Hello Local Guides! 
Have you ever looked at a map and wondered what those specific lines, colors, and dashes represent? Whether you’re meticulously editing a map to support your community or just trying to navigate a new city, understanding the “visual language” of Google Maps is a real superpower. 
Based on common map data and a few hidden gems, I’ve put together this visual guide that will help you identify every type of road and trail. Let’s dive in and uncover the secrets of the map!.
For the Drivers: Vehicle Roads 
Understanding the hierarchy of roads is essential for accurate navigation. Here’s how to differentiate them:
Expressways
Color/Style: Cadet Grey/ Solid lines
Appearing as the thickest, most prominent dark gray lines, these lines are designed for long-distance travel and usually have ramps for entry and exit.
Highways
Color/Style: Thick Grey Lines (With Route Number / Name)
Highways are major public roads connecting cities and towns. They are depicted with thick gray lines, which are slightly less distinct than expressways, and are often marked with badges or numbers bearing the highway route number.
Major Roads
Color/Style: Medium Grey Lines
These are major roads within a city that carry a large amount of traffic but are not classified as highways. They often serve as primary routes through urban areas, connecting neighboring villages to highways or business districts.
Local Roads
Color/Style: Standard Grey Lines (Medium Thickness)
These are standard roads used for short distances within neighborhoods and communities. They have low speed limits, frequent intersections, and direct access to residential or commercial driveways.
Streets
Color/Style: Thinner Light Grey Lines
Streets are similar to local roads but are often narrower or residential only. In dense urban areas, these appear as light grey lines next to local roads, often making up the finer interior grid of a residential area.
Private Roads
Color/Style: Light Blue Grey Lines
Private roads are often found in gated communities, private driveways, apartment complex roads, or industrial complexes. Google Maps distinguishes them to indicate that access may be restricted or the road is not for public traffic.
Dedicated Lane Roads 
Modern cities use specific visual markers to denote shared roadways.
Road with Dedicated Bus Lane
A specific lane within the road is highlighted in a distinct red-pink color. It is marked with small bus signs indicating that the lane is reserved for public transport vehicles only, separating them from normal traffic.
Road with Dedicated Bike Lane
A dedicated lane on the side of the road is shown in green. It is marked with bicycle signs, which visually separate cyclists from the main road to indicate a safe, designated route for cycling.
Road with Dedicated Parking Lane
Unlike bus or bike lanes, parking lanes do not always have a distinct fill color. Instead, they are identified by “P” signs placed at intervals along the outer edge of the roadway, indicating that the curb lane is designated for vehicle parking rather than moving traffic.
For the Explorers: Trails & Natural Paths 
The distinction between paved and unpaved trails/paths is crucial for accessibility and planning purposes.
Walking / Hiking Trails
Color/Style: Solid Green Line
These special paths refer to a paved road designed for non-motorized traffic, such as cyclists, runners, and walkers. They are made of asphalt or concrete and are often separated from motorized roads, passing through parks, running along alleys, or found in green spaces.
Unpaved / Dirt Trails
Color/Style: Dotted Green Line
The dotted green line indicates these natural surface trails that are primarily used for hiking, mountain biking, or off-road walking. The dotted line indicates that the trail is unpaved (natural surfaces like dirt, gravel, or grass) and may be uneven or narrower than paved trails.
Often confused with walking trails, but the dotted pattern indicates unpaved terrain.
Pedestrian Infrastructure 
These details are important for pedestrians and people with accessibility needs.
Stairs
Color/Style: Grey dashed line
Stairs are represented by a distinct gray dashed or “zipper” line style that resembles a ladder. This indicates a path that includes a change in elevation through steps, which alerts map users (especially those with accessibility needs or those on bikes) that the path is not flat.
Pedestrian Walkways
Color/Style: Solid Light Thin Grey Line
Pedestrian Walkways are roads that are strictly reserved for foot traffic where vehicles are prohibited. This category includes wide sidewalks, urban plazas, alleys, and paths in university campuses or shopping complexes. They are different from standard streets and prioritize pedestrian safety.
Pedestrian Over Bridge/Foot Bridge
Color/Style: Solid Light Grey Thin Line (Crossing over a road)
Visually, it is similar to a normal pedestrian walkway, but this line is drawn above the main road. This represents a bridge structure that allows pedestrians to safely cross traffic above street level.
Structural Roads
How the map represents depth and tunnels.
Under Bridges
Color/Style: Standard road color with a distinct dark outline
This style is used to indicate a section of road that physically passes under another road or bridge. The dark, bold outline on the edges of the lower road creates an effect of visual depth, which helps map users identify which road is above (continuous) and which is below.
Tunnels
Color/Style: Hatched Light grey with a Border
This particular style represents a section of road that runs underground. The change from the standard solid line to a lighter, hatched style warns drivers that they are entering a closed tunnel, which is often useful for anticipating a loss of GPS signal or the need to turn on the headlights.
I hope this guide helps fellow Local Guides confidently identify and map road types. If you’ve noticed more road styles or want to add examples, let’s discuss in the comments 
Also, don’t forget to check out our TRAC Happy New Year Plans! here.
Regards,
Naresh Darji
Google Maps tips & tricks #communitymapguide
