Route types and Route Subtypes

Table of contents

• Types of routes or modes
  • Main levels
  • Sublevels
• The subtypes
• Overview of the types we recognize
• Why you should give a specific route type, rather than a general one
  • Getting found better
  • Getting penalized for a too general route type
• How to specify/change route types
• Adding or linking more properties or characteristics to a route

Types of routes or modes

The route type indicates the best way to travel this route, or which mode (= way to travel a route) this route is best suited for. For example: an MTB route, or a canoe route,... Each route can only have one route type! For example: a MTB route, or a canoe route,... Each route can only have one route type!

The route types are hierarchically structured behind the scenes (Read more about specifically searching for routes with a specific route type here).

Main levels

The following types for routes are recognized:

1. Walking
2. Cycling
3. Motorcycling
4. Horseback riding
5. Boating
6. Other

Sublevels

You can search for this type of routes via the search.

You can link more information to route via groups (read more about linking groups to routes)

The subtypes

Below a highest level route type are a series of types at a lower sub-level.

An example:

• Under the main type "Cycle Route" there is, among others, "Recreational Cycle Route". And under "Recreational Cycle Route" there is "City Bike Route" and also "Recumbent Bike Route", for example.

This offers the advantage that when you search for a route you can search more generally or in more detail.

Overview of the types we recognize

Click here.

Why you should give a specific route type, rather than a general one

Getting found better

Suppose you are creating a cycling route that is suitable for a road cyclist. What type of route would be best?

• Option 1 - General: You can specify the general type "cycle route", which includesa amongst others "race cycle", "recreational cycling" and "MTB".
• Option 2 - Specific: You can specify the specific type of "race cycle"

But which option is best and why?

Best Practice! Give a specific type to your route, rather than a general type.

This has the following advantages:

• If someone searches for the general type of cycle route, then the specific types such as race cycling, recreational cycling and MTB are also included behind the scenes at RouteYou we use a hierarchical model of types.
• If someone is looking for a race cycle route, then we do NOT include the general type of cycle route because it may include routes that are not suitable as road bike routes. So users will not find your route if you provide the general type of cycle route.
• If you indicate the general type of cycle route, then a user still has to read your description to see if it matches her/his expectations (maybe it is a bike route that goes through fields and over unpaved paths).
• If we inform you about cycle routes (e.g. recommended) but you indicate that your routes are of the general type "cycle route", we also give you info about the underlying types (e.g., .MTB) that you may not be interested in.

Some users want to indicate that the route is suitable both as a road bike route and as a recreational cycle route. And that is why they give the general type of cycle route. But for the reasons mentioned above, this is not a good method. If you want to indicate it anyway, choose one of the two types that you consider most suitable, and put the information in your description. Or if you want to make it explicitly clear that the route is suitable for both types, save the route again under the other specific type (read more about saving route as). 

Getting penalized for a too general route type

A route type that is too general such as "Cycle route" or "All" does not allow either the end user or RouteYou to judge whether that route is suitable.

An example: Suppose by cycle route you mean the specific type "recreational cycle route", then it is not a problem to choose gravel paths as a path. But if by cycle route you mean a road bike route, then gravel paths are definitely not suitable.

In short, a too general type is penalized and cannot get a higher score.

How to specify/change route types

This is how you can give your route a different type:

Edit your route.

Adding or linking more properties or characteristics to a route

You can give even more properties to the route by linking it to an attribute through attribute groups.

Back to RouteYou