You could always help to update OpenStreetMap so that only relevant barriers appear on the next edition.
Trike Map - planned improvements
I’m currently starting to update an open source repository on Github at https://github.com/Nick-Tallguy/mkgmap-styles-typ and am planning to use a system of processing the OSM data, and then using that processed file to produce the trike map - it’s going to take a while to develop, but I’m doing what I can whilst also getting on with life. The key to the map is the ‘barriers’ - to help produce a usable map for trike, wheelchair and mobility scooter users, please update the barriers. Street complete is a very useful app on your phone for most of the updates needed.
Each map is available in 3 versions;
- barriers_xxxxx_winexe-YYYY-MM-DD.torrent for downloading the Windows executable file for installing the map for use with ‘basecamp’,
- barriers_xxxxx_gmapi-YYYY-MM-DD.torrent for downloading the file which can be used with Windows or Apple Mac, or
- barriers_xxxxx-YYYY-MM-DD for downloading the .img & .tdb file for use with QMapShack, and garmin handhelds - this is in the trike_gb_latest folder.
Read on if you would like more details, or just download them and figure it out. Once a feature is correctly tagged it disappers from the Barriers Filtered map, so it’s an easy way of seeing your progress in updating barriers.
Dimensions - terms
The following tags are in common usage, with the dimension in metres unless you specify otherwise;
width https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:width
maxwidth https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:maxwidth This tag relates to a legal restriction not a physical one. Be careful, as the editing programmes don’t always reflect this (Dec 2023 and JOSM v18907 suggests this tag for a gate).
maxwidth:physical https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:maxwidth:physical The width of the opening.
opening, spacing, & overlap https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dcycle_barrier are all used with some cycle barriers.
The Types of Barrier shown on the maps
highway=steps
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway%3Dsteps
I can lift my trike up 2 steps, but a flight of 20 is beyond me. If you have a 2-wheeled cycle, you will want to know if there is a ramp. My daughter with her pram may still decide to take the pram over a flight of 20 steps if her partner is with her. My mother-in-law alone on her mobility scooter will avoid any steps, but may be able to negotiate a small single step. Some users need to know if there are handrails, and/or the width of the steps. At least step_count should be tagged.
barrier=cycle_barrier, and barrier=motorcycle_barrier
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dcycle_barrier &
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dmotorcycle_barrier
Some of these have been placed to slow cyclists down, and some have been placed to stop cycling completely. Others have been placed to try to stop motorcycles using the highway. Depending on the design of the barrier, you may need several different measurements.
barrier=bollard, and barrier=block
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dbollard &
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dblock
The width of opening is important. In parts of London and other big cities, large blocks have been placed to try to prevent terrorist attacks - some also stop me on my trike!
barrier=kissing_gate
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dkissing_gate
The tags in use for this feature need enhancing - although you can measure the opening, you really need to know the depth available. Some have been created with wheelchairs in mind, and there may be some you may be able to negotiate with a horse. Tagging should include the type of kissing_gate, and whether it is wheelchair accessible. I’ve been adding a tag for opening= as this may make a difference to some users.
barrier=stile
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:barrier%3Dstile
Tagging should include the type of stile, any step_count, and also if there is a steadying post and/or a dog gate.
Filters used in this map
- Barriers do not appear on this map if they are tagged as access=private, or access=customers,
- Steps appear unless they have a ‘step_count’ tag which is less than 2,
- Dimensions - I accept width, maxwidth, maxwidth_physical, and opening,
- Cycle barriers appear if they do not have tags describing their dimensions,
- Stile’s appear if they lack descriptive tags, and dimensions and are on a cycleable route,
- Kissing Gates appear if they are not tagged with their type, their dimensions are too small, and they are on a cycleable route
- Bollards and Blocks appear if they lack the size of the gaps (maxwidth:physical or opening).
The map features have altered over the years, and what was correct tagging 10 years ago, now may require updating. The terms used to describe the dimensions of the gap you go through on a barrier, also vary, so I’m happy to accept any of the following; width, maxwidth, maxwidth:physical, or opening.
12 Dec 2023
</! Categories were [OpenStreetMap, Garmin-Maps, Cycling] />
All mapping data is derived from OpenStreetMap, including the downloadable maps. Many thanks to OpenStreetMap contributors for their skill & dedication.
New - Cycle Map of GB
I’ve just finished creating and testing this new map with the following features:
- National cycle routes are shown in bold red,
- Regional cycle routes are bold pink,
- Local cycle routes are blue,
- References for the cycle routes are displayed, often in a ‘shield’,
- This is a lightweight style, aimed at use on a cycle computer, and a number of changes have been made to ensure it responds quickly on a cycle computer, and that information important to a cyclist is displayed,
- Buildings are not shown,
- Gardens are not shown,
- Icons for many features not needing to be seen by a cyclist are not shown, for instance an icon for a carpet shop,
- Motorways, and other main roads that cyclists usually avoid are shown in grey,
- As cycle parking places are now so frequent, I have not shown them as in dense areas they can clutter the map so much it becomes confusing,
- Cycle shops, and those shops which sell cycle items used by cyclists, are shown,
- Parkrun starting points are shown, where they have been added to OpenStreetMap,
- Postboxes are shown, with their collection time, if available,
- The map is both routable, and searchable,
- Available as:
- for windows users cycle-winexe-2023-12-12.7z.torrent,
- for apple and windows users cycle-gmapi-2023-12-12.7z.torrent,
- for those using QMapShack, or who only wish to install the map on their Garmin device, cycle-2023-12-12.7z.torrent.
Available from
https://daphne-nick.uk/nextcloud/index.php/s/6cQesAz38DWRWBo
Each of the different variety (exe, gmapi, or gmapsupp & tdb) are compressed with 7-zip, but are still approaching 600mb in size, and are supplied as a torrent file, which will allow you to download the complete file.
See https://daphne-nick.uk/openstreetmap/garmin-maps/2023/10/18/garmin-map-instructions for instructions on using the files.
This map will be updated on a monthly basis whenever possible, with a new version created on the first Tuesday of the month, and posted on my site for download as soon as I have tested it, often the same day.
Screenshots - Garmin Edge 810
Screenshots - Garmin Basecamp
Screenshots - QMapShack
