Issue 20: Dirt/unpaved trails should be accurate, unsuited for most wheeled transport and avoidable
Summary: It appears Google Maps added the Dirt/unpaved trails classification to its Cycling layer to aid recreational users (walkers, hikers, mountain bikers) in finding dirt-like trails. These are marked in brown and differentiated from paved Trails in dark green.However, there are a few issues and improvements needed to the handling of such trails:
- Firstly, it is too easy for map editors to incorrectly mark normal paved Trails as Dirt/unpaved trails without these erroneous edits being prevented. Recent edits have incorrectly classified many paved Trail sections as Dirt/unpaved which reduces the accessibility of these routes for users of wheeled transport (bikes, push scooters, skateboards, wheelchairs, prams, etc).
- From a wheeled transport perspective, the primary differentiator between normal dark green Trails and the brown Dirt/unpaved trails should be whether the surface is practical for most wheeled transport users. Some compacted dirt tracks are often useable and so should be dark green Trails. Some technically "paved" trails (e.g. rough cobblestones) aren't useable but are marked as normal Trails; they should be changed to dark brown.
- When the practical difference between normal Trails and Dirt/Unpaved trails is consistent and useful, it can then be used reliably via viewing the Cycling layer directly as well as using Directions with "Avoid Dirt/Unpaved trails" added to the route options.
Details:
1. Map editors should be prevented from changing Trails to Dirt/unpaved trails where this is incorrect or misleading
Since the Dirt/unpaved trails option was added, some map editors have incorrectly reclassifed normal Trails as Dirt/unpaved trails. These erroneous edits have even occurred on well known Trails that have always and will always be paved and are perfectly suited to cycling and other wheeled transport.
Allowing such incorrect edits detracts from the accessibility of these Trail routes for all users of wheeled transport, especially those relying on paved or smooth surfaces suitable for wheels.
Below you can see such sections of the Capital City Trail which have always and will always be paved with a high quality surface designed for cycling, prams, wheelchairs, push scooters, etc).
And here is my video of the Capital City Trail which shows the sections incorrectly changed to Dirt/unpaved are actually high quality paved Trails. This video also shows that the Cycling layer correctly had this entire Trail in dark green before the erroneous edits:
2. Google should clarify the narrow purpose of Dirt/unpaved trails as being for recreational use unsuited to most utility wheeled transport. This will avoid technically correct reclassification that just reduces accessibility of trails
Many unpaved Trails are still suitable for most wheeled transport (bikes, prams, etc) and so Google Maps should retain the normal dark green Trail classification for these. The Cycling layer should remain useful for wheeled transport users to identify suitable dark green routes as separate from the brown routes which are likely unsuitable.
Below you can see a dirt, unpaved route through a park that is both suitable and intended for use by wheeled transport but technically could be reclassified as a Dirt/unpaved trail. This would be pointless and only reduce trail accessibility.
3. If consistently and usefully classified, Dirt/unpaved trails should be added to Directions > Route Options > Avoid so that wheeled transport users can avoid unsuitable trails
Planning feasible, convenient and enjoyable routes using trails on Google Maps is only possible for wheeled transport users when the differentiation between normal Trails and Dirt/unpaved trails is kept consistent and useful.
Google Maps can then extend the functionality of its Directions feature by adding this to the Route Options > Avoid checkboxes.
I discuss this enhancement in more detail here: > Issue 13: Google Maps Cycling Directions should allow cyclists to avoid Stairs, Unpaved Trails and Highways
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